Michael "Mike" Thurmond is from Clarke County, Georgia. He has a bachelor s degree from Paine College and a law degree from the University of South Carolina.

Michael "Mike" Thurmond is from Clarke County, Georgia. He has a bachelor's degree from Paine College and a law degree from the University of South Carolina.

Mike is the Georgia Commissioner of Labor. He also worked at the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services.

Before taking public office, Mike worked as the superintendent of the DeKalb County School District and at the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services.

Mike is currently the DeKalb County CEO. He was first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. He previously served as Georgia's labor commissioner and as the superintendent of the DeKalb County School District.

Ballotpedia - Michael Thurmond

Mike most recently served as the DeKalb County CEO. He was first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. He also previously served as Georgia's labor commissioner and as a member of the Georgia Legislature.

2026 Georgia Primary Election

Democrat

Nonpartisan

Republican

2026 Georgia Primary Runoff

Plans to focus on economic development, job creation, and support for local businesses.

Plans to eliminate state income taxes on tips and overtime earnings to benefit hardworking Georgians.

Seeks to eliminate state income taxes on tips and overtime earnings to benefit hardworking Georgians.

Aims to lower the cost of living to help working families thrive in Georgia.

Believes in increasing Georgia’s minimum wage to $20 per hour by 2030, so "full-time work provides a pathway to stability."

- Plans to focus on economic development, job creation, and support for local businesses.
- Seeks to eliminate state income taxes on tips and overtime earnings to benefit hardworking Georgians.
- Aims to lower the cost of living to help working families thrive in Georgia.
- Believes in increasing Georgia’s minimum wage to $20 per hour by 2030, so "full-time work provides a pathway to stability."

Economy

Opposes efforts to redirect taxpayer money to voucher schemes and champions public schools.

Wants to freeze in-state tuition and fees to make college more affordable.

- Opposes efforts to redirect taxpayer money to voucher schemes and champions public schools.
- Wants to freeze in-state tuition and fees to make college more affordable.

Education

Aims to protect access to healthcare and keep rural hospitals open.

Supports protecting access to affordable healthcare, investing in the healthcare economy, and delivering solutions for Georgia's families.

- Aims to protect access to healthcare and keep rural hospitals open.
- Supports protecting access to affordable healthcare, investing in the healthcare economy, and delivering solutions for Georgia's families.

Healthcare

As of March 11, 2026, Michael "Mike" Thurmond’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Advocates for holding developers accountable for sustainable water use and safe discharge practices.

Encourages renewable energy use to reduce long-term energy costs for residents.

- Advocates for holding developers accountable for sustainable water use and safe discharge practices.
- Encourages renewable energy use to reduce long-term energy costs for residents.

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Georgia Democratic Voting Guide

Gun Sense Voter

Krimson PAC

Make Gwinnett Great Again

- Endorsed by the Gun Sense Voter PAC.
- Endorsed by the Krimson PAC.
- Endorsed by Make Gwinnett Great Again.

Endorsements

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Michael "Mike" Thurmond

Supports eliminating Georgia income taxes on tips and overtime, and has a record of delivering tax relief for families and small businesses.

- Plans to focus on economic development, job creation, and support for local businesses.
- Plans to eliminate state income taxes on tips and overtime earnings to benefit hardworking Georgians.
- Aims to lower the cost of living to help working families thrive in Georgia.

- Opposes efforts to redirect taxpayer money to voucher schemes and champions public schools.

- Plans to focus on economic development, job creation, and support for local businesses.
- Plans to eliminate state income taxes on tips and overtime earnings to benefit hardworking Georgians.
- Aims to lower the cost of living to help working families thrive in Georgia.
- Supports eliminating Georgia income taxes on tips and overtime, and has a record of delivering tax relief for families and small businesses.

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- The Governor is similar to the President of the United States: they oversee the executive branch, sign bills into law and then enforce these laws, and act as the commander-in-chief of the state military.
- The Governor has a large influence over which new laws get passed because they can veto any legislation. Georgia lawmakers can only override a veto with a two-thirds majority in the State House and State Senate.
- The Governor appoints heads of various judicial and state offices including the: Department of Education, Department of Human Resources, Department of Public Safety, Department of Transportation, Department of Community Health, Department of Economic Development, and the Department of Natural Resources.
In case a state representative is not able to complete their term, the Governor can appoint a replacement until the end of the term. 
- The Governor is elected every 4 years in midterm election years (e.g., 2022, 2026, 2030). If a governor serves for eight years (two terms in a row), they must wait another four years before running again.

The chief executive of the state who oversees the executive branch