November 6, 2013 - Georgia State Senator Jason Carter ,the grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, announced today that he is running for Governor. Carter , 38, should he win the Democratic nomination would then challenge the current Republican Governor of Georgia Nathan Deal. Carter's grandfather had a similar political path, as President Carter was first elected a State Senator in Georgia before becoming Governor in 1970. Jimmy Carter then stunned the political world when despite not being well known he won the Democratic Party Presidential nomination in 1976. In November of 1976, Jimmy Carter defeated President Gerald Ford. Carter lost his 1980 re-election bid to Ronald Reagan.