Governor Brian Kemphas has made it clear that he supports former collegiate football coach Derek Dooley’s upcoming candidacy for the U.S. Senate and is prepared to use every tool at his disposal to assist Dooley win the GOP primary.
Because of this, even some of Kemp’s closest supporters are taken aback by the steady stream of endorsements for U.S. Representative Mike Collins, R-Jackson, who recently announced his Senate candidacy.
While former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich may be the most well-known figure, Collins also garnered support from GOP power brokers in the state legislature, including Kemp’s own floor leaders, state Rep. Matthew Gambillone, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Russ Goodman, Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte, and House Majority Whip James Burchett.
Another well-known figure arrived on Thursday: Ben Tarbutton III, who will serve as Collins’ finance chairman. Not only is Tarbutton the powerful leader of the Sandersville Railroad Co. He is a longstanding Kemp loyalist and one of Georgia’s most well-connected GOP fundraisers.
The Collins campaign thinks that these endorsements show that it’s safe for additional donors to bring out their checkbooks and contrast with those of U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, a fellow Senate contender who hasn’t received a similar stream of public support from GOP authorities.
Kemp, however, is unlikely to overlook it after cautioning his most important followers to keep their powder dry.
According to what we’ve been informed, his supporters are warning prospective defectors that there could be severe political repercussions for defying the state’s most popular Republican governor, who spent $2 million last election cycle to maintain the GOP majority in the state legislature.
Friday news quiz
Sarah Peacock of the AJC is credited.
Sarah Peacock of the AJC is credited.
Good morning! Now is your chance to test your knowledge of this week’s political news by answering questions correctly. This newsletter’s conclusion has the answers. Remember to leave us a message about your performance.
In metro Atlanta, Gwinnett County has received the most requests for detainers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Which offense has been the most frequently reported by immigrants who have been booked into the county jail this year?
- A) Speeding.
- B) Drug possession.
- C) Reckless driving.
- D) Driving without a license.
In Georgia, two national charity organizations have released opposing television advertisements that both attack and support U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff for opposing President Donald Trump’s proposed tax and spending bill. In total, how much did the two groups spend?
- A) $6.5 million.
- B) $10 million.
- C) $3.5 million.
- D) $4 million.
This week, the State Election Board discovered that the ride-hailing service Lyft had offered reduced transportation to the polling station on Election Day, in violation of a Georgia law prohibiting the purchase of votes. What’s the penalty?
- A) $10,000 fine.
- B) Criminal prosecution.
- C) A strongly-worded letter.
- D) Reducing all ride rates for one month.
At least 95% of a cohort must be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity to several infectious illnesses. What proportion of kindergarteners in Georgia were vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella in the 2023–24 academic year?
- A) 95%
- B) 96.2%
- C) 93.3%
- D) 88.4%
Victim compensation
Ben Hendren for the AJC is credited.
Ben Hendren for the AJC is credited.
Last weekend, over thirty people were shot in and around metro Atlanta. It’s likely that the majority of them and their loved ones are unaware that they qualify for state financial aid.
Like the majority of states, Georgia offers a program to assist victims of crime in covering costs such as counseling and medical care. However, a lot of victims never apply since they are unaware of it. According to a national survey conducted in 2022, only 4% of victims received aid.
As part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness of these programs, Aswad Thomas, a gunshot survivor from Atlanta who works with Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, will meet with victims and advocates in Atlanta on Saturday.
However, this is more than just an educational tour. Additionally, Thomas and others are advocating for Georgia and other states to facilitate victims’ access to these services. For instance, in order to be eligible, victims in Georgia must report the crime to the police within 72 hours of it happening, unless they can provide a valid reason. A chronology According to Thomas, a lot of victims of sexual assault or domestic abuse don’t meet.
“We are working to eliminate some of those obstacles,” he stated.
The Granma’s House Community Resource Center in Atlanta will host the event on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Fast start
Miguel Martinez/AJC is credited.
Miguel Martinez/AJC is credited.
The early favorite for the open congressional seat held by U.S. Representative Mike Collins is State Representative Houston Gaines. He wants to remain that way.
After starting his campaign for the GOP-leaning district in northeast Georgia, the Athens Republican raised over $510,000 on Thursday, according to his campaign.
In an unresolved contest to replace Collins, who is running for the U.S. Senate, that is a strong showing. Former US Representative Paul Broun is thinking about running, while Georgia Court of Appeals Judge John Trea Pipkin III has also been mentioned as a possible candidate. Other well-known Republicans have chosen to stay out of the campaign.
Tour time
Arvin Temkar/AJC is credited.
Arvin Temkar/AJC is credited.
The statewide tour is the next step, now that the majority of Georgia’s leading Democratic contenders for governor have publicly announced their campaigns.
Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former mayor of Atlanta, unveiled hers last week. Tomorrow marks Jason Estevesturn’s return.
The Atlanta state senator is expected to visit Savannah and Liberty County during his weekend-long trip to coastal Georgia. He will be the main attraction at two meet-and-greets sponsored by state senator Derek Mallow and state representative Anne Allen Westbrook in Savannah, as well as take part in a town hall with state representative Al Williams in Midway and a small company panel at the Black company Expo. On Sunday, he will also go to two religious services.
The weekend’s focus will be on affordability. Since Esteves and his wife own restaurants in Columbus and Macon in addition to an urgent care and primary care clinic in Atlanta, the small business panel will allow him to share his own experiences.
According to a statement from Esteves, “affordability is at the top of my mind, and I know that’s the case for millions of hardworking Georgians, too,” from cutting expenses to increasing access to healthcare.
Listen up
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CDC funding
Arvin Temkar/AJC is credited.
Arvin Temkar/AJC is credited.
Considered a victory for the agency in the present political environment, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill Thursday that maintains funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta flat.
Over 2,000 CDC personnel were let go by President Donald Trump’s administration, while some were later recruited back. Additionally, he suggested a significant reduction in its operational expenses in his budget plan for the fiscal year 2026.
The Senate s bill instead keeps the CDC funding at its current level, somethingU.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., worked to protect as a member of the Appropriations Committee.
I made very clear that I would not accept the destruction of the CDC, and I am grateful that Republicans and Democrats on this committee are coming together to defend this vital institution based in the state of Georgia, Ossoffsaid priorto the committee vote.
Today in Washington
- President Donald Trump will receive an intelligence briefing before departing to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
- The House is out until Sept. 2.
- The Senate will vote on more Trump nominations.
Not so fast
Mariam Zuhaib/AP is credited.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP is credited.
It s supposed to be the last day of the U.S. Senate s schedule before starting a five-week recess. But Majority Leader John Thune could keep senators working through the weekend.
More of President Donald Trump’s candidates, particularly those he has selected for ambassadorships, should be confirmed. The Senate has been spending most of its floor time on confirmations. In fact, Trump has more people confirmed to his team at this juncture than most other presidents in modern times.Still, he wants more.
Thune is hoping to work out a deal with Democrats to confirm a list of Trump appointees quickly, perhaps as a package deal. But Democrats so far have been unwilling to go along, citing their concerns about many of the individuals the president has tapped and his overall approach to governing.
Senators are assuming they will be kept in Washington over the weekend at the very least. The longer the recess is delayed, the more likely it is that absences will become an issue given the Republicans narrow majority.
Shoutouts
Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC
Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC
Today s birthday:
- Georgia Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones II, D-Augusta.
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: TNS
Credit: TNS
Answers to this week s quiz: D, A, C, D.
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.
