Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for August 11, 2015

On August 11, 1862, Confederate General Braxton Bragg declared martial law in Atlanta.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered the summer commencement address at the University of Georgia on August 11, 1938. Later that day, Roosevelt endorsed Lawrence Camp over incumbent Governor Walter F. George, saying George had not been sufficiently supportive of the New Deal.

The Atlanta Braves signed legendary Negro League pitcher Satchel Paige on August 11, 1968.

On August 11, 1984, Ronald Reagan jokingly announced that he had “signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever…we begin bombing in five minutes,” without knowing he was speaking into a live microphone.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Today, voters go to the polls in three state House Special Runoff Elections.

House District 155 – the runoff pits Clay Pirkle (R) of Ocilla against Horace Hudgins (R) from Sycamore in the race to replace former State Rep. Jay Roberts. The district includes all of Ben Hill, Irwin, and Turner counties and parts of Coffee and Tift Counties.

House District 146 – today, Republicans Shaw Blackmon and Larry Walker, III face off in a Special Runoff Election in House District 146, which includes parts of Houston County and was formerly represented by Larry O’Neal. From the Macon Telegraph,

About 2,201 voters already have cast their ballots in the runoff election, said Houston County’s registration and elections assistant Beverly Nable. Of that number, 1,000 voted on Central Georgia Technical College’s Warner Robins campus, and 1,201 voted at the board of elections, she said. Early voting ended Friday.

Walker, a 50-year-old insurance agency owner, said Monday afternoon he thought the race would be close.

“We’re campaigning hard as we can go today,” Walker said. “I feel good about the effort we’ve put into this. My family and friends have worked tirelessly on it for four months. I’m humbled by the support I’ve gotten out of the community, and I’m proud of the campaign we’ve run. But I think it’s going to be a real, real close result.”

“It’s not over until it’s over and we’re going to push to the end. We’ve got a lot of ground to make up,” Walker said. “I feel like David and Goliath. Bring it on. Me being David, not Goliath.”

Walker said he would join family, friends and supporters Tuesday evening at The Coffee Cup on Carroll Street in downtown Perry across from the board of elections.

Blackmon, president and CEO of National Bank Products, said Monday afternoon his campaign is going strong.

“I feel good,” said Blackmon, 42. “We’ve got a good, hard-working bunch that’s run a good, clean, positive campaign. We’ve knocked on doors, we’ve made phone calls, we’ve shaken hands, we’ve gone person-to-person and, you know, our message has been clear and consistent and (that’s) what’s important to the citizens of Houston County.”

Channel 13 WMAZ spoke to both candidates.

House District 80

Today, Republican and former Mayor of Brookhaven J. Max Davis meets Democrat Taylor Bennett in a Special Election runoff to represent parts of Brookhaven in DeKalb County and Sandy Springs in Fulton. It will also determine the partisan balance of the Fulton County legislative delegation.

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul has joined Governor Nathan Deal and other Republicans endorsing Davis, telling Patch.com,

“I am proud of, and humbled by, the level of support we have built here in District 80,” said Davis. “The strength of our support is reflected by the quality endorsements our campaign has received.”

Davis added Gov. Nathan deal on Monday tweeted to his followers, “urging people to vote for me tomorrow.”

“Let’s keep our majority strong and vote @JMaxDavis for our GOP state rep. in HD 80 tomorrow,” Deal said Monday on Twitter.

“J. Max was a great mayor of Brookhaven,” Paul said Aug. 5. “We have to elect him Tuesday to continue the work of fixing Fulton.”

Another Sandy Springs elected official — Councilman Gabriel Sterling — has also endorsed the candidate.

Other endorsements include: Secretary of State Brian Kemp, Congressman Tom Price, State Senator Fran Millar, State Representative Tom Taylor, State Representative Wendell Willard, State Representative Joe Wilkinson, Brookhaven Mayor Rebecca Chase Williams, Brookhaven Council members Linley Jones, Bates Mattison and Joe Gebbia.

Eighth District Fish Fry

Despite the competition from the RedState Gathering in Atlanta, the Eighth District GAGOP Fish Fry looks like it’s making a strong comeback, drawing most statewide elected Republicans.

Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee spoke at the 2015 Fish Fry for Georgia Republicans in Perry Saturday afternoon

The event brought around 150 people throughout the state together to discuss the state of the Republican party.

“I think it’s our role as a citizen in this country to support your party, whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican but to support our country, show support for your candidate and your country,” says attendee Carl Davis.

At the Fish Fry, former Republican Governor Sonny Perdue endorsed Huckabee.

In a brief news conference following his speech, Huckabee was introduced by a local friend, Sonny Perdue, the former Georgia governor and resident of Bonaire. Perdue also introduced Huckabee to the audience at the fish fry, and announced his support for Huckabee in the race for the GOP nomination.

“It’s clear to me that Mike Huckabee is far and above any of the others,” Perdue said at the news conference.

Huckabee was asked, if he wins the nomination, whether Perdue would be at the top of his list of vice presidential candidates.

“He may very well be,” Huckabee said. “I think he’s having too much fun to think about it, but let me tell you, America would be well served to have somebody with his integrity, competence and leadership skills.”

The event included numerous GOP speakers, including U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson and 8th District Rep. Austin Scott. Both alluded to the division in the GOP in the last two presidential elections, and urged voters to get behind whomever wins the nomination.