How Marjorie Taylor Greene may impact the governor’s race — without running

Published On: July 30, 2025

In a succinct 624-word statement, U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized the good-oleboy system that she believes is threatening Republican control of Georgia, ruled out a 2026 run for governor, and left open the prospect of a future statewide bid.

Her choice gives Lt. Gov. Burt Jones a significant boost and makes it possible for him to get more support in the pro-Donald Trump lane of the GOP gubernatorial primary.

Greene has been the main barrier preventing Jones from receiving Trump’s much-desired endorsement, and now the president may finally weigh in.

Greene clarified, however, that she would not be passively observing from the sidelines. She attacked out-of-state consultant leeches who make money off of unsuccessful campaigns and blasted the male-only Republican power system, which is controlled by hunting clubs and country club kingmakers.

And trust me, there are plenty of ladies who share my opinion, she added, if none of it appeals to me.

Attorney General Chris Carr, whose campaign aims to win over more conventional conservatives, has already been targeted by Greene.

However, her social media post also serves as a warning to Jones. Greene may cause trouble for whoever becomes the GOP nominee, even from the sidelines.

That didn’t stop some Republicans from celebrating, though. Democrats could have easily labeled the entire GOP ticket as the party of MTG if Greene had run statewide.

If they continue to try, don’t be shocked.

As part of his 2026 reelection campaign, Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff uses her name almost as much as Trump does. Additionally, prominent Democratic candidates for governor, state senator Jason Esteves and former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, have already garnered campaign funds by threatening to run against her.

Things to know

Abbey Cutrer/AJC is credited.

Good morning! Three things to be aware of today are as follows:

The State Election Board says Lyft violated a Georgia election law by offering discounted rides to the polls, the

AJC s Mark Niesse reports

. Lyft won t be fined or prosecuted. But the board will send them a letter.
A federal appeals court appeared skeptical of a Georgia law aimed at limiting churches, nonprofits and individuals from paying bail for cash-strapped defendants, the

AJC s Rosie Manins reports

.
Childhood vaccination rates have dropped in Georgia and across the U.S., raising concerns as students prepare to return to school next week, the

AJC s Martha Dalton and Ariel Hart report

.

Voucher update

The amount of funds to be allocated for Georgia’s school voucher program this year is a matter of debate among state lawmakers. While the Senate intended to spend $141 million, the House wanted to spend $41 million. The Senate ultimately prevailed.

Through two rounds of applications, state officials have approved over 8,600 households, totaling approximately $55 million. A staggering $86 million is still left over.

However, two more rounds of applications are still pending. September is when one opens, and December is when the other one opens.

According to Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, “we budgeted so that no parent whose child is eligible for this scholarship would be turned away due to funding.” We are able to reallocate any unused monies through the revised budget procedure. It’s simply wise budgeting.

State agencies have already been instructed by Governor Brian Kemph not to ask for spending increases in the budget for the following year. Any money left over from the school voucher program might allow lawmakers some leeway and lead to many arguments about how to use it.

We’ll talk about it, said House Appropriations Committee Chair Matt Hatchett, R-Dublin, who has already received requests requesting him to distribute any leftover funds to another location.

Senate 2026

Photo courtesy of AJC.

GOP opponents’ fundraising attempts have already been hampered by Governor Brian Kemps’ appeal for donors to support former college football coach Derek Dooley’s upcoming U.S. Senate race.

However, the campaign of U.S. Representative Mike Collins is demonstrating that not everyone is following suit.

Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte, House Majority Whip James Burchett, and former U.S. Representative Max Burns, who is currently serving in the Georgia Senate, are among the well-known Republicans who are publicly defying Kemp to back the second-term congressman’s candidacy.

(Side note: In a 2002 GOP primary for his seat in east Georgia, Burns defeated Barbara, Dooley’s mother.)

CDC s new leader

J. Scott Applewhite/AP is credited.

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta navigates turbulent spending cuts from the Trump administration, Susan Monarez was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as its director.

Trump’s second pick for the position was Monarez, a career government researcher. His initial pick, Dr. David Weldon, a former congressman from Florida, was removed due to reservations regarding his vaccination skepticism.

As part of his Department of Government Efficiency effort, hundreds of CDC employees have lost their jobs since Trump took office in January.Opposition to those cuts has been a major component of U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff’s (D-Ga.) 2026 reelection campaign.

After meeting with Monarez, Ossoff claimed he didn’t have enough faith in her independence and her ability to defend the CDC and its primary goal of public health, which is why he voted against her.

Ossoff nevertheless expressed his sincere hope that Monarez’s time at CDC will be successful and congratulated her on her confirmation.

Nevertheless, he stated, “I am prepared to collaborate with her in order to support the CDC, its vital mission, and the CDC workforce.”

Voting rights

Miguel Martinez/AJC is credited.

A special session of the Texas Legislature, which is controlled by Republicans, has been called to redistrict the state’s congressional districts in preparation for the 2026 midterm elections. U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock proposed legislation on Tuesday that aims to halt them.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, named for the late civil rights icon and former Georgia congressman, is primarily sponsored by the Democrat from Atlanta. It aims to uphold and strengthen a provision that mandated states with a track record of violating voting rights to obtain federal approval before altering their election regulations.

Warnock tried to link Texas’ redistricting attempts to the recently passed federal tax and budget package that reduces funding for Medicaid, the government-funded health care program, during a press conference on Capitol Hill.

According to Warnock, the same individuals who recently enacted legislation that will raise health care costs for almost everyone are now working hard to ensure that those Americans lack the power to fire them.

Given that Republicans control majorities in both chambers of Congress, the bill is unlikely to succeed. But according to Warnock, the matter cannot wait until after the 2026 elections, when Democrats are hoping to take control of Washington.

He said that we will not wait for the next election to attempt to enact voting rights. Right now, voting rights must be passed.

Listen up

Today on the Politically Georgia podcast AJC education reporter Cassidy Alexander joins host Tia Mitchell to discuss how President Donald Trump s new tax and spending law could reshape education policy across the state.

You can listen and subscribe to the show for free atApple Podcasts,Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts.

Have a question or comment for the show? Email us [email protected] give us a call at 770-810-5297 and you could be featured on a future episode.

Fighting back

Credit: Darron Cummings/AP

Planned Parenthood, the nation s largest abortion provider, can continue to receive taxpayer funding amid its lawsuit challenging a new law that aims to cut off its federal spending.

President Donald Trump s new tax and spending law ends Medicaid payments for one year to abortion providers that received at least $800,000 in federal funding in 2023. Planned Parenthood has sued to block those cuts.

On Monday, afederal judge ruledMedicaid must continue to reimburse Planned Parenthood while the lawsuit is pending.

It s not the only lawsuit challenging the cuts. On Tuesday, 22 mostly Democratic-led states alsosued the Trump administration. The plaintiffs, which include California, Connecticut andNew York argued that the provision in the new law is unclear about which groups it applies to and also violates the First Amendment.

Today in Washington

President Donald Trump will speak from the White House about health technology.
The House is out until Sept. 2.
The Senate will vote to confirm more Trump nominees.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will debate legislation that would ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will discuss interest rates at a news conference.

Shoutouts

Miguel Martinez/AJC is credited.

Today s birthday:

U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Atlanta.

Want a birthday shoutout in the Politically Georgia newsletter? There s a form for that.Click hereto submit the shoutouts. It s not just birthdays. We re also interested in new jobs, engagements, birth announcements, etc.

Before you go

Credit: Screenshot

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins Senate campaign posted a video on social media that misspelled the word Georgia. A Collins spokesperson saidthe video was made by a fanand not the campaign. They meant well, and it s a nice video, the spokesman said.

That ll do it for us today. As always, you can send your best scoops, gossip and insider info [email protected],[email protected],[email protected]@ajc.com.