Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for September 15, 2025

On September 15, 1831, Dr. Samuel Worcester and Dr. Elizur Butler – missionaries – were tried in a Lawrenceville courtroom for living as white people among the Cherokee and refusing to take an oath of loyalty to Georgia, convicted and sentenced to hard labor. Some historians refer to this case, which went to the United States Supreme Court on appeal, as the beginning of the events that led to the forced removal of the Cherokee people from Georgia on the “Trail of Tears.”

HMS Beagle, carrying Charles Darwin, arrived at the Gallapagos Islands on September 15, 1835.

On September 15, 1904, Wilbur Wright made the first in-flight turn in an airplane.

Early on the morning of September 15, 1963, a bomb exploded in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four young girls.

On September 15, 1996, the Texas Rangers retired #34 in honor of the most dominant pitcher in professional baseball history, Nolan Ryan.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

From Sunday’s reading at my home church:

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.

30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.x

State Senate District 21 voters are going to the polls in the September 23, 2025 Special Runoff Election, according to Georgia Recorder.

It’s the final countdown for Democrat Debra Shigley and Republican Jason Dickerson in their mission to represent a suburban Atlanta state Senate district.

Early voting begins Saturday in parts of Fulton and Cherokee counties ahead of the Sept. 23 election, when residents will select a successor for former state Sen. Brandon Beach, an Alpharetta Republican now serving as U.S. Treasurer.

Democrats are hoping to replace the MAGA stalwart with Shigley, a Milton mom, attorney and small business owner.

Shigley was the top vote-getter in last month’s special election, but the Republican vote was split six ways. Flipping the seat that Beach regularly won by wide margins will not be an easy feat, but Democrats are expressing confidence that frustration with GOP control of the state and federal government will help push Shigley over the top.

They’re pulling out all the stops, including an assist from Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is scheduled to help with Shigley’s weekend get-out-the-vote effort.

Dickerson, a Cherokee County investment manager, has been hitting the trail as well and touting endorsements from top Georgia Republicans like U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick of Suwanee.

Republicans are betting that Dickerson will consolidate the votes earned by other Republicans in last month’s race and stop Democrats from flipping the seat.

Early voting will take place Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Polling places will be open on election day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

An ID is required to vote. To make sure you live in the district and review polling places, visit the secretary of state’s My Voter Page.

United States Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Atlanta) campaigned with Shigley, according to the AJC.

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff was the latest party leader to campaign for Democrat Debra Shigley, who’s trying to flip a GOP-held state Senate seat covering parts of Fulton and Cherokee counties. On the trail this weekend, Ossoff linked her race to his own reelection message, spotlighting the decision of St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia to shift its labor and delivery services to Athens.

The hospital cited Medicaid cuts as part of its decision. Those cuts stem from the new Republican tax and spending law, which slashes $1 trillion from Medicaid over a decade to help finance tax reductions and increases in defense and immigration enforcement.

“You know we talk about these things in theory. This is real,” Ossoff said. “This is a hospital here in Georgia that is no longer going to be able to provide services to delivering mothers and newborn babies because of that terrible bill that they passed in Congress.”

Georgia will be among the most expensive states in which to campaign next year, according to 13WMAZ.

Georgia is projected to be one of the three most expensive states in the nation for next year’s election.  AdImpact expects more than three-quarters of a billion dollars to be spent on advertising and marketing.

Georgia voters have flip-flopped just enough over the last three elections to give both parties hope they can win the next statewide election in 2026. The race to succeed Governor Brian Kemp is wide open. The race for the U.S. Senate has three well-funded Republicans aiming at incumbent democrat Jon Ossoff.

The money spent in those races will be colossal, says Democratic strategist Chris Huttman.

“You could easily see a hundred million spent on the governor’s race before the primary is even over. Which means by the time we get to the general election, you could see double or triple that,” Huttman said.

AdImpact is forecasting that Georgia residents will endure the nation’s third most expensive election for its races for governor, U.S. Senate, and more.

The site says California will top the nation, with an open governor seat, ballot questions, and the most voters in America.

It says Michigan will be No. 2. It’s a purple state like Georgia with open seats for both governor and U.S. Senate.

Georgia’s campaigns are expected to benefit from plenty of contributions from out of state.

As is the case in most campaigns, Huttman says the most effective ads will be the negative ads that tear down candidates rather than build them up.

Democrat Olu Brown campaigned for Governor in Savannah, according to WSAV.

Olu Brown, a Texas native, joined the crowded race for governor in 2024. Even though the retired pastor hasn’t run for public office before, he said he can see the big picture needed to lead Georgia.

“A governor needs to be able to scale,” Brown said. “They have to see into the future. They always have to be able to manage a big picture. So, growing a budget, a multi-million dollars. Being able to be a part of a community’s economic development in a certain community that didn’t have much investment as it needed staff and contract workers being able to manage big projects is exactly what governors need to do. And that’s what I’ve done for my whole career.”

Brown pointed to his ability to grow the Impact United Methodist Church from 25 members to 5,000 members in-person and online weekly as an example of why he is a good candidate.

The democratic candidate told WSAV that making healthcare available to everyone is one of his top campaign priorities.

“It looks like telehealth,” Brown said. “It looks like more maternal and pretty maternal health care. It looks like making sure a person in rural Georgia. Doesn’t have to drive three or 4 hours for primary care. We tap into our $16 billion surplus. Two, we expand Medicaid. Three, we work with our current health care systems in our state and around the nation to offer more resources to smaller towns and rural Georgia.”

If he becomes Georgia’s next governor, Brown said he will work with President Donald Trump if it’s benefits to Georgians.

“We will work with Washington to make sure Georgia is working but we also won’t compromise what Georgia needs for Georgians,” Brown said.

mBrown graduated from Jarvis Christian College before packing up to move to Atlanta for a Master of Divinity degree from Gammon Theological Seminary. He also reportedly holds a lifetime teacher’s certificate for first through eighth grade students.

State Rep. Dexter Sharper (D-Valdosta) wants legislators to address the ICE raid in Bryan County, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.

State Rep. Dexter Sharper, D-Valdosta, is calling on Gov. Brian Kemp, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Speaker Jon Burns, and members of the General Assembly to address the impact of the recent immigration raid at Hyundai and its subcontractors in Georgia.

Nearly 500 workers are now leaving the state as a result of the raid, Sharper said in a press release. Many were not only employees but also trainers passing along high-tech skills to Georgia citizens knowledge critical to keeping the state competitive in the global economy, he said.

“This is not just about workers being removed,” Sharper said. “Georgia is losing jobs, knowledge, and investment. These individuals were part of our communities, they owned homes, bought cars, and supported small businesses. Their sudden departure will send shockwaves through our local economies.”

Sharper emphasized the need for stronger communication between federal authorities and Georgia leaders to prevent future disruptions of this scale.

“I fully support upholding the law, but these abrupt actions without coordination are destabilizing our industries,” he said. “If Georgia wants to remain the number one state to do business in, we must demand smarter planning and better cooperation. Our economy and our people deserve nothing less.”

Sharper urged Georgia leadership to consider a special session of the General Assembly to establish a framework for improved coordination with ICE and the federal government.

“Georgia cannot afford to lose more jobs and knowledge because of poor communication,” he said. “We must act now to protect our workers, our industries, and our future.”

From WRDW:

Democratic state Sen. Derek Mallow, who represents District 2, where the raid happened, is now questioning how this could impact Georgia’s business relationships with foreign countries moving forward.

“If I was the Korean government, I’m rethinking, ‘Do I invest in America? Look at how they treated our people. And look at how they’re treating people in general,’” Mallow said. “It is a disservice to America, it is a disservice to the investment that Hyundai has made, and Georgia and America should do better.”

This week, Gov. Brian Kemp also issued a statement saying Georgia has always worked hard to maintain a strong relationship with South Korea.

“We are thankful they are reiterating their commitment to adhere to all state and federal laws, just as we remain committed to not allowing this unfortunate incident to undo the decades of mutually beneficial partnerships we’ve built together,” Kemp said.

South Korea’s president also said Thursday during a news conference that this ICE raid could have “considerable impact” on direct U.S. investment from his country and that it created a lot of confusion.

From the AJC:

“The president said he wants to deport people, but the president has also said he wants to bring manufacturing to the United States,” said Charles Shapiro, a retired ambassador and former president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. “So how do you square those two things?”

Several foreign companies, diplomats and other stakeholders from various nations told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution they now have to consider the safety of their workers when making American investments.

“This would make you think twice about investing in the United States, that it’s so complicated to bring in these kinds of workers,” Shapiro said.

The [ICE] operation paused construction and will delay the factory’s opening by two to three months, Hyundai CEO José Muñoz said. In a Thursday statement, he said Hyundai remains committed to Georgia.

“Georgia’s partnership has been exceptional, and Hyundai’s commitment to this state and its people is stronger than ever,” he said.

“The U.S. is an extremely important market for us,” LG spokesperson Philip Lienert said in an email.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development, which recruited Hyundai’s Metaplant, said it works hard to maintain good relationships with its foreign partners.

“We’ve got to do all we can to fix the visa program,” said Trip Tollison, president and CEO of the Savannah Economic Development Authority.

Tollison’s organization oversees recruitment for four Savannah area counties, which are home to about 70 facilities operated by foreign companies. Nearly a fourth of those are Korean, according to data provided by SEDA.

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce issued a statement after the ICE raid saying it doesn’t expect it to affect the state’s growth prospects “given our unmatched geography, outstanding business climate, and alignment with current federal economic development priorities.”

“We will continue working with our members and partners, including bilateral chambers of commerce, to strengthen Georgia’s position as the number one state in the country to do business,” the Georgia Chamber said.

Rivian is beginning construction in Georgia, according to WSB Radio.

The $5 billion project spans 2,000 acres along I-20 in Walton and Morgan counties and is expected to create 7,500 jobs. Car production at the site is slated to begin in 2028.

Rivian will launch the milestone with a community event on Sunday, featuring food, live music, and test rides in Rivian vehicles. The company describes the gathering as a way to introduce itself to its new neighbors.

On Tuesday, company leaders will join state and local officials for a formal groundbreaking ceremony.

The project has faced delays and setbacks, but Rivian says the plant represents a long-term commitment to Georgia and its growing electric vehicle industry.

Recent state legislation outlaws parking lot pet sales, according to the Athens Banner Herald.

A new law that took effect this year bans the sale of pets in public places, including store and shopping center parking lots.

“We have a pet overpopulation crisis,” said Sherrie Hines, a University of Georgia Law School professor, who assisted in the drafting of the bill through an animal welfare program in the law school called PAWS or Practicum in Animal Welfare Skills.

Cats, dogs, and, unfortunately, rabbits are being bred and sold indiscriminately by backyard breeders and people who are not breeding professionally, Hines said. Law enforcement can now stop the sale of such pets in these public places and in seasonal flea markets, according to Hines.

In Athens-Clarke County, she noted that the government had recently updated its animal services ordinance that outlawed selling pets in parking lots, which mirrors the state law. However, the state law bolsters the issue because an Athens ordinance would not stop an illicit breeder from just going outside the county boundary to sell animals.

In Athens, a law enforcement officer can choose between a city ordinance or the new state law to make a case against people unlawfully selling cats and dogs.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is working with the USDA to develop a block grant for Hurricane Helene relief, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Savannah Morning News.

It’s been nearly a year since Hurricane Helene tore through a large swath of South Georgia during the last week of September, killing 37 and causing widespread flooding and power outages.

While blocked roads have long been cleared and power restored, Georgia farmers and foresters are still waiting for a full measure of disaster relief to replant crops and trees lost to the storm.

But Georgia elected officials say help is finally on the way. The state Department of Agriculture is working with its federal counterpart on a block grant that should go a long way toward putting farmers, ranchers, and timber owners on the road to recovery.

“It seems like it’s down to the attorneys dotting the ‘i’s’ and crossing the ‘t’s’ ” said Will Bentley, president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council.

Georgia’s ag industry needs a lot of relief. Helene wreaked at least $5.5 billion in damage to crops, ranches, poultry houses, orchards, and timberland.

“At that time of year, cotton was close to being picked,” Bentley said. “The pecan industry was devastated. … We lost hundreds of poultry houses. It’s been hard to build back.”

Congress moved quickly by its usually plodding standards, passing a bipartisan relief package last December that earmarked $21 billion in relief to farmers who suffered losses from Helene in Georgia and other affected states. The federal package also was in response to other natural disasters across the country.

At the state level, Gov. Brian Kemp redirected $100 million from a capital projects fund to provide financial support for farmers affected by the storm and debris cleanup for owners of damaged timberland. Then in March, the General Assembly set aside $867 million for disaster relief as part of the fiscal 2025 mid-year budget.

But farmers and timber owners still are far from being made whole. U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., complained in a letter in July to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper that the block grant was taking too long to negotiate.

“Although some funds have been made available at the national level through USDA, many of Georgia’s farmers and producers who were most affected by Hurricane Helene are not eligible for this assistance and tell me they are instead counting on a block grant,” Ossoff wrote.

On a separate front, Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., pushed back against Trump administration efforts in March to cut some disaster recovery programs Warnock said were particularly critical following Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which rampaged through Florida less than two weeks after Helene.

“When Hurricane Helene struck Georgia, my office got to work helping our communities recover by delivering supplies at the local level and advocating for support at the federal level,” Warnock said Thursday. “It has been a particular priority to advocate for our farmers and foresters who have been devastated by worsening storms.”

Harper said the block grant process has been slow in part because federal and state negotiators had to start from scratch.

“The whole purpose of the block grant is to cover things that aren’t usually covered,” Harper said Friday. “We’ve had to create new programs in a short period of time and justify the amount we’re asking for.”

At the same time, Harper said the pace of relief following Helene compares favorably to disaster aid efforts after Hurricane Michael hit South Georgia in 2018.

“This is the fastest aid has ever been distributed after a hurricane,” Harper told an audience of political and agribusiness leaders last month at the annual Ag Issues Summit at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry. “We’re still nine months ahead of Hurricane Michael.”

Harper told members of the Georgia House Rural Development Committee meeting in Douglas Wednesday that his agency has hired staff to work with farmers who want to apply for federal relief funds once the block grant has been finalized.

“We’re ready to press the go-button,” he said. “We’re going to do everything we can to push this out so individuals know where they can sign up and what the application process looks like. … Time is of the essence.”

Cotton farmers heard about provisions in the federal “Big, Beautiful Bill” that affect their industry, according to the Statesboro Herald.

Cotton growers in the Statesboro area, facing increased costs of inputs such as fuel, fertilizers and pesticides but low prices for the crop, and hoping for more help in federal support programs, heard a detailed report Monday from the National Cotton Council.

Robbie Minnich, the NCC’s vice president for Washington operations — in other words a leading lobbyist — gave a presentation on 2025 Farm Bill provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act at the Bulloch County Center for Agriculture. “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is the name indexed at www.congress.gov for what was otherwise House Resolution 1 of the 119th Congress. The complex, 870-page tax and spending legislation was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4.

“It really from a Farm Bill perspective has pretty much everything that we care about included, when it comes to farm programs,” Minnich said.

Pendergrass City Council placed Police Chief Billy McDaniel on leave, according to AccessWDUN.

Pendergrass Police Chief Billy McDaniel has been put on administrative leave after evidence allegedly “disappeared.”

“Under the recommendation of the council, and with the police code of ethics that we have he was required to be suspended … with pay,” Mayor Bill Ellis said at a Sept. 9 council work session meeting.
Ellis also added that roughly 14 pieces of evidence previously went missing.

Major Brandon Poole will serve as the interim police chief while the investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) continues.

Ellis said there are lockers for the evidence, generally two officers have to sign-off when evidence is moved, and cameras are present inside the police department.

This article will be updated when more details come to light.

The Whitfield County Board of Education is waiting to decide whether to consolidate some voting locations, according to the Dalton Daily Citizen.

The Whitfield County Board of Elections voted Thursday to table a proposal to consolidate the voting locations for eight voting precincts.

Board members said they wanted to gather more data before moving forward. “We will be making an effort to collect data and input from the impacted citizens before moving forward,” said Election Supervisor Shaynee Bryson.

The board decided to table the proposal after individuals and groups including the League of Women Voters of the Dalton Area raised concerns about the proposal.

Hall County Tax Commissioner Darla Eden said an audit revealed $2.3 million dollars in lost property taxes, according to AccessWDUN.

The Hall County Tax Commission conducted an audit, revealing that $2.3-million in property tax revenue may have been lost from 2017 to 2024 due to potentially ineligible senior school tax exemptions.

“The audit is really just about restoring accuracy and not targeting individuals,” Hall County Tax Commissioner Darla Eden told AccessWDUN. “Recovering even just a portion of those could really make a meaningful difference for our schools and county services.”

The audit began in January of 2024, and has reviewed over 22% of the over 12,000 parcels receiving total school tax exemptions.

Of those parcels audited, 12% were found to have current exemptions that “appear to be ineligible” with most of them due to outdated records following the death of the previous property owner.

269 flagged parcels were submitted to the Hall County Tax Assessor’s Office between January of 2024 and January 2025, but Eden’s office has not received updates on those reviews.

In Hall County, the Tax Assessor’s office is responsible for applying and approving exemptions to properties while the Commissioner’s office acts as a collecting agency and sends out bills based on the assessor’s valuation.

On July 31 of this year, Eden emailed Chief Assessor Steve Watson regarding the reassessment process and received no response. She followed up with him on Aug. 12, emphasizing the importance of the matter.

Georgia law allows for back-tax collection for corrected assessments and is limited to three years. That could bring in roughly $1.4-million to the school system.

“To be a good steward of our money, I think you have to be committed to ensuring that all exemptions are applied fairly and correctly,” Eden told AccessWDUN. “I have not received any notices to do the corrective billing.”

Eden’s office said they will continue their audit efforts and update the public and local officials.