Politics

AAJC 022326 Jolt

Politically Georgia

Your daily jolt of news and analysis from the AJC politics team.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom discussed his new book, “Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery,” at the Rialto Theater in Atlanta on Sunday. (Riley Bunch/AJC)

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Today’s newsletter highlights:

  • Republican lawmaker files bill that would disqualify Rick Jackson from office.
  • Forum attracts bipartisan group of candidates for governor.
  • A dispute over water rights between Georgia and Alabama mostly ends.

Fighting back

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (left) discussed his new book with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens at the Rialto Theater in Atlanta on Sunday.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (left) discussed his new book with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens at the Rialto Theater in Atlanta on Sunday.

nehw“ ew ot ot yeht eht yalp thgin ,wol tsal .stih ”hgih tsetaerg og og t’ndid emoc mosweN .voG nivaG ainrofilaC atnaltA

gnuoY“ krow .erafraw hcnert ruot ot eht taht pots gnihtemos lacitilop dehctip fo mixam edam ni ni sih eh eh .are t’nseod resolc raelc koob seveileb edisgnola a a pmurT nO are-amabO mosweN royaM naM ,daetsnI ”yrruH dlanoD ,snekciD atnaltA erdnA

repap“ ”sregit deklat reprahs gnihcnup snoitacovorp fo gniteem ,senil .no-daeh gniward kcab dna tsniaga s’pmurT AGAM eH

llew drawot gnitset-daor laitnediserp egassem ylekil s’eh eh segde .dib dnoyeb neeb sa a a s’tI ainrofilaC 8202

— ot eht eht noitailater gnitcirtsider hsup luahrevo edaced-dim tnaem ni sih sih demarf troffe sa dnuora hcaorppa .saxeT noitisoporP mosweN 05

tahW“ gnitirw htiw htiw tahw ew ew saw siht gnitcaer gnitcaer dehcnup elpoep de-po fo fo ebyam otni daetsni ,gnignirw-dnah gnitteg thguof .erif erif tcepxe t’ndid did .yrtnuoc yb ”.kcab dna na ssorca kroY pmurT ,semiT ehT weN daetsnI dnA

degru .enot ot rieht osla tsujda eH starcomeD

eW“ semitemoS“ ot .dias erom elttil elttil tel ssel nrael tsuj .latnemgduj ti ”,suoromuh eh wolf nac ”.tib tib eb a a tsuJ

gnilles“ — pu denrut ot laicos swohs pohs gnilles syas emas gnillor ekuber ecneserp sdap ”.tuo enilno no fo kcom hcrem aidem stsilayol eenk otni snoitutitsni ni sih sih sih eh sah .sdeef neve egde era dna a a pmurT tahT mosweN

eht eht sekats desiar .rehgih ,ronrevog resiardnuf rennur-tnorf remrof rof rof neve reilrae a yadnuS mosweN royaM ecnaL ahsieK citarcomeD ,smottoB atnaltA tA

er’eW“ eW“ ,uoy gnitirw ohw ew dnatsrednu ot siht siht eht taht os .dias gnitirwer etiuq elpoep .sde-po deen deen tnemom tnemom teem yllaretil ”,pihsredael si .no-daeh eh syug gniog suoegaruoc era era dna esehT ”.royaM emadaM .noitutitsnoC dnA dnA


Things to know

Former football coach Derek Dooley is a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Former football coach Derek Dooley is a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate.

ot eht eht eht laiceps ecalper secar yramirp rehto si si ni ni ronrevog lareneg morf rof rof gnilif .noitcele noitcele enildaed .syad syad syad .yawa yawa dna er’eW .S.U ehT rolyaT ,etaneS rebmevoN eirojraM eneerG ssergnoC dnA 58 51 11

:yadot ot eerht sgniht rehto wonk rof era ereH

  • Election skeptics are eagerly awaiting criminal charges from the FBI’s raid of the Fulton County elections office, the AJC’s David Wickert reports.
  • In another cycle in another state, Derek Dooley’s U.S. Senate campaign might be dismissed as a curiosity. But in Georgia, his steadfast support from Gov. Brian Kemp, and a lack of any endorsement from President Donald Trump, is testing Kemp’s political brand, writes Greg Bluestein.
  • The Georgia Senate’s version of the state’s amended 2026 budget includes $409 million to build a new 300-bed mental health hospital, the AJC’s Maya T. Prabhu reports.

Shots fired

State Rep. Jason Ridley, R-Chatsworth, is sponsoring House Bill 1362.

State Rep. Jason Ridley, R-Chatsworth, is sponsoring House Bill 1362.

— htiw ohw ot ot eht eht taht tegrat ecar gnihsup ssim thgim noitalsigel rekamwal tloj s’ti si drah s’ronrevog .eb dna dengila smia nacilbupeR .tL senoJ .voG POG truB A

tcasnart“ evah“ dluow dluow htiw ohw erehw yeht etats etats etats etats derosnops gninnur cilbup elpoep .ytrap ro ro eciffo srettam si detseretni ,tseretni ”yltceridni ni ni fi gnidloh morf morf laicnanif yltcerid tcartnoc yb ”ssenisub rab rab enoyna yna yna na osla .ycnega ycnega a a a ,yeldiR .peR ,htrowstahC-R nosaJ tI esuoH lliB ,2631

htiw ohw pot ot eht eht eht eht ,etats slavir .yramirp .cimednap eno fo fo eltbus-os-ton erusaem evitarcul si gnidulcni ni htlaeh evah sucof evisnetxe gnirud enod surivanoroc stcartnoc seinapmoc erac ssenisub erianoillib eb sraeppa ehT kciR ’senoJ s’noskcaJ ,noskcaJ

ot eht eht ,rosnops .lasoporp yramirp no ni yletaidemmi desrodne t’ndid tnemmoc s’llib edia .rebmetpeS ,yeldiR senoJ senoJ nA

dluow dluow revetahw eht etats dias selur no no fi woh eh eh eldnah wollof ,detcele stcartnoc .skoob era desserP noskcaJ

revetahW“ er’ew er’ew ot ot eht eht syas .dias wal eh gniog gniog gnihtyreve .od ,od od yb ”,koob eW

eht lasoporp lacitilop .gnirevuenam dessimsid ngiapmac sa s’noskcaJ

dluoW“ s’tI“ ohw ot taht gnitegrat gnisirprus etats namsekops ”,gnilaed-fles .dias ngiser evitatneserper elttil si ”?yletaidemmi sih evah desrodne a a evaD truB truB smarbA


Governor 2026

Tables illuminated by candlelight were part of the ambiance at a bipartisan forum in Atlanta organized by business executive Omar Ali on Saturday.

Tables illuminated by candlelight were part of the ambiance at a bipartisan forum in Atlanta organized by business executive Omar Ali on Saturday.

t’nerew eht eht moor ecar dezinagro no fo seman ni ni ronrevog murof rof evitucexe gnivil-fo-tsoc yb ssenisub nasitrapib tseggib ta a emoS yadrutaS ramO s’aigroeG .ilA

kciR .regrepsneffaR oN oN oN oN ecnaL ahsieK .senoJ .noskcaJ truB darB .smottoB

htiw ohw saw sretov deifinu owt selbat ylgnisirprus htuos gnihtemos :gnilaever deniltuo fo puenil denil daetsni ni gninrevog tog seldnac setadidnac ta .adnega a a tahW atnaltA

rehtehw t’nsaw ot revo .ti si woh edivid ,sisirc tub ytilibadroffa sserdda a ehT

ohw rehtehw erew egaw hguorht eht xat etats dluohs dnopser feiler ,smargorp ,ycilop ro no tekram sevitnecni tnemnrevog remrof remrof .noisnapxe etats-xe tcerid ,stiderc dehsalc seednetta dna gnoma dnomruhT .neS awuR nammoR .peR leahciM diacideM .tL nosaJ .voG ffoeG lareneG ,sevetsE ,nacnuD blaKeD ytnuoC sirhC ,rraC OEC yenrottA

rehtehw saw saw saw eht xat s’etats llams .stcejorp ylralucitrap revo fo on ledom slaedagem rallod-hgih gnipleh rof srovaf cimonoce tnemeergasid lacitirc .sessenisub skaerb emit-gib tuoba tuoba erehT .teertS nammoR niaM tI

dluow htiw htiw nehw eht eht .ffirat ffirat dias delur ecalper ,ycilop no fo ylraen ynam lagelli eh eh labolg noitartsurf enoyreve seitud yad yb degdelwonkca a a s’pmurT emerpuS tnediserP dlanoD truoC dnA %51

”yortsed“ ohw saw ot gninetaerht eht eht eht .sffirat dias dias fo reven s’eh naf .ymonoce seitud neeb era gnoma a .S.U nacnuD starcomeD rraC dnA

I“ I“ uoy uoy lliw lliw nehw ,reveostahw dnatsrednu edart ot eht taht sffirat ffirat deeccus ,dias elor tcudorp ro ro ro fo ton on srerutcafunam detimil tsuj s’ti yrtsudni fi fi eh evah ,yllabolg ylmrif sremraf ”.lecxe ecrofne ”,yrtnuoc tub eveileb dna na stnemeerga :gnidda a a a aigroeG aigroeG


‘Sapelo justice’

Supporters of Sapelo Island's Gullah Geechee residents held signs in front of the Nathan Deal Judicial Center last year as a case was making its way through the courts.

Supporters of Sapelo Island’s Gullah Geechee residents held signs in front of the Nathan Deal Judicial Center last year as a case was making its way through the courts.

gninoz sretov aiv delaeper .mudnerefer timrep ecnanidro muirotarom htnom tsal desopmi rof tsrif dednetxe gnidliub retfa a a ehT olepaS hsotnIcM dnalsI ytnuoC noissimmoC

saw diov ot eht eht eht eht eht s’taht ezis epocs kciuq no fo fo tsom gniteem dekram tsal ,dnalsi gnivlovni tcatni sesuoh emoh snoissucsid ytinummoc .eniltsaoc reirrab etairporppa dna dna gnola ynomirca ehT halluG eehceeG naciremA

— hcihw ot ot rieht eht s’taht taht ekops srekaeps yas eriuqer retsiger ytirar cilbup doirep ylno eno eno no ton on rebmem .sgniteem ,gniteem dedulcni ni rof ,tcaf t’ndid tnemmoc .flaheb dednetta ecnavda a a hsotnIcM nI halluG eehceeG tuB

htiw pirt ot eht eht stneduts stneduts ekops sevres loohcs loohcs cilbup etavirp .doirep trap no fo ekam detacol gninrael desab-egaugnal yrotsih sredarg morf hthgie gnirud seitilibasid .secnereffid .mulucirruc tnemmoc s’ytic dednetta sa launna dna dna na edistseW ehT loohcS olepaS 21-K drawoH drawoH hgiH aigroeG s’atnaltA

olepaS“ raey ot siht eht eht rehcaet gnidnuorrus sreloohcs ,mudnerefer yltnecer no reffo ”.ecitsuj yrotsih hgih dleh rof desucof dediced ssalc noitnetta lla a htiW ekraP lraC

dluow htiw tahw ot esoht ev’yeht meht eht taht maet stneduts tneps sehceeps os trohs skramer no no fo ekam denrael .suolaej .decneirepxe did dereviled etabed detfarc erusopmoc noissimmoc ytiralc niatpac desab dna dna dna dna a yadsruhT ehT olepaS dnalsI yadirF hcaE


Ceasefire

htiw retaw sraw ot .revo yltsom eb raeppa s’aigroeG amabalA

nihtiw keew retaw ot eht revir tseuqer revo fo tnemeganam tiuswal tsal sti detnarg ssimsid .nisab .S.U ehT truoC slaeppA tnilF-eehcoohattahC-alocihcalapA s’amabalA

nihtiw retaw eht eht eht eht eht eht taht gnimmets tnemelttes revir sevloser dehcaer sredivorp redro fo fo tsom ortem rojam .tiuswal sedulcni ni puorg morf setelpmoc smialc yb .nisab dna dna osla lla tnemeerga a retaW ehT ylppuS lanoigeR ,sredivorP htroN tI aigroeG aigroeG noissimmoC atnaltA atnaltA s’amabalA 3202 7102

retaw emit siht ereht eht eht ,taht setats ecnis revir gnidnep on snaem tiuswal ti si ni rof tsrif dnoyeb neewteb nisab tuB .9891

sihT“ lliw taht setats ”,sredlohekats .dias fo wen sdlareh are noitarepooc htob tifeneb dna dna lla tnemeerga a hcaoR lanoigeR evitucexE rotceriD noissimmoC OEC atnaltA annA


Under the Gold Dome

State Rep. Tim Fleming, R-Covington, who is running for secretary of state, is pictured at work at the Capitol in Atlanta last week.

State Rep. Tim Fleming, R-Covington, who is running for secretary of state, is pictured at work at the Capitol in Atlanta last week.

eht .noisses fo evitalsigel :sgnineppah emoS s’tI yaD 32

  • 9 a.m.: House Judiciary Committee meets to discuss House Bill 1223, which would create an exemption for disclosing body camera recordings captured by law enforcement when such footage depicts a person’s death.
  • 9 a.m.: The Joint Appropriations Conference Committee meets to discuss the amended 2026 budget.
  • 10 a.m.: House Environmental Quality Subcommittee meets to discuss House Bill 663, which would eliminate the limits for charging fees for motor vehicle emission inspections.
  • 2 p.m.: House Health Committee meets to consider House Bill 1275, which would make sure stem cell therapies do not involve stem cells derived from aborted fetuses
  • 4 p.m.: Senate Judiciary Committee meets to discuss Senate Bill 499, which would repeal a law banning people from possessing a gun silencer.

Campaign watch

House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, R-Milton, said she will not seek reelection. She first took office in 2003.

House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, R-Milton, said she will not seek reelection. She first took office in 2003.

ohw ot eht deeccus gnikees .noitceleer ecar ton si sah deretne namssenisub meT rekaepS orP notliM relliM ,senoJ naJ kcaJ esuoH

hcihw ot eht eht .xat s’etats snaps dias gnihsup serusserp strap no fo htron emocni sedulcni ni ll’eh sucof seilimaf gnicaf etanimile ,tcirtsid .seitnuoc gnivil-fo-tsoc dna tahT relliM notluF eekorehC

ot tnacifingis taes nepo si .tseretni detcepxe ward ehT


Listen up

Dr. Heavenly Kimes (white dress) is a guest today on the "Politically Georgia show."

Dr. Heavenly Kimes (white dress) is a guest today on the “Politically Georgia show.”

yllacitiloP“ ot eht eht klat wohs tsacdop no snioj reh rof ngiapmac tuoba yadoT semiK ylnevaeH ”aigroeG s’aigroeG .rD .tcirtsiD lanoissergnoC ht31

ruoy uoy reverehw ot ebircsbus .stsacdop ro netsil teg eerf rof nac dna na uoY yfitopS yllacitiloP ,stsacdoP aigroeG elppA

uoy su su eht ?wohs noitseuq moc.cja@aigroegyllacitilop ro ro no evig erutuf rof derutaef .edosipe dluoc tnemmoc llac eb ta ta dna a a a evaH liamE 7925-018-077


‘Angel families’

Derek Anglin, lead pastor of NewGrace Church in Commerce, led a worship service at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday at a memorial for Laken Riley, who was murdered on campus in 2024.

Derek Anglin, lead pastor of NewGrace Church in Commerce, led a worship service at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday at a memorial for Laken Riley, who was murdered on campus in 2024.

lliw ohw erehw erew saw smitciv yadot eht eht eht nosrep srehto fo fo yromem ni .yllagelli tsoh gnironoh semirc yrtnuoc ynomerec tnaliassa dna a a pmurT yeliR tnediserP nekaL dlanoD

legna“ tuohtiw htiw lliw lliw elihw saw dlot eht eht eht eht eht taht taht ngis stroper noitamalcorp noissimrep elpoep elpoep tuo no laiciffo fo fo won gnivil lagel dellik dellik goj ni ni rof ”.seilimaf seilimaf gnitangised etad yrtnuoc gnidicnioc supmac dellac yb eb sa a a kroY etihW ytisrevinU pmurT ehT yeliR tsoP tsoP weN esuoH aigroeG .beF ylimaF ,yaD .snehtA legnA A 22

tuohtiw nehw saw ot eht decnetnes elorap efil gnillik ni yllagelli rof deretne detcivnoc dna a naleuzeneV .S.U .yeliR esoJ ,arrabI ,2202

raey ohw suoirav ot eht dengis elpoep netfo slaiciffo fo gnivil wal tsal noitacifitsuj otni ni noitargimmi yllagelli sah rof laredef niated htaed .semirc .nwodkcarc yrtnuoc detic neeb sa era swolla desucca s’pmurT ehT yeliR nekaL reH tcA


Today in Washington

President Donald Trump (left) attended the National Governors Association dinner at the White House on Saturday.

President Donald Trump (left) attended the National Governors Association dinner at the White House on Saturday.

:sthgilhgiH

  • President Donald Trump will hold a ceremony at the White House honoring families whose loved ones were killed by people who were living in the country illegally.
  • The House and Senate postponed votes today because of a winter storm. They’ll be back on Tuesday.

Shoutouts

State Rep. Victor Anderson, R-Cornelia, first took office in 2021.

State Rep. Victor Anderson, R-Cornelia, first took office in 2021.

:syadhtrib detaleB

  • State Rep. Victor Anderson, R-Cornelia (was Saturday).
  • Jackson Fuentes, communications associate with the Georgia Senate Press Office (was Saturday).

ot eht eht .taht timbus .stuotuohs tuotuohs ton ?rettelswen wen tsuj ,sboj detseretni ni ni ereh mrof rof .cte ,stnemegagne .syadhtrib yadhtrib htrib ,stnemecnuonna osla a a er’eW tnaW s’erehT yllacitiloP s’tI aigroeG kcilC


Before you go

Athletes from the United States attended the closing ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy on Sunday.

Athletes from the United States attended the closing ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy on Sunday.

saw ot ot eht eht eht no fo dael ni remrof noitageled gnisolc seinomerec a retniW .S.U .S.U yadnuS llamS ,rotaneS .scipmylO naliM ,relffeoL ylleK ylatI aigroeG anitroC ssenisuB rotartsinimdA

ruoy uoy su .yadot ot ,moc.cja@llehctim.ait dnes ,spoocs moc.cja@yhprum.aicirtap ti redisni ofni ,moc.cja@nietseulb.gerg pissog rof od nac tseb dna dna ,syawla .moc.cja@maeb.mada ll’tahT sA

Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.

Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the “Politically Georgia” podcast. She writes about Georgia’s congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents of the Peach State.

Patricia Murphy is the AJC’s senior political columnist. She was previously a nationally syndicated columnist for CQ Roll Call, national political reporter for the Daily Beast and Politics Daily, and wrote for The Washington Post and Garden & Gun. She graduated from Vanderbilt and holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.

Adam Beam helps write and edit the Politically Georgia morning newsletter.

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