Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for December 3, 2025

On December 3, 1775, the Grand Union Flag, comprising the Union Jack with thirteen red-and-white stripes was raised for the first time by Lieutenant John Paul Jones over the USS Alfred, a colonial warship. The flag would be used by Continental forces through 1776 and early 1777.

On December 3, 1776, General George Washington wrote Congress that he had moved most of his army across the Delaware River from Trenton, New Jersey to Pennsylvania.

On December 3, 1864, Union forces under the command of Gen. William T. Sherman skirmished against Wheeler’s Confederate cavalry at Thomas’ Station in Burke County, Georgia.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Governor Brian Kemp issued Executive Order #12.02.25.01, appointing a review commission to recommend whether Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson should be suspended after Henderson was indicted. From AccessWDUN:

That indictment stemmed from an alleged incident in December of last year between Henderson and Hiawassee Police Department (HPD) officer José Carvajal that led to Henderson facing three counts of violation of oath by a public officer, one county of false imprisonment under color of law, one count of false imprisonment, one county of simple battery on a police officer, and one count of simple battery.

Attorney General Chris Carr, Coweta County Sheriff Lenn Wood, and Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown are on the review commission, the same three tasked with investigating and submitting a report to Kemp back in September.

Henderson was subsequently suspended for 60 days on Oct. 21. That suspension is still active, but Tuesday’s executive order said that since 14 days had passed since receiving Henderson’s indictment, the review commission must submit a written report within 14 days as to whether Henderson should be suspended.

That would be Dec. 16 when it is made public what the next steps for Henderson is.

Early voting is open in the Special Election for House District 121 after State Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-Watkinsville) resigned, according to the AJC.

With a state House seat representing south metro Athens, Watkinsville and most of Oconee County up for grabs, Republicans are looking to preserve what should be an easy GOP seat while Democrats are hoping flipping the seat could signal future gains for their caucus.

Democrat Eric Gisler and Republican Mack “Dutch” Guest are competing in a special election to represent House District 121 in the Georgia General Assembly.

Early voting began Nov. 17 and continues through Friday at 7 p.m. The election is Tuesday, Dec. 9. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. that day.

The winner will serve out the remaining portion of the term of Republican state Rep. Marcus Wiedower, who retired from the Georgia Legislature in October to concentrate on his real estate business.

Gisler, who works in information technology, said he is focusing his campaign on housing, health care and the costs of everyday expenses, like groceries.

House Democrats are supporting his bid, despite the long odds.

“Eric is a candidate who is deeply dedicated to his community and making life better for all Georgians,” said Democratic Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley.

The special election is an opportunity to pick up the first of the 11 seats needed to flip the state House, she said.

Republicans, meanwhile, are getting behind their candidate in the race.

“Mack ‘Dutch’ Guest is a proven, conservative businessman who will support our teachers and students, stand with law enforcement, ensure Georgia continues to have the best transportation infrastructure in the nation, and keep our state the best place to live, work, and raise a family,” Gov. Brian Kemp, an Athens native, said in a post on X.

[Guest is] focused on keeping the community safe, strengthening education, improving transportation and providing tax relief, according to his website.

Winder City Council held a “no confidence” vote against Mayor Jimmy Terrell, according to AccessWDUN.

The City of Winder approved a temporary vote of no-confidence in Mayor Jimmy Terrell 4-1 at a Nov. 25 meeting.

Mayor Terrell was given the opportunity to provide comments before the vote but instead moved for the question to be called.

The vote is an expression indicating “concern over the Mayor’s recent actions, conduct, or decision-making,” according to the city.

“While the action itself does not remove the Mayor from office or limit the legal authority of the office, it serves as a public statement that, at this time, a majority of the Council lacks confidence in the Mayor’s leadership,” a statement from the City of Winder said.

Morris, Kilgore, Singley, and At-Large Councilor Stephanie Britt voted for the motion of no-confidence.

At-large councilor Taffy McCormick was the lone vote against the measure.

From the Athens Banner Herald:

The email sent by Terrell was directed at “high ranking” city employees to remind them not to exceed their spending limits, according to a statement issued by Terrell’s attorney, Kyle Sharry of Winder.

The email prompted the special council meeting for the city council to review Terrell’s actions.

One councilmember, Stephanie Britt, asked what Human Resources could do about the mayor, and the HR director, Niki Graham, responded that there was nothing in the city charter that allowed for action by HR, according to the minutes.

One councilmember, Kobi Kilgore, described the mayor’s action as “bullying.”

Terrell had no comment on the motion while at the meeting, so it went to a vote and passed 4 to 1, with councilmember Taffy McCormick casting the lone no vote.

The city issued a statement following the meeting that the council’s vote shows a majority lacks confidence in the mayor’s leadership.

But Sharry said the meeting was a “deliberate political theater designed to disparage Mayor Terrell and to be a part of a larger effort to curtail the executive functions of the office of mayor.”

Sharry also noted that City Administrator Jonathan Lynn said the mayor is not permitted by the city charter to communicate with city employees. However, Sharry said Lynn’s opinion was false.

Sharry said the charter gives the mayor executive powers, and the charter provides that the mayor has the power to ‘direct and control’ the work of city employees.

A three-judge panel of the Eleventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals lifted a lower court’s injunction in a lawsuit over election laws, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Moultrie Observer.

A federal appeals court has restored a state ban on giving food and drink to people waiting in line to vote.

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta on Monday cancelled a preliminary injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia two years ago that stopped the state from enforcing its ban on giving “gifts” near polling places.

The three-judge appellate panel decided that a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in another case last year had changed the legal landscape for such decisions. The high court ruled in that case that lower courts had failed to fully analyze whether state content-moderation restrictions on social media companies violated the First Amendment.

The defendant in that case — Moody v. NetChoice, LLC — was an industry association for internet companies, but the same analysis applies in a case about regulating elections, the appeals court in Atlanta decided.

“The district court didn’t conduct the facial-challenge analysis now required by Moody,” the Eleventh Circuit Court opinion said. It said the district court had “failed to systematically assess the full sweep of the regulation and weigh the constitutional against the unconstitutional applications.”

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican running for governor, applauded the decision, issuing a statement that said it “reinforces a simple truth: Georgia has the right and the responsibility to shield voters from influence and interference at the polls.”

The GOP-controlled General Assembly passed the gifts ban in 2021, as part of an elections overhaul in the wake of claims by Donald Trump that the 2020 election had been stolen from him.

Senate Bill 202 affected absentee voting and other election procedures, but one element in particular gained national attention: the ban on giving voters “any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink” while in line at polling places.

Civil rights groups sued, calling the ban a barrier to voting. The U.S. Department of Justice under President Joe Biden sued, asserting the law violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act by intentionally discriminating against Black voters.

Then, President Donald Trump started his second term and named Pam Bondi U.S. Attorney General. In March, she ordered the Justice Department to drop the lawsuit.

The appeals court order on Monday returns the case to the district court in Atlanta, where U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee has been overseeing the lawsuits and motions related to the 2021 law.

Police blotter: Baldwin County Chief Magistrate Judge Shane Michael Geeter was arrested for alleged DUI, according to 13WMAZ.

Georgia State Patrol says 71-year-old Shane Michael Geeter — who is chief magistrate judge in Baldwin County and a lawyer who also handles DUI cases — was failing to stay in his lane on Georgia Highway 212 in Baldwin County.

When Georgia State Patrol pulled Geeter over, they say the trooper had reason to believe that Geeter was under the influence of alcoholic beverage, but they did not say why.

They say Geeter was arrested for driving under the influence charges and failing to maintain lane.

Geeter was booked into the Baldwin County Jail, but he bonded out of the jail the same day on a $1,000 bond, according to booking documents from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.

Democrat Akbar Ali won the runoff election for the State House District 106 seat vacated by former State Rep. Shelly Hutchinson (D-Snellville), according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Akbar Ali made history on Tuesday night, becoming the youngest member of the Georgia General Assembly after a victory in the special election to replace retires state Rep. Shelly Hutchinson.

Ali, who was just 21 when he jumped into the race for the state House District 106 special election this past summer, defeated fellow Democrat Marqus Cole in a runoff for the seat on Tuesday. The representative-elect received 54.39% of the 1,741 votes cast in the election, compared to 45.61% for Cole, with all of the precincts counted, according to unofficial election results.

Ali has been involved in both the Gwinnett County Democratic Party, stepping down from a leadership party to run for the house seat, and the Gwinnett County Young Democrats.

Ali grew up in Gwinnett County and graduated from Parkview High School. He later graduated from Kennesaw State University with a degree in political science and public relations.

In addition to his involvement with the local Democratic Party, his government and political  experience includes previously serving on the Gwinnett County Transit Advisory Board.

Hutchison had endorsed Ali in the race to replace her.

From the AJC:

“I’m proud and ready to serve this community,” Akbar told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “There are a lot of issues that families and seniors are struggling with right now. I’m ready to tackle them on day 1. I won’t rest until they’re solved.”

Ali, a graphic designer, ran on promises to improve public education and school safety and to work to bring more affordable housing to the district.

“People are just being crushed under the weight of too high prices, mainly with health care, insurance and housing,” he told the AJC in an interview earlier this year.

Neither candidate got a majority of the vote in a three-candidate special election last month. Cole, a director at an energy and environmental nonprofit, got 39% of the vote, and Ali received 32%.

Ali was endorsed by endorsed by Hutchinson, former Gov. Roy Barnes, House Democratic Whip Sam Park and several state lawmakers and local elected officials.

David Hogg, the young gun control activist who briefly served as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, campaigned for Ali.

“Gwinnett County is lucky to have his fresh perspective, incredible enthusiasm, and focus on affordability. Akbar and his team have knocked on thousands of doors, listening to Georgians. We know Akbar will bring those hopes and concerns to the floor of the Georgia General Assembly and create lasting change,” Hogg said in a statement Tuesday.

Richmond Hill City Council District 2 voters overwhelmingly chose Kevin Bowes as their new city council member, according to WSAV.

According to the unofficial results, Kevin Bowes was elected to fill the Post 2 City Council seat in Richmond Hill. Tuesday’s runoff followed the November 2025 election results when Bowes received a little over 30% of the vote followed by Buck Holly with 24%.

On Tuesday, Bowes secured 906 votes while Buck Holly received 291.

In Midway, Malcom X. Williams was elected Mayor in yesterday’s runoff election, according to WSAV.

Malcom X. Williams defeated Stanley E. Brown Sr. by a 56.5% to 43.4% margin, according to an election summary report.

Williams received 195 votes compared to Brown’s 150. The two were separated by only two votes in November’s general election, which forced the runoff.

In Cordele, suspended Ward Two Commissioner Royce Reeves lost his runoff election, according to 13WMAZ.

Royce Reeves Sr. failed to earn re-election as city commissioner for Ward Two in Cordele, losing the run-off race to challenger Bernard Fenn.

Fenn won 54% of the vote, beating Reeves by 46 votes. Fenn received 270 votes, while Reeves got 224.

Reeves’ biography said he’s been on the city commission since he was first elected on Jan. 1, 2014. However, in February of this year, he was suspended by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp after he was indicted on gang-related charges.

Reeves, 52, was arrested in 2024. A Georgia Bureau of Investigation press release said he was charged with marijuana distribution, gang activity, RICO violations, and more. He was one of 24 people arrested in the case.

Prosecutors say Reeves took part in a financial deal that he knew came from illegal drug sales. They believe the goal of the deal was to help the G-Shyne gang in Cordele.

Gov. Kemp appointed a review commission — made up of other local officials and Attorney General Chris Carr — to look into the charges to determine whether the indictment affected Reeves’ ability to serve as a city commissioner.

After the commission shared its findings, Kemp issued an order suspending Reeves.

13WMAZ reached out to Reeves’ attorney, Elizabeth Gibson, who offered the following statement.

“My client has been formally charged with certain alleged offenses; however, it is crucial to underscore that these charges are merely accusations at this stage, and my client has not been convicted of any crime. We maintain that the presumption of innocence is a fundamental principle of our legal system, and we are confident that the facts will be fully explored and the truth of this matter will be revealed through the appropriate legal process. Until such time, we trust that all parties will respect the integrity of the proceedings and refrain from any premature conclusions.”

This is not the first time Reeves has been suspended. In January 2022, Gov. Kemp suspended him after he was charged with obstructing a police officer, disorderly conduct, criminal trespassing, and more.

In Fort Valley, Shakeena Reeves was elected Mayor, unseating incumbent Jeffery Lundy, according to 13WMAZ.

Reeves, the challenger, led the initial November election with over 44% of the vote, just over 180 votes more than the incumbent, Lundy. Since she didn’t secure over 50% of the vote, Reeves and Lundy had another opportunity to face off at the ballot box.

Reeves is a Fort Valley State University alumna and said she is an economist who has worked with the US Department of Agriculture and is an active member of local government through Fort Valley’s Planning and Zoning Board.

“My first priority is to address our financial health,” Reeves said. “Currently, I am building a transition team of subject matter experts across all departments to give me advice on what to look for. We want to have a forensic audit, but meanwhile, we’ll do an internal audit to see what money we have. We want to evaluate each department to see where we can cut expenses because right now, we don’t have a balanced budget. It’s important to communicate with the community throughout the process and lean on experts.”

In Suwanee, City Council Post 4 member Beth Hilscher won reelection in the runoff, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.

According to unofficial results released by the city, Hilscher received 734 votes while Martinez received 638 votes.

Suwanee was one of two Gwinnett cities that held runoffs for City Council seats on Tuesday.

Duluth held a runoff between incumbent Councilman Lamar Doss and Marlene Denise Tucker for the City Council Post 3 seat. Duluth officials had not posted the results as of 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

In Sandy Springs, Mayor Rusty Paul carried the runoff election, according to the AJC.

Paul, a former Georgia Republican Party chair and ex-state legislator, won with plenty of conservative muscle. State GOP Chair Josh McKoon — who joined Paul’s celebration — said the party sent out mailers and texts urging voters to reject his “radical” opponent.

But Paul was quick to note that his lopsided victory wouldn’t have been possible without a surge of Democratic support. That included a timely endorsement from state Rep. Esther Panitch, who helped blunt backing for Carter from Stacey Abrams and other Democratic figures.

“In a lot of ways, this has been the toughest election. In some ways, it’s been easier because I was more relaxed in this election,” Paul said, pausing for a beat. “Because one way or another, this is my last one.”

McKoon wasn’t about to cast a suburban mayoral blowout as a sign of Republican momentum heading into next year’s midterms. After all, Democrats swept last month’s statewide Public Service Commission races by roughly 26 points. And in nearby Roswell, former Democratic state Rep. Mary Robichaux ousted Mayor Kurt Wilson despite his endorsements from Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Suwanee.

But he drew one conclusion.

“I’m very pleased that a former chairman of the Georgia GOP won over 70% of the vote in a city that everyone acknowledges is a very purple place,” he said.

Other takeaways:

Roswell Mayor: Robichaux’s victory over Wilson hinged partly on outcry over a decision to remove trees near the historic Mimosa Hall & Gardens site. Robichaux said Wilson conceded the race and has offered to help with the transition.

Atlanta City Council District 7: Thomas Worthy defeated Thad Flowers. Flowers is a former City Council chief of staff. Worthy is the chief public policy officer at Piedmont Healthcare and a former MARTA board member who was an attorney for former Republican Gov. Nathan Deal.

Atlanta City Council District 11: Wayne Martin defeated Nate Jester. Jester is a military veteran and Harvard law graduate. Martin has worked for the Atlanta Housing Authority and Atlanta Public Schools.

Roswell voters appear to have elected Mary Robichaux as Mayor over incumbent Kurt Wilson, according to the AJC.

Robichaux’s victory comes after an election season punctuated by some loud voices of dissatisfaction with Roswell’s leadership. Reached by phone on Tuesday night, she said Wilson called her to concede and offered to help with the transition.

“Close to 18,000 (people) voted in this one runoff election for Roswell,” Robichaux said. “That’s a high number. I’m very proud of Roswellians — that they came out and voted and had their voices heard.”

In the South Fulton mayor’s race, City Council member Carmalitha Gumbs appeared to win handily against former council member Mark Baker in a runoff after they emerged from a nine-way contest.

She will replace incumbent khalid “Kobi” kamau, who was the subject of intense criticism over his spending of taxpayer dollars and international travel.

“The voters have spoken, and I’m excited for South Fulton’s future,” Gumbs said in an interview late Tuesday night. “I’m ready to get to work healing and uniting this city and getting the things we’ve been waiting for and moving this city forward.”

In East Point, Keisha Chapman appeared to easily beat Joshua B. Butler IV in the mayor’s race.

Three spots on the Atlanta school board were on the ballot Tuesday. In the District 2 race, Mozley Park resident Tony Mitchell appeared to easily beat parent Marlissa Crawford.

In the District 6 race, school counselor Patreece Hutcherson appeared to unseat incumbent Tolton R. Pace. And in the race for the at-large District 8 seat on the board, educator Kaycee Brock appeared to beat 23-year-old Royce Mann.

Here are some other unofficial results in runoffs for city council seats in metro Atlanta:

In South Fulton, incumbent Jaceey Sebastian appeared to have clung to his District 4 seat by a razor-thin margin against Kenya Jordan Moore. And in District 2, Aaron Johnson appeared to have won against Stephanie G. Johnson.

In Sandy Springs, Frank Roberts appeared to beat Michelle Sullivan in District 4.

In Stonecrest, Karmesha Washington Smith appeared to beat incumbent Tammy L. Grimes in a close race for the District 5 seat.

In Marietta, Daniel Gaddis appeared to easily beat Nora Gaudet in the council race in Ward 3. And in Ward 5, incumbent Carlyle Kent appeared to trounce Reggie Copeland, getting more than four times as many votes.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson wants Chatham County Commissioners and Chatham Area Transit to quit beefing, according to WTOC.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson called for Chatham County Commissioners to “work it out” with Chatham Area Transit. The relationship between the two has been shaken ever since the state restructured the CAT board.

Johnson said the ongoing dispute will hurt citizens more than anyone else and urged the boards to come together quickly.

“I mean I’m just saying can’t we all just get along,” posed Johnson.

The relationship between Chatham Area Transit and county commissioners has been strained since the state legislature changed commission representation from 6-out-of-9 seats to 3-out-of-11 on the CAT board. Chatham County Commission Chairman Chester Ellis said he believes the change is unconstitutional.

“Chatham County commission is responsible for public transportation here not the state legislator,” Ellis said.

The county has refused to fill their three seats on the CAT board since the change took effect in July. Ellis recently sent a letter that terminates the relationship between the two entities by July 2026.

Johnson said a series of events between the boards, including the county lowering funds for transit, were caused by the board change.

“After that all hell seemed to break loose and things were happening that in my mind looked really retaliatory. And the fact was is don’t be mad at CAT, be mad at the state. Because the state did it CAT didn’t do it,” Johnson said.

Ellis said it might be necessary to establish a completely new transit system.

“If it takes the county establishing its own transportation system then it takes what it takes,” Ellis said.

Chatham County Commissioner Pat Farrell is also working for a cessation of hostilities, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Chatham County Commissioner Pat Farrell has requested a commissioner’s item be placed on Friday’s commission agenda to discuss Chatham Area Transit in an effort to end the county’s ongoing feud with the transit agency, according to a Dec. 1 letter Farrell sent to Chatham County Chairman Chester Ellis.

If put on the agenda, Farrell plans to make a motion to rescind Ellis’ Nov. 13 letter saying the county would end its agreement with CAT for transportation services next year, fill the three vacant county-appointed seats to the CAT Board, and drop all county lawsuits with the transit authority.

“It is time to put petty personal politics aside and do our jobs as county commissioners,” wrote Farrell, who is also running for U.S. House District 1.