Cobb County, Georgia

Candidate fields are set for county commission, school board and other local races across eight North Georgia counties — Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Forsyth, Hall, Cherokee and Paulding — ahead of the 2026 midterms. The contests mix incumbents seeking reelection, open seats and several unopposed candidates. Notable races include Fulton County's commission chair contest between Mo Ivory and Eric Tatum, a crowded special election for Fulton's District 4 seat, and rematches such as Bridget Thorne versus Maggie Goldman in Fulton District 1.

These local races typically draw less prediction-market attention than statewide or federal contests, but the lineups give early visibility into competitive seats and turnout dynamics heading into next year's elections.

Early voting opened in Georgia for the 2026 midterm election, running through Oct. 30, with Oct. 23 as the deadline to request an absentee ballot. Nearly every major statewide office is open, with new officeholders guaranteed in most races. The headline contest pits Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms against Republican Rick Jackson for governor, while incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff faces Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins in a closely watched Senate race.

Down-ballot races include lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, agriculture, insurance and labor commissioner, plus two Public Service Commission seats, congressional and legislative contests. Voters will also decide three constitutional amendments covering conservation-use acreage limits, nonpartisan election of probate judges, and dedicated funding for 911 systems. Turnout data is tracked through the secretary of state's Election Data Hub. The races carry significant implications for prediction markets given Georgia's status as a key battleground state.

A Pitchess motion dispute in Long Beach has revealed that former officer Erik Suarez pleaded guilty to misdemeanor aggravated battery in 2022 over a 2019 Waffle House beating in Cobb County, Georgia, a conviction that was not disclosed to defendant Lonnie Jacobs, whom Suarez arrested on a drug charge. Defense attorney Scott Sanders argues the Long Beach Police Department and district attorney's office had an obligation under Brady v. Maryland to disclose the conviction and is seeking Suarez's full personnel file, alleging a pattern of concealment. Records show Suarez also received department discipline in 2023 for unnecessary force after punching a handcuffed man, an incident the DA's office declined to prosecute without knowing of the Georgia conviction.

Suarez left the LBPD in June, shortly before a subpoena attempt, and was hired by the Burbank Police Department in July. Long Beach officials have resisted broader disclosure, calling Sanders' request overly broad. A judge continued the case to Nov. 12 to consider the renewed motion.