Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for October 7, 2024

King George, III issued the Proclamation of 1763 on October 7, 1763.

With respect to Georgia’s official boundaries, the proclamation expanded Georgia’s southern boundary by giving the colony all lands between the Altamaha and St. Marys rivers. Previously, the Altamaha had served as Georgia’s southern boundary.

So, the impact of the Proclamation of 1763 was to set Georgia’s official southern boundary as the St. Marys River from its mouth to the headwaters, then north to the Altamaha River, then north to the headwaters of that river, and then westward to the Mississippi River. Georgia’s northern boundary was the Savannah River from its mouth to its headwaters.

Patriot militia defeated Loyalists at the Battle of King’s Mountain in North Carolina, near the South Carolina border on October 7, 1780.

On October 7, 1916, Georgia Tech beat Cumberland College in the most-one-sided college football game in history, by a score of 222-0.

The Engineers led 63–0 after the first quarter and 126–0 at halftime. Tech added 54 more points in the third quarter and 42 in the final period.

Recently, a Georgia Tech alumnus paid $44,388 for the game ball with the intention of donating it to the trade school.

The Democratic Republic of Germany (East Germany) was created by the Soviets on October 7, 1949.

Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican Vice President Richard Nixon met in the second televised Presidential debate on October 7, 1960.

President Richard Nixon proposed a structure for peace and eventual withdrawal of American forces from Vietnam on October 7, 1970.

President George W. Bush (43) announced military action in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001.

In a televised address that evening, Bush informed the American public that “carefully targeted actions” were being carried out to crush the military capability of al-Qaida and the Taliban, with help from British, Canadian, Australian, German and French troops. An additional 40 nations around the world provided intelligence, as well as bases from which the operations were conducted.

Bush touted the multinational effort as proof that America, in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, was “supported by the collective will of the world.” He also warned that the war in Afghanistan would likely be only the first front in a long struggle against terrorism. He vowed to continue to take what he called the “war on terror” to those countries that sponsored, harbored or trained terrorists.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected Governor of California on October 7, 2003.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Today is the voter registration deadline for the November 5, 2024 General Election and any resulting runoff elections. You can log into the My Voter Page system and check your registration status, voting location, sample ballots, and early voting information.

The Trump-Vance campaign bus tour crossed Georgia over the weekend, according to WTVM.

Former President Donald Trump has officially launched a three-day bus tour, “Team Trump”, making its first stop in the Fountain City. Right down the road, members of the Democratic Party also rallied together.

“I encourage everybody to get out and vote; this election is critically important,” said Dr. Wayne Johnson, U.S. Congress Republican Candidate for District 2. “It’s all about the swing voters, it’s all about the marginal voters…it carries enormous weight.”

As Republican leaders spoke to an early-morning crowd, Democrats also gathered in town, as both parties continue toward speaking to voters in the battleground state.

“The Harris-Walz campaign is here for the people, fighting for everyday people,” said Georgia State Democrat Representative, Teddy Reese of District 140. “We know from four years ago that if we’re going to win Georgia, it must go through Columbus, Georgia and the people in Muscogee County understand that as well.”

Since 2000, the Republican Party has turned Georgia red in presidential elections, until the last election in 2020 when President Biden won the peach state by 0.2%. This made for the narrowest margin of victory in the country that year.

Illinois Senator and retired Lieutenant Colonel Tammy Duckworth spoke on the importance of showing up to the polls, while Iowa Senator and former military officer, Joni Ernst, reminded Republicans to vote policy over personality.

“Here in Columbus, we know it’s going to be a battleground area, but what I have found is that Georgians overall – they’re really excited about President Trump,” said Ernst. “Everyone has the opportunity to vote the way they see fit but whether you are Republican or Democrat, take a look at the policies.”

“This is not a play in which folks want to be on the sideline – we have to get in the game, and you get in the game by making sure that you vote, making sure that your voice is heard, making sure that we honor those who fought for us to be able to be right here in this position,” said Reese.

Team Trump will continue their bus tour across the state before wrapping up in Gainesville Sunday, as Illinois Senator Duckworth also continues around the state to speak with the Democratic Party.

The last day to register to vote in Georgia is Monday, October 7.

Gainesville was among the tour stops, according to AccessWDUN.

The “Trump Bus Tour” event [took] place at 3:45 p.m. Sunday at a location referred to by the Trump campaign as “Gainesville Trump Force 47 HQ” at the corner of Browns Bridge Road and Hudgins Street. It will feature current District 10 U.S. Representative Mike Collins, State Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch and State Senator-elect Drew Echols.

Also appearing at the event will be former 9th District U.S. Representative Doug Collins, former U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin and former Trump administration cabinet member Kash Patel.

Governor Brian Kemp issued Executive Order #10.04.24.02, suspending from office Thomson Mayor Benjamin Cranford, Jr. after Cranford was indicted on charges of Furnishing Prohibited Items to Inmates and Criminal Attempt to Commit a Felony. From WJBF:

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations has arrested Thomson Mayor Benji Cranford.

Benjamin ‘Benji’ Cary Cranford Jr. is charged with Furnishing Prohibited Items to Inmates and Criminal Attempt to Commit a Felony.

The Thomson Police Department requested the GBI investigate an allegation that Cranford reportedly gave alcohol to an inmate on work detail, on June 4.

A Grand Jury arrest warrant was issued for Cranford on Wednesday. Cranford has since been booked into the McDuffie County Jail.

The indictment states that he placed a bottle of gin in a ditch along Cobbham Road where inmates from the Jefferson County Correctional Institution were working.

Cranford was elected in November 2023, beating out incumbent mayor Kenneth Usry. He is currently serving a two-year mayoral term.

From WRDW:

On Friday, an executive order was issued that Cranford is suspended from office while pending the final disposition of his felony charges.

Cranford is accused of buying a bottle of gin, and then purposefully putting it in a ditch for a prison detail to come across.

The mayor had just finished meeting with the City Council in executive session on Aug. 14 and was walking out when Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents approached him, arrested him and took him to jail.

He bonded out quickly.

When asked for a statement on his suspension, Cranford said, “Regardless of title, I have been and will continue to serve my community as we work together to recover from the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene. I am confident that the truth will come out once I have my day in court. Until then, I look forward to continuing to be a part of the positive changes that the community of Thomson wants and needs.”

Thanks, Governor Kemp! Gas prices have dropped after the Governor suspended collection of the motor fuel tax following Helene, according to AccessWDUN.

The Georgia gas price average declined significantly at the pumps compared to a week ago.

AAA’s price chart shows Georgia’s average price (subject to change) is around $2.74 per gallon.

Monday’s state average is 23 cents less than a week ago, 35 cents less than a month ago, and 44 cents less than last year.

Gov. Brian Kemp announced a suspsension of the gas tax after Hurricane Helene came through the state, the gas tax became effective on Oct. 3 and will run through the duration of the State of Emergency, which is set end on Oct. 9.

Hall County’s drivers should see an average of about $2.69 per gallon, with the highest average in region coming from Rabun County at $2.76 per gallon, and Hart County with the lowest average at just over $2.64 per gallon.

Georgia’s United States Senators asked for quick approval of disaster relief, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Moultrie Observer.

Georgia’s two U.S. senators have joined colleagues in five other Southeastern states ravaged by Hurricane Helene to ask for quick passage of a federal disaster relief package.

Congress went into recess last week after passing a stopgap federal funding bill to cover three months of spending. While some Republicans — including U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson — have argued the bill should be sufficient, Democrats and Republicans from the stricken states say more is needed.

“The devastation from Hurricane Helene across the southeastern United States is simply inconceivable,” Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock and the senators from Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia wrote in a letter to Senate leadership. “Even preliminary damage assessments indicate that, at a minimum, the total damage and economic loss will be in the tens of billions of dollars. This amount will likely soar as recovery efforts continue and the full picture of this ruinous disaster becomes clear.

“Although the true level of devastation is still unfolding, it is clear that Congress must act to meet the unmet needs in our states and address the scope and scale of destruction experienced by our constituents. This may even require Congress to come back in October to ensure we have enough time to enact legislation before the end of this calendar year.”

President Joe Biden has added his voice to those urging Congress to act sooner rather than later. During an appearance at a pecan farm in South Georgia Thursday, the president urged lawmakers to pass a supplemental spending bill to speed federal aid to the victims.

“Congress has an obligation to ensure states have the resources they need,” he said.

Besides Ossoff and Warnock, signatories to the Senate letter included Republicans Thom Tillis and Ted Budd of North Carolina, Republicans Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott of South Carolina, Republicans Marco Rubio and Rick Scott of Florida, Republicans Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, and Democrats Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia.

Georgia Ports reopened Friday after a deal was struck between longshore workers and the ports, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Gwinnett Daily Post.

The ports of Savannah and Brunswick reopened Friday after the union representing striking dockworkers along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts reached a tentative agreement with the U.S. Maritime Alliance.

The settlement deal between the alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies, and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) suspended the strike until Jan. 15 to give the parties time to negotiate a permanent agreement.

The settlement offered dock workers a 62% raise over six years, up from the 50% offer management put on the table before the three-day strike began.

“The Georgia Ports Authority, Gateway Terminals and the ILA look forward to reopening our facilities and providing the world-class service the Port of Savannah and the Port of Brunswick are known for,” the ports authority wrote late Thursday in a statement notifying customers and business partners of Friday’s reopening.

The Port of Savannah is the second-busiest port on the East Coast and the fourth-busiest in the nation. The Port of Brunswick is the nation’s second-busiest for vehicle cargo.

It’s been a rough couple of weeks for the Georgia ports. Before the longshoremen’s strike began, the ports were forced to limit operations after Hurricane Helene struck South Georgia Sept. 27 with high winds, heavy rain, and severe flooding.

Rockdale County’s shelter-in-place order for the Biolab fire expired this morning, according to the AJC.

Rockdale County’s nightly shelter-in-place advisory expired Monday morning, more than a week after a fire at a chemical plant prompted officials to advise residents to stay indoors every evening.

County offices are also set to reopen Monday after having been closed since the Sept. 29 fire at BioLab, which sent a massive wall of smoke into the sky. The fire was extinguished later the same day, but a plume of smoke has continuously risen from the rubble as the pool chemicals produced at the plant react with water used to contain the blaze.

The smoke has lingered over parts of southeastern metro Atlanta for days.

The county did not immediately provide an update about whether any orders or closures would be extended beyond Monday morning’s expiration. Officials plan to meet before noon, and the county said “decisions will be made afterward.” Officials on Friday extended the nightly shelter-in-place recommendation, which was set to expire that day, so that it continued over the weekend.

Rockdale County Public Schools said students will learn virtually Monday through Wednesday. Last week, students were on fall break.

At 10 a.m. Tuesday, the county’s board of commissioners will consider ratifying a resolution declaring a state of emergency due to the BioLab chemical fire. Another resolution has been proposed to declare a local state of emergency due to the damage caused by Hurricane Helene.

Helene has damaged Georgia’s cotton crop and agriculture industry, according to the Detroit Free Press via the Augusta Chronicle.

Georgia has become an agricultural state in crisis. Its leading industry is reeling from a one-two punch of heavy downpours and powerful gusts brought by the unprecedented Hurricane Helene that has ruined fragile crops on the verge of harvest.

“This storm spared no one,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said at a Friday news conference, adding, “Hurricane Helene has wiped out much of this year’s crop across the board,” including:

• More than one-third of the cotton crop “is a total loss”;
• Up to 30% of the peanut crop is lost;
• Fourteen of the state’s 22 dairies remain without power;
• More than 220 poultry houses have been destroyed, with hundreds of others damaged;
• Four million acres of timberland have been impacted;
• And 48,000 acres of pecans have been damaged or destroyed.

State officials are pleading with Washington for help, asking Congressional leaders for emergency relief in the form of block grants.

The state’s $83 billion agricultural economy employs more than 320,000 Georgians, sustaining rural economies across the state, officials said.

“Hurricane Helene could not have come at a worse time for our farmers and producers, who are already faced with record setting drops in net farm income caused by inflation, high input costs, labor shortages, global competition, and low commodity prices,” Tyler J. Harper, Georgia’s agricultural commissioner, and two state legislative leaders wrote to Congress late last month. (For more information about resources for farmers in the wake of Hurricane Helene, visit agr.georgia.gov/hurricane-response-helene.)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency added Glynn County to their assistance list and now offers individual assistance there, according to The Brunswick News.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has added Glynn County to its disaster declaration, making individual assistance available to people in Glynn County in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

The individual assistance program through FEMA offers federal funding for individuals impacted by natural disasters and may cover costs incurred during the storm related to housing, food and other vital supplies.

People can check their eligibility online at DisasterAssistance.gov by clicking “let’s get started” on the homepage. Anyone seeking assistance will need to have information prepared regarding home, mailing and email addresses, phone number, social security numbers and banking and insurance.

After applying, FEMA may ask for additional information or request to inspect your home.

Pay attention to emails for correspondence and sign in to your account any time to check applications. FEMA will send a payment in the method chosen by the applicant.

Individual assistance is not a substitute for insurance and connot compensate for all losses in the disaster.

From WALB:

FEMA announced that Georgians who applied for assistance for damage caused by Tropical Storm Debby are able to apply for assistance for Hurricane Helene damage.

Georgians who applied for FEMA assistance for previous storms or disasters must apply separately for assistance for Hurricane Helene, according to the agency.

FEMA says that homeowners and renters who applied for FEMA assistance under Tropical Storm Debby are encouraged to apply for assistance for Hurricane Helene, regardless of whether they received any assistance or not.

Homeowners and renters in the following South Georgia counties are eligible to apply for assistance for damage to their home or personal property by Hurricane Helene:

Atkinson County, Ben Hill County, Clinch County, Coffee County, Colquitt County, Cook County, Echols County, Irwin County, Lanier County, Lowndes County, [and] Tift County.

Eligible applicants affected by both Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene can receive money to help pay for food, water, baby formula, and other emergency supplies, as well as funds to help pay for a temporary place to stay. Other assistance for home repairs and to replace personal property, among other forms of assistance, may be available as well, according to FEMA.

Statesboro is suspending the issuance of residential fire permits as a precaution, according to the Statesboro Herald.

“This suspension is a proactive measure to reduce the risk of accidental fires, given the large volume of storm debris scattered throughout the area,” read a Thursday release from the Statesboro Fire Department.

“While we understand residents may wish to clear their properties quickly, burning debris is not the safest or most responsible method under current conditions,” says Fire Chief Tim Grams. “We strongly encourage residents to utilize the curbside debris collection services being provided by the City of Statesboro.”

Most Savannah-Chatham County public schools reopen today, according to the Savannah Morning News.

More than a week after Hurricane Helene slammed Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) announced that all but six of its schools will be returning “regular operational schedules” and in-person instruction on Monday, Oct. 7.

A district announcement Friday afternoon stated over 90% of its schools and facilities were “fully operational with power and connectivity.”

Bulloch County public schools reopen today, according to the Statesboro Herald.

“Power has been restored to all of our schools, and we are ready to safely welcome students back,” said Charles Wilson, superintendent of schools.

But many school bus routes had to be adjusted.

According to a release for Hayley Greene, director of Public Relations for the school district, bus drivers  drove their routes over a period of several days last week to assess if they are safe for bus travel or if hazardous conditions still exist.

Augusta Transit is running again with a limited schedule, according to the Augusta Chronicle.

The United States Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Unit Savannah held preparedness exercises for electric vehicle fires, according to The Brunswick News.

Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Savannah hosted an exercise on Sept. 24-25 at the port’s Colonel’s Island terminal that brought federal, regional, state and local industry partners together to enhance coordination when responding to fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, which power electric vehicles, the Coast Guard said in a release.

The exercise was part of the Coastal Georgia Area Contingency Plan, which follows the National Preparedness and Response Exercise Program and focused on a simulated EV fire on the roll on-roll off ship docked at Colonel’s Island.

Federal, state and local agencies collaborated in the exercise with the Georgia Ports Authority, shipping company ARC and Gallagher Marine Systems to discuss and evaluate the actions in response to the exercise event. More than 100 local firefighters got a chance to tour ARC vessels and become familiar with their operations and layout, the Coast Guard said.

“ARC and GPA have been tremendous partners throughout the planning of the EV lithium-ion battery fire exercise,” Robinson said. “The exercise took more than seven months to plan, and the lessons learned will be invaluable in updating Coastal Georgia’s ACP and informing contingency plan updates of our partner agencies; as the global demand for electric vehicles increases, so does the risk of lithium-ion batteries fires in the marine environment.”

Electric vehicle batteries have made news nationally recently when they caught fire after being impacted by flood waters from Hurricane Helene. Local officials in Florida where saltwater flooded areas with storm surge have deemed electric vehicles to be fire hazards if they came in to contact with flood waters, the USA Today reported this week.

The Georgia Department of Driver Services hosted the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators International Conference, according to AccessWDUN.

Georgia was at the center of identity management and highway safety as Georgia DDS and [Georgia DDS Commissioner Spencer] Moore held the event for roughly 1,200 attendees from licensing, motor vehicle, and law enforcement agencies all over the globe.

Moore has served as the chair of AAMVA’s board for the past year, a first for Georgia. Moore’s position allowed the State of Georgia the opportunity to host the Annual International Conference (AIC) for the first time.

“It has been an honor to serve as AAMVA International Board Chair and the highlight was hosting this prestigious event in the great State of Georgia,” Moore said. “AIC is a unique educational and networking opportunity to share the latest innovations and best practices in identity management, highway safety, motor vehicle and public safety, and other services.”

The DDS also provided an on-site tour of the newly renovated Atlanta DDS Customer Service Center. The expansion features the latest in customer service technology including four customer service kiosks and the ability to check-in with a Georgia Digital Driver’s License.

I assume attendees were required to check-in, take a number, and wait seated until they were called into the conference.

Florida Man (and Woman and Child) evacuating from the path of Tropical Storm Milton have been advised to head to Macon, Atlanta, and other points north, according to 13WMAZ.

Milton increased to a Category 2 hurricane early Monday as Florida gears up for what could be its biggest evacuation in seven years as the storm heads toward major population centers including Tampa and Orlando.

Ahead of Florida evacuees going north toward Georgia, the state emergency management agency cautioned over the weekend against taking refuge in the southern portion of the state, which is still recovering from Helene damage.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security (GEMA) instead advised people to go to Atlanta, Macon, Albany or Columbus. Valdosta and Augusta, in south and eastern Georgia, were hit especially hard by Helene in what Gov. Brian Kemp described last week as like a “230, 240 mile tornado went through our state.”

“Florida Evacuees: Due to the damages across many Georgia counties from Hurricane Helene, we welcome you to find refuge in Albany, Columbus, Macon, and Atlanta. However, please call ahead as resources in South Georgia are limited. For info, visit http://gema.georgia.gov,” GEMA posted on X.

While forecast models vary widely, the most likely path suggests Milton could make landfall Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area and remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida into the Atlantic Ocean. That would largely spare other southeastern states ravaged by Hurricane Helene, which caused catastrophic damage from Florida into the Appalachian Mountains and a death toll that rose Sunday to at least 230 people.

Building on lessons learned during Irma and other previous storms, Florida is staging emergency fuel for gas vehicles and charging stations for electric vehicles along evacuation routes, Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said at a Sunday briefing.

“We are looking at every potential, possible location that can potentially house someone, as what we refer to in emergency management, as a refuge of last resort,” Guthrie added.

The Georgia Council on Literacy, created by Senate Bill 211, launched their Georgia Reads campaign, according to the Savannah Morning News.

[T]he Georgia Council on Literacy launched its Georgia Reads campaign during a press conference and reading rally for third graders at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Through Senate Bill 211, Georgia legislators formed the literacy council, which aims to raise “awareness about the need to improve reading skills in all age groups.”

The Georgia Reads campaign was launched to “unify and empower the fragmented literacy ecosystem, guiding it toward a new era of understanding.” The launch included the announcement of the Georgia Reads Community Awards, which, come February, will bestow 10 Georgia communities with $25,000 toward ongoing literacy improvement efforts.

Malcolm Mitchell, NFL Super Bowl Champion with the New England Patriots and former University of Georgia star, has been named the Georgia Reads Coach.

Since 2016, Mitchell, also a children’s book author, has been sharing his personal history of literacy challenges while promoting reading through his Share the Magic Foundation since 2016. He often holds reading rallies, like October 2023’s Enmarket Arena rally in Savannah with over 2,000 Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) second-graders. The rallies typically feature a magician and infuse the energy of a football game into the cause of literacy.

[Savannah Mayor Van] Johnson called Mitchell a “phenomenal ambassador” for Georgia Reads, citing his command of the boisterous crowd at Enmarket a year ago. “He sees them [the children], and they see themselves in him,” said Johnson.

Mitchell’s foundation as well as the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) (through its nonprofit, Georgia City Solutions) partnered with the literacy council for this week’s campaign launch, which focuses not only on getting school-aged children to read but also their parents.

“We’re covering the entire landscape of literacy and that does include adults,” said Mitchell, who struggled to read into his early twenties when he took it upon himself to prioritize literacy by attending book clubs.

According to The State of Literacy in Georgia, a study conducted in 2023 by Deloitte, one in 10 (or nearly 800,000) adult Georgians are “low literate.” Deloitte does not provide a definition or parameters in its report for what constitutes “low literacy” and has yet to respond to inquiries seeking clarity. The report is subtitled, “Action Needed for Georgia’s Thriving Workforce and Economy,” and highlights the financial impacts that improving literacy in the state would have.

Dawson City Council members are considering responses to environmental enforcement issues, according to the Albany Herald.

The Dawson City Council planned a meeting Wednesday night to discuss a lingering enforcement order from the state Environmental Protection Division in response to 32 effluent violations and seven spills of raw sewage into state waters dating back to July of 2020.

Some members of the council were expected to submit a letter to Mayor Robert Aaron at the meeting that calls for him to apologize to the citizens of Dawson for allowing the environmental issues to persist.

…Documentation in small cities like Dawson is tenuous at best,” Dawson City Attorney Tommy Coleman said Wednesday morning. “What appears to have happened is that a notice of the spills was sent to the mayor’s office. With many governments like Dawson’s, the mayor may hand such a notice off to the city manager, who is expected to follow up.”

“I don’t know if that’s what happened in this case, but it appears the notices that were sent to the city by EPD were ignored. EPD apparently got tired of the nonresponse and issued the enforcement order.”

“What the EPD does in a case like this, when there is no response to a consent order is file a lawsuit,” Coleman said. “If we don’t show that we’re doing the things they require of us by the period they set, they could fine us up to $100,000 a day.“

“The council members who will present the letter to the mayor at Wednesday’s meeting said they want to make sure the public understands that they didn’t act on this directive because they didn’t know about it.”

Aaron was unavailable for comment, and Coleman noted that former City Manager Tracy Hester is no longer with the city, having been released from his contract three months ago. Current City Manager Morris Williams has been with the city only six months and only recently became aware of the environmental concerns. He said the city does have an initial plan to meet EPD requirements, and that plan calls for work to start as soon as two weeks.

State Rep. Scott Hilton (R-Peachtree Corners) is running for reelection in a race targeted by both parties, according to the AJC.

“There has to be a better way to get automatic weapons out of the picture. What are we doing about that?” asked [Darlene] Penner, 54, whose neighborhood is in Georgia House District 48, which includes parts of Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Peachtree Corners.

Hilton, who was elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 2016 and 2022, pieced together a response that could satisfy Penner and her husband Ken while sticking to his conservative beliefs. He told them he cosponsored a bill that would have provided a tax credit to gun owners who buy storage devices that keep their guns securely held, but Senate Republicans failed to move it forward.

Hilton is in the middle of an intense campaign to retain his House seat after the most recent round of redistricting made the voters in these geographic boundaries more politically competitive. His Democratic challenger, Laura Murvartian, is a business executive who became a U.S. citizen three years ago.

President Joe Biden won the district in 2020 with 51% of the vote. However, in 2022, the district went for Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock by 58% and Republican Gov. Brian Kemp at 56%.

Now, Democrats and Republicans are not only competing to win the state for the presidency, they’re battling over a handful of swing legislative districts, particularly in north Fulton and Gwinnett counties, and they are spending lots of money.

House Speaker Jon Burns and Gov. Brian Kemp’s leadership fundraising committees provided a combined $2.5 million for candidates in hotly contested districts. The Democratic National Committee gave nearly $1 million to the state Democrats to support Vice President Kamala Harris and down-ballot candidates.

If Hilton is to win, he needs to outrun former President Donald Trump — convincing voters to back his candidacy even if they support Harris at the top of the ticket. He’s been knocking on doors for weeks, he said. If he loses, it’s not for lack of effort.

“We have the second most competitive seat in the state,” he told Penner. “This election will come down to just a few hundred votes.”

Hilton, a small business owner, is more confident when it comes to talking about his views on the state economy and his support for a highly debated education bill this year.

Senate Bill 233, signed by Gov. Brian Kemp in April, uses taxpayer money to subsidize the cost of private education. Parents of students in lower-performing schools can get $6,500 per year they can put toward a private school or home-school education.

Hilton, who serves as vice chair of the House’s Education Committee, said the legislation gives students more options, “allowing kids in failing schools to receive money to go elsewhere.”`