Jason Esteves, a former Georgia Senator for District 35, announced his candidacy for Georgia governor in April 2025. Esteves’ main policies are to improve the economy, healthcare and education. Jason Esteves, a former Georgia Senator for District 35, announced his candidacy for Georgia governor in April 2025. Esteves’ main policies are to improve the economy, healthcare and education.
“I’m running for Governor because we need a new generation of leaders who will stay and fight for Georgia, no matter how hard it gets,” Esteves said. “As Governor, I’ll focus on keeping and growing the money in Georgians’ pockets by lowering costs, expanding healthcare access and investing in our small businesses and public schools.”
Economics
Esteves’ plan to address this involves increasing affordable housing and putting buyer protections in place.
“Housing costs are too high in Georgia, whether you’re buying, renting or downsizing,” Esteves said.“Hardworking Georgians can’t afford to put a roof over their heads, and that needs to
change. When I’m governor, Georgians can count on me to increase the housing supply, strengthen renter protections and continue standing up to the out-of-state corporations that squeeze Georgia families out of the housing market.”
Meghan Riley, an associate broker at Keller Knapp Realty, said the plan could lower prices and create a more secure, trusting buying experience.
“His plan could most likely help calm rents, give renters more stability and make it easier for Georgia families to buy instead of being outbid by big corporations, in areas where they have focused,” Riley said. “The big test will be whether the new homes are truly affordable with the construction costs. People need to be able to live where they work or be able to get there easily and affordably.”
Health care
Another point of advocacy for Esteves is health care in Georgia. He explained the Trump administration’s Big Beautiful Bill has changed Georgia’s healthcare security.
“Right now, rural hospitals are shutting down and folks across Georgia are at risk of losing health insurance because of Trump’s ‘Big Ugly Bill,’” Esteves said. “That’s unacceptable. It’s past time our state expands Medicaid. I’ll also work to lower insurance premiums and healthcare costs across the board so everyone can get the care they need regardless of where they live.”
Esteves also commented on race disparities in maternal mortality rates and said he will work to end Georgia’s abortion ban.
“Right now, Georgia has a ban that outlaws women’s abilities to make their own healthcare decisions,” Esteves said. “Our state has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation, especially for Black women. Women in Georgia should be able to access the healthcare they need. As governor, I will fight to overturn Georgia’s abortion ban and restore reproductive rights.”
Schools
As both a former teacher and former at-large representative and later board chair of the Atlanta Board of Education, improving schools is also a big focus for Esteves. He cites this experience and credits himself with creating an inclusive environment and wanting to give equity to all students.
“My first job out of college was as a middle school social studies teacher,” Esteves said. “It’s where I taught kids who were no different from anyone else, but because of where they lived, they didn’t have access to the same opportunities. I know how important it is that we expand those opportunities and make sure every kid in Georgia gets the quality education they deserve.”
Esteves’s plan for ensuring equity in schools is to address school funding, expand certain programs, enact teacher pay raises, modernize school funding formulas and expand early learning programs. Midtown social studies teacher and Midtown Votes sponsor Jason Slaven comments on the importance of teacher pay rates, not just for teachers but for students.
“Teachers are some of the lowest-paid professionals in the country,” Slaven said. “Many talented teachers leave teaching every year because the salary may not be worth it for them, which is a travesty. Increasing teacher pay will likely ensure that Georgia students have highly qualified and motivated teachers in every classroom.”
Young voters
Slaven emphasizes the impact young voters can have in helping enact change.
“Midtown alone will have over 500 students who can register to vote by the end of the school year,” Slaven said. “If more young people are active and engaged voters, then politicians will have to listen to younger voters if they want to secure their votes.”
Esteves agrees with this, putting a direct focus on swaying younger voters.
“I know that a lot of young Georgians are checked out right now and losing hope,” Esteves said. “I want to give our young people something to hope for. I’m not taking their votes for granted, so I’m traveling across the state, engaging on social media and knocking on doors to meet young voters where they are. As governor, I want to make sure young people can keep and grow the money in their pockets, afford a home and thrive.”
