What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
Today’s historical moments below combine to show some of the major influences on Georgia politics and governance since her founding, and how the same conflicts have played out across the world.
Georgia’s first colonists landed at Yamacraw Bluff on February 1, 1733.
On January 30, 1788, the Georgia legislature passed a resolution calling for a state Constitutional Convention in Augusta to adopt a state Constitution that conformed to the new Constitution of the United States.
The United States Supreme Court held its first session in New York City, Chief Justice John Jay presiding, on February 1, 1790.
The first recorded reference to Groundhog Day was in 1841; the first Punxsutawney observance was in 1870.
The first recorded reference to Groundhog Day was in 1841; the first Punxsutawney observance was in 1870.
On February 1, 1861, Texas seceded from the Union.
On January 30, 1862, the United States launced its first ironclad warship, USS Monitor.
On January 31, 1865, Robert E. Lee began service as Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate armies.
On January 31, 1865, Congress passed the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, outlawing slavery.
On February 2, 1870, the Georgia General Assembly ratified the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states, “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
On February 1, 1871, Jefferson Franklin Long of Macon, Georgia became the first black Member of Congress to speak on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. Long was born into slavery and taught himself to read and write. Long was a prominent member of the Republican Party, speaking on its behalf in Georgia and other Southern states. He helped elect 37 African-American members to the 1867 Georgia Constitutional Convention and 32 members of the state legislature; Long continued after his term in Congress as a delegate to Republican National Conventions through 1880. In 1880, Long’s support of Governor Alfred Colquitt showed that African-Americans could be an electoral force in Georgia politics.
General William Tecumseh Sherman visited Kimball Opera House in Atlanta on January 31, 1879, which was then serving as State Capitol, fifteen years after burning the city.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882 in Hyde Park, New York. In 1942, Roosevelt ordered Japanese-Americans on the west coast of the United States into concentration camps, leaving German and Italian Americans free.
On January 31, 1893, the trademark for “Coca-Cola” was filed.
On February 2, 1932, Al Capone was sent to federal prison in Atlanta.
On January 30, 1935, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. protested segregated elevators at the Fulton County Courthouse.
On January 30, 1948, Mohandas K. Gandhi was assassinated.
On February 1, 1965, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. arrived in Selma, Alabama, where he was arrested.
Richard M. Nixon announced his candidacy for President of the United States on Feburary 1, 1968.
On February 2, 1988, the Georgia Senate ratified the 22d Amendment to the United States Constitution, which provides that pay raises for Members of Congress shall not go into effect until the next term.
Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker was suspended on January 31, 2000 for remarks made to ESPN.
On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded while re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Under the Gold Dome Today
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The FBI raided Fulton County elections offices, according to the AJC.
Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general who briefed reporters in Washington on Friday, said the raid was part of the administration’s broader push for “election integrity.” He didn’t provide details about the raid, citing the pending criminal case.
Federal agents, armed with search warrants, seized about 700 boxes of ballots and other documents from Fulton’s election operations center in Union City on Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal reported that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who was in Union City for the raid, has been leading an effort to examine the administration’s unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
“President Trump and his entire team are committed to ensuring a U.S. election can never, ever be rigged again. Director Gabbard is playing a key lead role in this important effort,” said Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s press secretary.
Blanche said Gabbard’s appearance at the raid shouldn’t be seen as unusual.
Democrats and voting rights advocates started questioning why Gabbard, the nation’s top intelligence official, appeared at an elections office of a county that’s at the heart of many of Trump’s false claims about Georgia’s 2020 election.
Official comments on the raid have been scarce. On Thursday, FBI Director Kash Patel offered a glimpse of what investigators are doing with the records on an episode of “The Charlie Kirk Show.” He said agents are now sifting through the evidence they retrieved and are determining next steps, including whether to request more search warrants or bring witnesses in for interviews.
Patel said the raid was part of an ongoing investigation that will pay off at the end by improving public safety and security.
Fulton County Chair Robb Pitts and others have questioned the integrity of the ballots now that they’re in the hands of the Trump administration. Patel pushed back.
“For anybody to hint that this FBI or this Department of Justice is mishandling evidence is just flat-out political buffoonery,” he said. “We will maintain the chain of custody. We will secure it like we always do. And we will make sure that we can use it to further any investigation. And most importantly, we will make sure that it is maintained under the rigors of the law so that we can use it in any future court proceedings that may rise out of any investigation.”
Meanwhile, State Election Board members, Fulton officials and others all said they’re still in the dark about the whereabouts of the county’s 2020 ballots. A warrant for Wednesday’s raid said they were seeking ballots and other records related to the 2020 election in Georgia, but it’s still unclear what the probable cause affidavit said. The affidavit and other court records that could justify the raid remained under seal Friday afternoon.
State Rep. Dexter Sharper (D-Valdosta) became the third state legislator to be charged with pandemic fraud, according to Georgia Recorder via the Valdosta Daily Times.
A third Georgia state lawmaker was charged Friday with unemployment fraud in a pandemic-era safety net program.
Rep. Dexter Sharper, a Valdosta Democrat, was arraigned Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Russell G. Vineyard, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release. Sharper faces federal charges of making false statements to obtain nearly $14,000 in unemployment assistance that Congress allocated to help those who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Justice and the Georgia State Inspector General issued a series of strongly worded statements, calling the case a “disgraceful” betrayal of the public and alleging that Sharper exploited his position for personal gain.
“While many of his constituents and fellow citizens were losing jobs and desperately needed unemployment assistance during the pandemic, Rep. Sharper allegedly pretended to be out of work to collect a share of unemployment benefits for himself,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “When government officials lie to take money, and do it while holding an elected office, it violates the trust of citizens and weakens faith in our elected government.”
Sharper declined to comment Friday on the advice of his attorney, calling it “an ongoing legal matter.” A spokesperson for the Georgia House Democratic Caucus also declined to comment.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Sharper applied for unemployment benefits from April 2020 until May 2021. In his application, Sharper allegedly claimed he had not worked at Dexter Sharper Party Rental since March 13, 2020. During that time, Sharper allegedly submitted 38 separate weekly certifications, each claiming he had not worked, had not earned any wages, was actively seeking employment and had not refused any work opportunities.
But federal officials allege that Sharper was earning income from at least two jobs during that time. He received at least $325 every week from the Georgia General Assembly as a state representative. His business, Dexter Sharper Party Rental, was allegedly operational and generating up to $2,231 in weekly income. He was also allegedly collecting up to $275 per week for his work as a musician.
Sharper is now the third Georgia state representative to be entangled in U.S. Department of Justice investigations into pandemic-related fraud. Democratic Rep. Karen Bennett of Stone Mountain and Rep. Sharon Henderson, a Covington Democrat, were both accused of defrauding the same program. Bennett resigned days before authorities charged her in early January and has since pleaded guilty to making false statements to obtain the aid, while Henderson was recently suspended from office.
“These charges point to some disgraceful conduct at the highest level, which should shock and repulse every citizen. The alleged activities describe a disgusting abuse by an elected official who appeared to trade his integrity for money destined for those in need,” said Georgia State Inspector General Nigel Lange in the press release, calling it “shameful.”
From the Associated Press via WRDW:
Federal prosecutors announced Friday they were charging state Rep. Dexter Sharper, a Valdosta Democrat, with making false statements to collect $13,825 in unemployment benefits. It’s the latest example of a growing wave of charges against Georgia lawmakers that U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg warned of in December.
Prosecutors allege Sharper, who represents a South Georgia district, indicated in his application for benefits that he was employed only by his party rental business but hadn’t worked there since March 13, 2020. He submitted 38 weekly certifications saying he was not earning money and was looking for work. Prosecutors said in reality, he was earning money from two to three jobs per week.
“While many of his constituents and fellow citizens were losing jobs and desperately needed unemployment assistance during the pandemic, Representative Sharper allegedly pretended to be out of work to collect a share of unemployment benefits for himself,” said Hertzberg in a statement. “When government officials lie to take money, and do it while holding an elected office, it violates the trust of citizens and weakens faith in our elected government.”
Sharper declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation. He didn’t say whether he would be resigning from the House.
The federal government paid special unemployment benefits during the pandemic using state unemployment systems to people who lost their jobs due to COVID-19. As with regular unemployment benefits, applicants had to certify every week that they remained unemployed to claim benefits.
Democratic Rep. Sharon Henderson, a Covington Democrat, was indicted on two counts of theft of government funds and 10 counts of making false statements, prosecutors announced in December. She was accused of illegally collecting $17,811 in unemployment benefits. Henderson is free on bail, and the governor suspended her from the legislature.
Federal prosecutors filed charges in January against Democratic Rep. Karen Bennett of Stone Mountain, accusing her of one count of making false statements to collect $13,940.
Sharper spent 11 days hospitalized with COVID-19, and he carried around a portable oxygen machine with him when he returned to the Capitol in 2021. He wept to reporters as he recounted his experience and had advocated for public health safety measures to protect others.
Earlier this month, Sharper petitioned the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Georgia under Chapter 13, which would allow him to pay his debts under a court-approved repayment plan.
State House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) unveiled a plan to eliminate property taxes for homeowners, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Statesboro Herald.
Republicans in Georgia’s state House say they want to take steps to erase homeowner property taxes this legislative session, which is getting underway ahead of an election cycle seemingly dominated by concerns about the cost of living.
The proposal unveiled at the Capitol Wednesday by House leaders, would gradually chip away at the amount of property taxes homeowners pay on their primary residence, until the amount vanishes to zero in 2032.
“This historic tax relief will be delivering on our commitment to make life more affordable,” House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington, said Wednesday before releasing a resolution with outlines of the proposal. The way property taxes are levied now, based on fast-rising home values, is “unsustainable” for most homeowners, he said.
The abolishment of a core revenue stream for local communities is a major undertaking. Property taxes are not collected by state government, but they pay for most local services, from police to teachers.
The proposal, still being drafted by Burns’ team, would let cities, counties and schools make up some of the lost revenue by either increasing sales taxes or by shifting revenue from their current sales tax if it is already at the maximum under state law. It also would allow them to levy more property assessments for specific services, much like some jurisdictions bill for fire services.
Burns said that would increase transparency, since taxpayers would be able to see the line-item bill for each service.
But sales tax revenue is currently a larger revenue stream. Much of it is dedicated to road projects or to supplanting a portion of homeowners’ property tax bill. Sales taxes are also less reliable than property taxes, especially during a recession. That would make budgeting more difficult.
And some lost property tax revenue probably could not be replaced, some observers said, leading to cuts to local services.
Property taxes deliver at least $5 billion to fund operations in cities, counties and schools, said Clint Mueller, deputy director of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia.
“It means cutting services. It means raising taxes through assessments. It means shifting sales tax from other purposes like capital and general property tax relief across the board,” he said. Costs don’t “magically go away,” he said.
The biggest local cost is typically the operation of school systems, a mandate under the state constitution. They are so big they are often the largest employer in the community, with 90% of revenue typically going to employee pay and benefits.
And property taxes cover all of that.
“No question that is the primary source of local revenue that school systems have, and it’s really the only way they can raise revenue,” said John Zauner, executive director of the Georgia School Superintendents Association.
Many districts levy a 1% sales tax, but it is typically used to cover capital costs, such as construction or technology purchases.
Zauner noted that some areas would find it difficult to raise much sales tax revenue to replace residential property taxes because they lack a significant industrial or commercial tax base.
“Some of the counties don’t even have a grocery store, let alone a Dollar General,” he said. “It’s just an imbalanced way to collect taxes.”
Striking the right balance of alternative revenue streams versus cuts will not be the only challenge.
To untie the Gordian Knot of Georgia’s property tax system, lawmakers will need voters to approve an amendment to the state constitution.
Before they can even get it to voters, they will have to get it through both chambers of the General Assembly with two-thirds votes in favor. That would mean securing votes from Democrats. It would also require collaboration from the Republican-controlled Senate, which has its own affordability priority.
Senate leaders have said they want to make deep annual cuts to the income tax, eventually eliminating it.
Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, noted that his chamber’s proposal does not call for an increase in the state’s portion of the sales tax.
The House has yet to release legislation with full details about how its property tax cut would work. Tillery said he looks forward to reading the details and to “working with the house to reduce the tax burden on all Georgians.”
More from the Capitol Beat News Service via the Valdosta Daily Times:
A Republican House proposal to eliminate homeowner property taxes will face stiff opposition if it makes it to the state Senate, where Democratic leadership labeled it “draconian” and “unserious.”
Georgia’s property tax is essential, Sen. Harold Jones II, D-Augusta, said Thursday.
“It funds your schools and it funds your police,” said Jones, the Senate minority leader. “And that’s exactly what you would be defunding, quite frankly, if you actually went for either one of these proposals.”
The other proposal he was referring to was by Republican leaders of his own chamber to eliminate the state income tax.
Republicans would not necessarily need support from Democrats to change the income tax, but an overhaul of the property tax would require an amendment of the state constitution.
To pass the General Assembly, a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote of approval from both the House and Senate. Republicans do not have a two-thirds majority in either chamber, so Democrats would have a say in the outcome.
House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington, unveiled the broad strokes of his chamber’s plan Wednesday, with a resolution calling for a constitutional amendment to gradually reduce and then eliminate the property tax on the primary residence of homeowners. He said the rapid rise in home values was driving an “unsustainable” increase in property tax bills.
The resolution requires companion legislation that gets into the details of how the tax break would work.
On Thursday, Rep. Shaw Blackmon, R-Bonaire, the architect of the plan, filed some of that companion legislation.
House Bill 1116 would gradually increase the tax break on primary residences, starting with a $10,000 maximum exemption off the taxable value through 2028, up from the current $2,000.
Blackmon said Wednesday that jurisdictions would be allowed to use up to 2 pennies of local sales tax revenue to make up for their lost property tax revenue, though the total sales tax rate that jurisdictions would be allowed to levy would remain at 5%.
Factories, offices, stores, apartments, second homes and other non-primary residences would still be subject to the traditional property tax.
But HB 1116 would require that cities, counties and school districts reduce their property tax rate to cap annual revenue growth at 3%. And it would require that these jurisdictions roll back their property tax rate if the amount of their sales tax revenue dedicated to offsetting the revenue lost to the homeowner property tax break were to exceed the cost of that tax break.
Jones said the increase in sales taxes needed to pay for the homeowner tax break would raise costs for families when they go shopping. And he said the tax break would also force local service cuts.
“Any idea of getting rid of the property tax is just draconian,” he said.
Jones also said the two-thirds vote requirement was a tough hurdle. “I think that’s going to be a hard one to get over,” he said. “I hope it will be a hard one to get over.”
Governor Brian Kemp’s proposed budget adds $50 million dollars for local aid to people who are homeless, according to the AJC.
It’s a legislative request that caught off guard advocacy groups and local officials who are unaccustomed to Republican leaders elevating street-level homelessness as a priority — and who, at one point not long ago, looked to punish cities like Atlanta for the problem.
Citing trust in Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Kemp underscored the importance of pouring funds toward homelessness ahead of FIFA World Cup games that are expected to bring 300,000 visitors to downtown Atlanta.
“When people from around the world visit our capital city in the coming months for the FIFA World Cup, they will not only see a state with a thriving economy but also one that cares about its people,” Kemp said at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs & Issues breakfast in January.
Kemp leaned on familiar conservative language to make a pitch for what he calls a Homelessness Response Grant, insisting it isn’t a “handout program with limited impact” but a carefully calibrated effort to help foster more stability for the neediest Georgians.
If approved by the Legislature, the funding would go toward emergency shelter and transitional housing, street outreach and engagement teams, and wraparound services like substance abuse programs.
House Bill 1053 by State Rep. Marvin Lim (D-Norcross) would allow local law enforcement to decide whether to cooperate with ICE, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.
A Gwinnett County lawmaker wants to repeal rules that require local law enforcement agencies and county jails to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
State Rep. Marvin Lim, D-Norcross, recently filed House Bill 1053, which would give law enforcement agencies the autonomy to refuse ICE officials who seek their cooperation. The legislation comes amid controversy and backlash over the shootings of a half dozen people by ICE agents, including two people in Minneapolis who were killed by agents in the last month.
“I want people to recognize the contributions immigrants make to our state and our country — just as readily as we recognize the financial contributions of foreign investors and businesses,” Lim said in a statement. “For years, under leadership of both parties, Georgia has proudly promoted itself as the number one place to do business.
“Yet, the policies we have passed over time have tarnished that welcome, immorally instilling fear in people whose labor and capital we so willingly — often unknowingly — depend upon. Their work sustains our manufacturing plants, our farms, our health care facilities and many other essential industries where so few are willing to work.”
Lim’s legislation will face an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled Georgia General Assembly, but it gives Democrats a immigration-related bill to rally around in a year where state offices are up for election. Lim himself is expected to face a re-election challenge from within his own party from former state Rep. Brenda Lopez-Romero.
In 2024, General Assembly passed a bill that requires Sheriff’s Offices in particular to cooperate with ICE agents or face financial penalties.
House Bill 1053 would repeal provisions of the 2024 law that require local law enforcement agencies and jails cooperate with ICE and would repeal statues that allow the state to withhold funding for local government and law enforcement agencies for refusing to cooperate with ICE.
Additionally, under Lim’s bill, law enforcement would have to process U-Visa and T-Visa applications for immigrant survivors of human trafficking or other “qualifying crimes.”
“With HB 1105 in 2025, we overrode local law enforcement’s authority by forcing officers to involve federal immigration authorities over even the most minor perceived traffic violations — wasting valuable time and resources better spent on urgent, life-and-death matters,” Lim said.
“I am proud to introduce HB 1053 as a first step toward beginning to right these wrongs.”
The Georgia Department of Revenue unveiled a new car tag honoring the 250th Anniversary of Georgia, according to the Augusta Chronicle.
The Georgia Department of Revenue is offering a special license plate that commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
The plate will be available as a standard option along with the peach and the peach orchard plates, according to a news release from the Revenue Department.
“As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, this commemorative plate offers Georgians a meaningful way to recognize our nation’s founding and the pivotal role our state played in it,” said Revenue Commissioner Frank O’Connell in a news release.
The design for the plate was created by Georgia middle school students as part of a statewide civics education initiative with the Georgia Department of Education, according to the release.
Eden Pethel, an eighth-grade home-schooled student from Jackson County, created the winning design.
Vehicle owners can choose the commemorative plate or the existing design when registering a new vehicle or renewing their existing registration through their county tag office.
Drivers who want to exchange their plate for the new design outside of their registration renewal period will be charged a $20 new registration fee, according to the news release.
The new plate will be available through 2030 and will be a standard option rather than a specialty plate at no additional cost.
More than 300 protestors met in Savannah’s Forsyth Park to protest federal ICE operations, according to the Savannah Morning News.
Two banners led a string of roughly 350 protestors from Savannah’s Forsyth Park to Bay Street Saturday afternoon.
The messages on each banner echoed the themes of the event, “the people united will defend immigrant families” and “the whole system is guilty shut it down,” as Savannahians and visitors alike gathered to oppose recent actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under President Donald Trump.
Organizers and attendees said the event was also to stand in solidarity with Minneapolis, MN, where an ICE agent and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents have killed two people this month. Saturday’s protest was the second in Savannah in consecutive weekends since the Jan. 24 Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents.
The protest, organized by a local chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, started with an hour of speeches and chants led by organizers and attendees at the foot of the Forsyth Park Band Shell. Chants included those of “abolish ice” and “up, up with liberation, down, down with deportation.”
“We are here to say that we will fight for our country. We will fight for our democracy, and we will fight to make this country better,” said Erin Mayer, events coordinator for Savannah Indivisible and Migrant Rights Chair for Savannah Chapter of Democratic Socialists of America.
Anti-ICE protestors also hit the streets in Macon, according to the Macon Telegraph.
Local protesters marched a half-mile and back through downtown, from Rosa Parks Square across from Macon-Bibb County City Hall, to the federal courthouse for the Middle District of Georgia on Mulberry and Third streets.
Even an on-duty law enforcement officer called ICE’s aggressive tactics wrong, and supported the protesters.
Lt. Cedric Penson was one of several Bibb County Sheriff’s Office deputies assigned to post up around the march for safety.
“Not just law enforcement, it could be any profession … what’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong,” Penson said. “I commend these people. It takes courage to stand up for what’s right.”
“When free speech under the First Amendment is jeopardized, “then you’re in trouble,” he said.
Nobody was arrested at the protest, according to Bibb County Sheriff David Davis, who stood by in case anything were to escalate. BCSO patrol vehicles followed protesters and blocked traffic along the route.
A candlelight vigil in Augusta honored the late Alex Pretti, according to the Augusta Chronicle.
Community members attended a candlelight vigil for Alex Pretti in front of the downtown Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center on Jan. 28, 2026.
Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson addressed local law enforcement interactions with ICE, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.
Mayor Skip Henderson promised during Tuesday night’s Columbus Council meeting that local law enforcement has been and will continue to limit its cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Two weeks ago, state Sen. Randy Robertson (R-Cataula) remarked about this issue, saying it is “the responsibility of law enforcement leaders to make that decision.”
Monday, Georgia House of Representatives miniority leader Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus) warned against immigration enforcement violence coming to the state.
The city has had conversations with representatives from ICE, Henderson said during the meeting.
“I can tell you what our police department’s philosophy is,” he said. “They don’t go looking for anybody who might not have a visa to be in our county. The only way they’ll ever participate with ICE is if there’s a warrant and they’re looking to apprehend somebody who’s committed a crime in our community or other areas.”
Henderson said he understands the sensitivity about this issue is growing by the day, and the Columbus Council has been “watching and keeping an eye out.”
“We never know if they’re going to move folks into our area or other areas,” he said.
Henderson promised to provide more frequent updates on the matter.
“Our police chief, sheriff and all of our law enforcement folks do a good job of making sure that they are only policing people who have broken the law,” he said.
Republican Christian Hurd withdrew from the Special Election for the 14th Congressional District, according to Atlanta News First via WALB.
One of the 17 Republicans seeking Marjorie Taylor Greene’s old seat in Congress is withdrawing from the race and is instead going to run for state representative.
On Sunday, Christian Hurd said he is endorsing Clay Fuller in the congressional race and will now run for Georgia House District 2, currently represented by state Rep. Steve Tarvin, R-Chickamauga. Tarvin has represented the northwest Georgia district since 2014, and currently chairs the House budget and fiscal affairs oversight committee.
A January three-day qualifying period for the race brought 22 challengers for the 14th congressional district: 17 Republicans, three Democrats, one Libertarian, and one independent.
Hurd’s withdrawal means that 16 Republicans are now hoping to make an all-but-certain runoff in the heavily GOP district.
Gov. Brian Kemp set a March 10, 2026, special election date. The race’s crowded field will likely result in a runoff on April 8, 2026.aa
Today is the last day of qualifying for the State Senate District 53 seat vacated by Colton Moore, according to WRGA News.
Qualifying concludes Monday for the District 53 seat in the Georgia State Senate.
The Special Election will be held on March 10 in Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker, and a portion of Floyd Counties to fill a vacancy due to the qualifying of Senator Colton Moore for the Special Election to fill a vacancy in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District for the United States House of Representatives.
The qualified candidates, so far, include Republicans Blake Elsberry, a regional director from Walker County; Denise Pierce Burns, a homemaker and home educator from Catoosa County; and Lanny Thomas, a retired educator from Chattooga County.
One Democrat, John Bentley (Jack) Zibluk, a professor of communication from Walker County, has also qualified.
Qualifying runs today from 8 am until 1 pm at the Elections Division in Atlanta.
The fee is $400.
The ballots are now set for two special legislative races in Georgia and the candidates are still lining up for a third contest set for March 10.
Since the 2026 legislative session is already underway, the winners may not be seated in time to cast any votes under the Gold Dome this year unless they win their race outright. The session ends April 2, and runoffs, if needed, are set for April 7.
All lawmakers – including the winners of these special elections – will be on the ballot later this year.
House District 130:
Six candidates have qualified in the Augusta-area special election to replace former state Rep. Lynn Heffner.Heffner, a Democrat, announced in early January that she would resign, citing damage to her home from Hurricane Helene and the state law requiring representatives to live in the districts they represent. She was elected in 2022, winning 67% of the vote against a Republican opponent, and last won reelection in 2024 unopposed.
Four Democrats – including a former lawmaker – and two Republicans qualified this week for the March election. All six candidates will appear on the same ballot, and if no candidate wins 50% of the vote, the two candidates will advance to an April 7 runoff.
Democrats:
Sha’qunta “Q” Calles is a business owner who says she uses her online platform, Augusta News Network: AUG-splained, to break down how government decisions affect real people. She said the district’s biggest issues are access, transparency, health care and economic growth.
Karen Gordon is a community development consultant. “The biggest issues facing District 130 are affordability – particularly housing and health care – access to quality education, and supporting small business growth,” she said.
Sheila Clark Nelson is a retired postal worker who previously served in the House, representing what was then District 125. She said she served three terms but stepped away to be her mother’s caregiver. “Now that my mom has passed, I’m available to continue serving the wonderful constituents in this district,” she said.
Lafawn S. Pinkney-Mealing is a labor relations practitioner. If elected, she said she would focus on stable and affordable housing, education and workforce readiness and family stability through what she called “smart second-chance legislation.”
Republicans:
David Carson is a cybersecurity analyst and educator. He said he would hold data centers accountable and make sure these projects “serve Richmond County, not just extract our resources.” He said he would also focus on Hurricane Helene recovery and would push to create more educational and training opportunities that will better prepare local students for high-tech careers.
Thomas McAdams is a minister and chief administrative officer. “If you’re looking for a Christian leader who is conservative and prioritizes unity and affordability through fiscal responsibility, I’m your guy,” he said in a video posted to social media.
House District 94:
A metro Atlanta district became vacant early this month after former Rep. Karen Bennett, a Stone Mountain Democrat, resigned shortly before being indicted for unemployment fraud. She has since pleaded guilty.Four Democrats have signed up to take her place.
Kelly Kautz is a Gwinnett County attorney and a former mayor of Snellville. On her campaign site, she says she will focus on creating jobs, investing in mental health services and affordability issues like housing.
Audrey Taylor Lux lives in Gwinnett County, and a campaign spokesperson said she has worked as a legislative assistant at the state Capitol, a forester and a lab researcher. Her top focuses are affordability, civil rights and transportation.
Venola Mason is a DeKalb County education consultant. “I believe thriving communities are built on strong schools that support both students and educators, real economic opportunity so hard work truly pays off, and access to affordable healthcare that keeps families out of crisis,” she said.
Ikenna Emmanuel Ugwumadu is a DeKalb County candidate who says he is self-employed. “I’m running for the future, not walking,” he said in a statement. “I’m running for youth who can’t afford a home or reliable transportation, for Georgians struggling to pay rent or a mortgage, and for young people who don’t lack ambition, only opportunity.”
Senate District 53:
Former Trenton Republican state Sen. Colton Moore stepped down to run for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, which had been represented by former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.Qualifying for this race is still underway, but four candidates have qualified so far: Republicans Denise Pierce Burns, Blake Elsberry and Lanny Thomas and Democrat John Bentley (Jack) Zibluk.
Announcements:
Chris Harden, a Cherokee County attorney and Democrat, has announced a campaign for Georgia’s 11th Congressional District, which is represented by GOP Congressman Barry Loudermilk. In a press release, Harden said he would center his campaign on strengthening public education and expanding access to affordable health care.
Columbus City Council District 9 member John Anker said he will run for election to the seat he was appointed to fill, according to WTVM.
According to official documents, District 9 City Councilman John Anker has announced his running for the Columbus District 9 At-Large seat.
Anker, a well-known business owner, has previously pursued two city-wide offices, including a mayoral bid in 2022, where he lost to Skip Henderson, and a run for the Columbus City Council District 10 At-Large seat against Travis Chambers. However, he lost the majority vote in a run-off election.
The Columbus City Council moved to fill a vacant position by appointing Anker through a 6-3 vote in early 2025.
The action came shortly after Judy Thomas stepped down from her role, citing health issues.
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