Governor Brian Kemp changed Georgia’s U.S. Senate race Thursday with a barrage of calls and meetings, and he made it clear that he would play an aggressive role in a fight that he chose not to enter himself.
The governor personally informed U.S. Representatives Mike Collins and Buddy Carter as well as Insurance Commissioner John King that he supports Derek Dooley, a longtime friend who is getting ready to make his first run for public office.
The consequences were immediate. King, who had thought Kemp would change his mind, folded his campaign in a matter of hours and decided to run for reelection as insurance commissioner instead of challenging the Democratic incumbent, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff.
Without taking offense, Collins told Kemp that he would support him if he were to receive the GOP nomination. Additionally, Carter’s campaign issued a retort.
According to his campaign, Georgians elect our senators, not politicians.
A three-way race is now developing. It is anticipated that Collins and Dooley will shortly enter the fight, laying the groundwork for a brutal altercation Kemp sought to avoid.
While Dooley, with the assistance of Kemp’s aides, prepares a more mainstream GOP race, Collins is attempting to take the MAGA lane.
Kemp’s dissatisfaction with the previous two Senate campaigns is the foundation of his strategy. Kelly Loeffler, his hand-picked candidate, was victorious in a 2020 presidential election that eclipsed all others.
Trump’s early backing of Herschel Walker two years later virtually put a stop to the GOP primary race before it even started.
Meanwhile, Carter is already on the air and prepared to spend. According to his aides, he has already invested over $2 million in early advertising and intends to use at least $8 million more of his personal wealth.
This has nothing to do with any primary candidates. Carter informed us that this was about the general. It concerns a Republican who, in contrast to Jon Ossoff, will back President Trump and America First policies in the Senate.
Friday news quiz
Photos from the AJC file are credited.
Photos from the AJC file are credited.
Good morning! You’ve made it to Friday, which means it’s time to see how well you know this week’s political news. Below are the questions. This newsletter’s conclusion has the answers. Don’t peek. I wish you luck!
The Frost family gained political influence in Georgia and internationally by using around $1.4 million in campaign donations, the majority of which were stolen from investors. Which Republican party received the most donation from them?
- A) Georgia.
- B) Maine.
- C) Arizona.
- D) Alabama.
Georgia’s health insurance plans sold on the state’s Affordable Care Act market are expected to see some of the biggest price increases in the country. Based on initial registrations, which company would see the largest growth in Georgia?
- A) United Healthcare.
- B) Cigna Healthcare.
- C) Kaiser Permanente.
- D) Alliant Health Plans.
Attorney General Chris Carr filed a complaint against Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, but the State Ethics Commission decided not to look into it. Both men are Republican candidates for governor. What was the grievance?
- A) Not filing a financial disclosure report on time.
- B) Improperly coordinating with a super PAC.
- C) The source of a $10 million campaign loan.
- D) Campaign contributions larger than allowable limits.
Georgia’s high proportion of chronically absent pupils is being examined by state lawmakers. State Representative Chris Erwin, a Republican, has a suggestion to assist. What is it?
- A) Fine parents if their kids miss too many days of school.
- B) Make virtual learning available for students with attendance problems.
- C) Offer financial incentives to parents to take their kids to school.
- D) Increase the number of school buses.
Campaign promises
Thanks to AP
Thanks to AP
Georgia government employees and their supporters strongly objected to President Donald Trump’s decision to fire thousands of federal employees. Keisha Lance Bottoms is currently attempting to capitalize on that rage in order to advance her gubernatorial campaign.
In a meeting with roughly a dozen laid-off employees on Thursday, the former mayor of Atlanta promised that, should she be elected, she would order state agencies to give former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees priority when it comes to hiring them.
In addition, she pledged to establish fellowship programs to place former federal employees in regional health departments and collaborate with institutions in Atlanta to establish research, teaching, and clinical employment routes.
“The state should provide real, tangible support for those of you who are dealing with job loss, not just policy,” she said.
Credit: AJC/Adam Beam
Credit: AJC/Adam Beam
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, seemed impressed by Bottoms. In his opening remarks, he requested Bottoms’ consent to call her governor. 820,000 workers nationwide are represented by the union.
Bottoms has not requested an endorsement from the union, according to Kelley.
According to him, she has a history of standing up for working people. I don’t see any issues with AFGE supporting Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Educating voters
Photo credit: Courtesy
Photo credit: Courtesy
A 23-year-old Democrat who has worked as a worker beneath the Gold Dome on several occasions has been appointed chair of the Fayette County Board of Elections.
This summer, Zach Livsey assumed office, claiming to be the youngest person to serve on the county election board.
Many people believe the president has all the power because they look up, read the news, or see the headlines, he said. Local elections are held in our backyard, and the power is down here.
However, he probably didn’t feel as powerful during his first elections as chair. Out of the 93,000 registered voters in the county, only 2,363 cast ballots in the Democratic primary runoff for the position of District 3 Public Service Commission. He claimed it motivated him to concentrate on countywide voter education initiatives.
According to him, abiding by the law is the top priority for our jobs and my position as board chairman. That being said, there are other chances to boost participation, raise awareness of the elections, and enhance turnout.
Former State Representative Tish Naghise, who passed away in 2023, had Livsey as his chief of staff. Most recently, he was chief of staff to state Sen. Kenya Wicks, D-Fayetteville.
When he s not working in politics, he s a sommelier at a wine bar owned by former state Rep. Virgil Fludd.
No taxes
Arvin Temkar/AJC is credited.
Arvin Temkar/AJC is credited.
State Sen.Blake Tilleryon Thursday cleared up any confusion about a Senate study committee on eliminating Georgia s income tax.
My role as chair is not to debate whether we do away with the state income tax, Tillery told reporters on Thursday, including the AJC s David Wickert. It s to determine how we will do away with the state income tax.
Tillery said it will take years to do it. But he said he expects lawmakers to adopt a realistic and responsible plan in 2026. That just so happens to be an election year, when Tillery is likely to berunning for lieutenant governor. Tillery was appointed chair by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones,who is running for governor.
Cutting taxes is always a popular election year promise, and it s one Republicans have been making quite a bit in recent years. The GOP-controlled Legislature has approved a series oftax cuts and refunds, aided in part by budget surpluses accumulated after the pandemic.
It s not just Republicans. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democratic candidate for governor, wants to do away with the income tax for teachers.
I m not saying that other people and other professions don t deserve it, she said. We looked at what the budget can absorb. We re starting with teachers.
Listen up
There s noPolitically Georgiapodcast today. We ll be back on Monday.
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.
RAP Act
Credit: Tia Mitchell/AJC
Credit: Tia Mitchell/AJC
Fresh off the heels of theracketeering trialinvolving the rapper Young Thug, U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson is renewing his push for a federal law that would prevent the government from using artists lyrics against them in most cases.
Johnson, D-Lithonia, hasintroduced versionsof the Restoring Artistic Protection Act in the past and they failed to gain traction. That is unlikely to change with Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress.
But he said during anews conferenceThursday that the conversation is worth having and he considers it an effort to protect the free speech of rappers and other types of artists.
For far too long, prosecutors have unjustly targeted artists, using their creative work as evidence of guilt, despite lacking tangible proof that the artistic expression is anything more than imagination and creativity, he said, according to his prepared remarks.
Today in Washington
- President Donald Trump heads to Scotland, where he will meet with political leaders and visit two golf courses that he owns.
- The House and Senate are out until Sept. 2.
First Liberty fallout
Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC
Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC
U.S. Rep. David Scott sent a pointed letter to the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission accusing the agency of failing to detect the alleged $140 million Ponzi scheme carried out by First Liberty Building & Loan, a Newnan-based firm.
Theletter asksSEC Chair Paul Atkins to answer questions about its investigations of First Liberty and detail how the agency plans to help victims recover their investments.
This is not just a case of regulatory failure, it is a betrayal of the trust that everyday investors place in our financial system and the institutions tasked with protecting them, wrote Scott, an Atlanta Democrat who is on the House Financial Services Committee.
Shoutouts
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Before you go
Credit: TNS
Credit: TNS
Answers to this week s quiz: B, A, C, B.
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.
