State Sen. Jason Esteves announced Monday that he will run for governor next year.

The Atlanta Democrat was elected to the Senate in 2022 and is serving his second term under the Gold Dome. Before that, he spent nearly a decade as a member of the Board of Education for Atlanta Public Schools.

Esteves has made education, health care, and housing his top priorities in the Senate.

“As extreme politicians in Georgia push (President Donald) Trump’s reckless agenda and rig the system for special interests, Georgians pay the price,” Esteves said Monday in a prepared statement. “Now more than ever, we need to tackle the high cost of living, improve access to health care, protect women’s reproductive freedom, lower housing costs, and invest in schools across the state.”

Esteves is the first Democrat to enter the 2026 race to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.

U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta, formed an exploratory committee last month to consider mounting a bid for governor. However, she announced several weeks later that she would suspend her campaign in order to care for husband, who is recovering from cancer surgery.

In the Republican side, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr launched his campaign for governor late last year. Other potential candidates for the GOP nod include Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.