Wyoming adopted the first state constitution to allow women to vote on September 30, 1889.
President Woodrow Wilson spoke in favor of Women’s Suffrage in an address to Congress on September 30, 1918. The bill to pass the 19th Amendment would die in the Senate that year after passing the House.
On September 30, 1927, Babe Ruth hit his 60th home run of the season.
On September 30, 1976, Democrat Jimmy Carter led the Harris Poll for President over President Gerald Ford by a 50-41 margin. In November 1976, the popular vote tallied 50.08% for Carter to 48.01% for Ford, with an Independent taking nearly a point.
The Carter Center in Atlanta was dedicated on October 1, 1986.
Mikhail Gorbachev named himself Chairman of the USSR’s Supreme Soviet on October 1, 1988.
President George H.W. Bush condemned Iraq’s takeover of Kuwait in a speech to the United Nations on October 1, 1990.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Former President Donald Trump will visit Valdosta today, according to WSAV:
Former President Donald Trump and his campaign have announced that he will visit Valdosta on Monday, Sept. 30.
The Former President will hand out supplies and receive an update on the devastating impact Helene had on the state.
According to his website, Trump is also scheduled to address the media following his visit.
According to a release from the former president’s presidential campaign, Trump will receive a “briefing on the devastation of Hurricane Helene” and give remarks during the visit.
While in Valdosta, the former president will help distribute relief supplies.
Ahead of the storm’s arrival, Gov. Brian Kemp issued a disaster declaration for parts of Georgia that were expected to be impacted by Helene. President Joe Biden upgraded a federal major disaster declaration to a full emergency declaration as the storm bore down on the state after making landfall in Florida.
In the days following Helene’s path through the southeast United States, the toll of lives lost and damage dealt has grown, with 64 now confirmed dead across several states and damages measured as much as $15 billion to $26 billion in property damage according to Moody’s Analytics.
Trump is locked in a tight election with Vice President Kamala Harris in Georgia. He held his first campaign event in the state in nearly two months with a rally last week in Savannah and watched a part of the Georgia-Alabama game on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
At least 17 deaths in Georgia have been attributed to the storm, Kemp confirmed during a Saturday stop in Valdosta to tour the damage. He likened Helene to a “250-mile tornado hit” and said after surveying the destruction that it looked as if a bomb had gone off.
“This storm spared no one,” Kemp said.
Atlanta received an “unprecedented” 11.12 inches of rainfall in a 48-hour period between Wednesday and Friday, breaking the previous record of 9.59 inches set in 1886, said Bill Murphey, Georgia’s state climatologist.
Valdosta State University, like much of Lowndes County, has been without power. Several buildings sustained roof damage. Many trees have fallen on campus. Debris is widespread.
The school told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution it has canceled in-person classes this week. It hopes to conduct virtual instruction on Wednesday if the electricity is restored.
“The damage we have sustained is extensive, seemingly more than Hurricane Idalia a year ago,” university President Richard Carvajal said in a statement. “Thankfully, we have been here before, and we know how resilient our campus community is. Our team is working hard to do what is necessary to restore our campus and resume classes soon.”
Governor Brian Kemp will tour Augusta today, according to WJBF.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp will tour the damage from Hurricane Helene across Richmond County, on Monday.
They’ll be surveying the surrounding counties, as well, and speaking with those impacted by the storm.
They will then join state, federal and local leaders and emergency management for a press briefing, giving updates on further storm recovery efforts.
They’ll be speaking with the press at 10 a.m.
Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock will also visit Augusta. During his visit Senator Reverend Warnock will meet with local leaders and survey the devastation caused by the storm in Augusta and surrounding areas.
Following their tour, they will join state, federal, and local leaders, along with emergency management officials, for a press briefing to provide updates on the state’s ongoing storm response.
The press briefing will take place at the James Brown Arena, located at 601 7th St., Augusta, at 10 a.m.
Along with Gov. and First Lady Kemp, other key figures attending the briefing include:
• GEMA/HS Director Chris Stallings
• General Dwayne Wilson of the Georgia National Guard
• Statewide, federal and local elected leaders, and emergency management officials.
WJBF lists local school and government office closures in the Augusta area.
The Augusta Chronicle has its own list of school closures.
Trash service is delayed in the Augusta area, according to WJBF.
Columbia County announced a curfew, according to WJBF.
Columbia County administrators state that the county is implementing a curfew for all Columbia County residents starting Sunday, September 29th at 8 PM and will last until 8 AM on Monday, September 30th.
County leaders say that during this curfew period, all residents are required to remain off the roads unless absolutely necessary, and that this temporary restriction aims to minimize risks associated with hazardous conditions and allows emergency responders to effectively manage and respond to any emergent situations.
Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson held a press conference, according to WJBF.
Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson and Augusta Fire/EMA held a press conference on Sunday to provide the public with an update on Helene recovery efforts.
The Mayor called this the worst storm in the city’s history.
Georgia Power will have 5,000 linemen in this region by Monday, in their effort to restore power to the CSRA.
Trash and debris from high levels in the Savannah River and the canal are blocking water filters in the system. GEMA tells us that restoring water operations is a top priority. Water services should be restored within 24 to 48 hours.
Augusta Fire Departments are fully operational. All Augusta area hospitals are fully operational.
95% of power is expected to be restored by Saturday October 5.
Local jails have generators for power, but water remains an issue.
The Augusta Commission will meet virtually Monday at 2 p.m. to discuss further plans for restoration.
Hurricane Helene struck a different track than predicted, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Savannah Morning News.
The storm took a different path than had been anticipated, Gov. Brian Kemp told reporters during a late-morning briefing at the State Operations Center in Southeast Atlanta. Rather than heading straight north out of the Valdosta area, Helene veered northeast to Augusta, leaving West Georgia with less damage than had been expected.
“We caught a little bit of a break for some parts of the state,” Kemp said.
But the corridor from Valdosta to Augusta suffered extensive damage, with hurricane-force winds of up to 100 miles an hour reported in Alma, Kemp said.
First responders are working to rescue people trapped inside their homes, Kemp said. One of those killed was a first responder, the governor said.
“One of our finest has lost his life trying to save others,” he said.
Flooding is so extensive in Northeast Georgia that authorities ordered a release of water at Lake Rabun. Homes downstream from the reservoir are being evacuated, said Chris Stallings, director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.
Some of the worst property damage occurred in the Valdosta area, with 115 structures heavily damaged. Kemp said the South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta is without power because its emergency generator was hit by a fallen tree.
“Our priority is getting to medical facilities that need help and don’t have power,” Kemp said.
The state Department of Transportation reported at least 152 road closures, including stretches of Interstate 16 in Laurens County and I-20 in McDuffie County.
The ports of Savannah and Brunswick are operating but with limited service, Kemp said.
Georgia Power and the state’s Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs) reported more than 1.1 million without power as of late Friday morning.
Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper said farms and ranches east of Interstate 75 suffered significant damage, including flattened poultry houses and damage to row and nut crops. He said farmers and ranchers must document their losses in order to receive state and federal assistance.
“We need as much information as possible to make sure we get the needed resources,” Harper said.
Maj. Gen. Richard Wilson, commander of the Georgia National Guard, said about 500 soldiers and airmen have been deployed across the state to help clear debris and transport critical supplies including generators, food, and water to areas in need.
Kemp said the damage is so extensive it will take time to assess the extent. But he said the widespread nature of the damage recalled Hurricane Michael, which roared through South Georgia in 2018.
“This is going to be monetary-wise as big or bigger than Michael,” he said.
Kemp urged Georgians not to take unnecessary trips and, if they do go out, to watch out for fallen trees and flooded roads.
“Try to give us a little bit of space out there,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Governor Brian Kemp was joined by multiple state officials to deliver an update in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Kemp was joined by Georgia Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security (GEMA/HS) Director James C. Stallings, Agriculture Secretary Tyler Harper, and Adjunct General Richard D. Wilson for the Georgia Department of Defense.
The Governor praised the recovery efforts, only in their beginning stages as the sun starts to shine on the wreckage left over from the Category 4 hurricane. The storm moved in a different path than initially projected, with general wind gusts of 90 miles per hour (MPH). Alma, Ga., located in Bacon County, had gusts of over 100MPH.
Kemp encouraged patience as the journey to rebuilding begins, with the top priority being medical centers such as hospitals and facilities that handle critical medical emergencies. One facility in particular is South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, which is currently without power.
“One way or another, we’re going to get power back on there,” said Gov. Kemp.
1,000,000 Meters are without power according to Georgia Power. The company has 10,000 personnel ready to respond to the outages. Across the state, 17 shelters are open, holding an estimated 1,100 people.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) reports that there have been 152 road closures throughout the state, including two Interstates: Interstate 16 in Laurens County and Interstate 20 outside of Augusta.
At this time, 500 National Guard soldiers and airmen have been mobilized to assist in route clearance and debris removal. Yesterday, 250 were deployed, and today, another 250. These Guardsmen have been assigned to clearance teams.
Harper’s message to farmers echoed his words after Debby just over a month ago: document, document, document. The more agriculture workers can show their damage, the easier the assessment and ultimate rebuilding. Talks are already underway about federal assistance.
For those who want to volunteer in recovery efforts or debris removal, Kemp urges you to contact your local EMA for ways to help.
For farmers already struggling with drought and higher prices, Kemp told the “Politically Georgia” podcast, it’s the “worst time” for a storm with such far-reaching consequences for the state’s largest industry.
“This storm is going to be such a hard hit financially. It will take us a long time to even get a number,” Kemp said, adding: “Everyone knows it’s going to be historic in a lot of ways.”
“People don’t expect to see your congressman or senator during a storm. But everyone expects to see your governor,” said Cody Hall, Kemp’s longtime deputy.
“And Gov. Kemp’s approach is to be seen,” Hall said. “To make sure that he has enough information to help coordinate the state’s response, but also let the experts do what the experts do.”
From the AJC’s Politically Georgia:
The timing of Helene could not have been worse for thousands of Georgia farmers during harvest season.
That’s the urgent message in a joint letter from Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, state Sen. Russ Goodman, R-Cogdell, and state Rep. Robert Dickey, R-Musella, to the Georgia congressional delegation.
The trio is asking the delegation to push for immediate federal disaster aid for the state, structured as a block grant to help Georgia’s devastated agriculture industry.
“Right now, the future of hundreds of agriculture operations is uncertain,” they wrote. “And without immediate assistance, some will not make it to the next growing season.”
According to agriculture officials, the damage included cotton and pecan crops, as well as dairy, livestock and poultry operations. Some Georgia farmers lost their entire yearly harvest, while others saw total destruction of farm buildings, infrastructure and fencing.
“The damage we’re seeing is catastrophic,” an official said.
Valdosta and Lowndes County government offices are closed today and Tuesday, according to WALB.
[Valdosta] Municipal court dates originally scheduled for Monday, Sept. 30, and Wednesday, Oct. 2, have been postponed.
The sessions will be rescheduled for late October, with the new dates to be announced soon.
Individuals who were set to appear in court on these dates are encouraged to stay informed for updates regarding the rescheduled sessions.
In addition, the city of Valdosta and Lowndes County offices will be closed during the week of Monday, Sept. 30 through Friday. Oct. 4.
Valdosta leaders spoke to the public about cleanup efforts, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.
Congressman Austin Scott, representing Lowndes County, recognized the damage. Scott said he appreciated the help provided by those distributing essential supplies like food and water to those affected by the disaster in the area. He also described how Hurricane Helene impacted roughly ten percent of the country.
Chairman Bill Slaughter shared an update, mentioning that despite notable progress, there are still pressing needs to be addressed in the community. Slaughter emphasized the importance of patience during this period and stated that things might get tougher before they improve.
“This community is resilient. We have been here before. This is much heavier of a load, but we will carry this load,” Slaughter said. “Stay Lowndes Strong.”
Mayor Scott James Matheson emphasized the importance of unity and how the city’s challenges have garnered nationwide attention. Matheson commended volunteers from neighboring areas for providing supplies.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell greeted the attendees on a somber note, confirming that three members of a national FEMA search and rescue team were involved in a fatal accident while traveling to assist with recovery efforts.
She then talked about FEMA’s role in the recovery, explaining that she had come to Georgia to assess the damage and work with Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) to process a significant disaster declaration request. Criswell closed the announcement by acknowledging the community’s efforts during this challenging time.
Valdosta also extended a curfew, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.
The City of Valdosta has extended the citywide curfew to ensure the safety of residents and support the work of first responders. The curfew will now be in effect from 6 p.m. tonight, Saturday, Sept. 28, until further notice.
Bulloch County officials discussed cleanup efforts, according to WTOC.
“We may be as much as 10 days or two weeks out, especially on dirt roads getting some of those roads passable again, and getting the debris removed,” said Bulloch County Public Works, Dink Butler.
“Projected Thursday at 10 p.m. Again that is an area wide one, we’ll start to see some more accurate ones come in as we restore service,” said Georgia Power, Joel Hanner.
Bulloch County’s Sherriff said more than anything, now is the time to stick together.
“Take care of one another, check on your neighbors,” said Bulloch County Sheriff Noel Brown.
Habersham County public schools are closed today due to road conditions, according to AccessWDUN.
“If one more day of caution and verification saves one life, it’s worth it,” Habersham County Public Works Director Jerry Baggett said in a release. “Once we have a full day of daylight to evaluate and address any remaining safety issues, hopefully things can get back to normal by Tuesday.”
Habersham County School officials will assess conditions on Monday with the goal of continuing instruction on Tuesday.
Rabun County and Stephens County schools are also closed today, according to AccessWDUN.
Tift County public schools are closed Monday and Tuesday, according to the Tifton Gazette.
The United States Postal Service is suspending service in some parts of Georgia, according to 13WMAZ.
The United States Postal Service announced that it is temporarily suspending mail service to numerous Georgia areas as recovery efforts wage on in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
USPS said that all mail operations for facilities in the 304, 308 and 309 three-digit zip code areas will be suspended “until further notice.”
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce canceled their 2024 Rural Prosperity Summit, according to the Tifton Gazette.
The two-day event was scheduled to take place Oct. 2 and 3 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center. That space that will now serve as temporary housing for Georgia Power linemen working to restore power to communities across South Georgia, the chamber said in a press release Friday afternoon.
In place of the in-person event, the Georgia Chamber will hold a virtual briefing from elected officials and business leaders, to provide more information on statewide recovery efforts. The virtual briefing will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 2. More detailed information will be provided soon.
Rural Prosperity Summit content and speakers will be the subject of a series of virtual briefings and podcasts later in the month.
Registrations for the 2024 Rural Prosperity can be refunded or donated on behalf of the registrant to support the Red Cross’ Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Georgia. Contact the Georgia Chamber of Commerce about a refund. If no response is received by October 31, registrations will automatically be donated to the Red Cross.
“The recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene are our number one priority,” said Chris Clark, president of the chamber. “Shifting the Rural Prosperity Summit to a digital format allows us to support one of the most vital recovery efforts — getting power and other utilities back on in homes, businesses, hospitals, and community gathering spaces. The Georgia Chamber thanks the crews of linemen from Georgia Power, the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, MEAG, and other utility companies across the state, as well as emergency first responders for keeping Georgians safe, especially during this dangerous time.”
Savannah-Chatham County public school students will return on Wednesday, according to the Savannah Morning News.
The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) has closed school operations on Monday Sept. 30 and Tuesday Oct. 1 due to ongoing impacts caused by Hurricane Helene.
The district’s statement, issued around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, clarified that, “Monday and Tuesday will not be non-instructional days for students.” That means no virtual learning despite Friday being a virtual learning day. Friday will count as a school day, according to the statement[.]
Even though SCCPSS said its facilities are in good condition, the district made the decision to close because “extended power outages will require a health and safety inspection prior to opening to ensure all systems, including school kitchens and air conditioning (HVAC) units, are functional.” Full power is needed to conduct such inspections.
SCCPSS staff will provide another operations update concerning the remainder of the week “no later than Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.”
More than 90,000 residents are sheltering in place after a chemical fire in Rockdale County, according to the Associated Press via WJBF.
More than 90,000 residents in a county east of Atlanta were told to keep sheltering in place Monday and businesses were told to stay closed a day after a chemical plant fire sent a massive plume of dark smoke high into the sky that could been seen from miles away.
“For everyone sheltering in place, the best practice is to turn the air conditioning off and keep windows and doors shut,” the statement said of the accident that has affected the entire county.
The fire was brought under control around 4 p.m. Sunday, officials said.
Interstate 20, which was shut down in both directions in the area on Sunday, was reopened Monday morning, officials said.
People in the northern part of Rockdale County, north of Interstate 20, were ordered to evacuate on Sunday and others were told to shelter in place.
Sheriff’s office spokesperson Christine Nesbitt did not know the number of people evacuated, although it covered a large portion of the community of Conyers. Media reports said the number was 17,000.
From Atlanta News First via WTVM:
A shelter-in-place order has been given to the entirety of Rockdale County. Those residents should remain indoors with the windows and doors closed and should turn off their air conditioners.
Rockdale County officials requested assistance from other agencies, many of which are now deployed across the state of Georgia responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
The Georgia Department of Transportation also reported a “major hazardous materials fire” on Dogwood Drive at Blacklawn Road, near the BioLab location Sunday afternoon.
Evacuation sites were set up in the nearby city of Covington, Georgia, after the original evacuation site was also evacuated.
County officials said Sunday afternoon that those who don’t leave the evacuation zone need to shelter in place. Officials said anyone south of I-20 should be safe.
A shelter-in-place order for all of Rockdale County has been extended indefinitely, authorities announced Monday morning.
Environmental officials are investigating a fire at BioLab, a chemical facility on Old Covington Road in Conyers, that sent a colossal wall of smoke that billowed into the air Sunday afternoon and led to the evacuation order of about 17,000 people and several road closures, including I-20, which remained closed until Monday morning. Residents there will likely see the plume of smoke — now a chemical reaction and not a fire — for several days.
“In the best interest and safety of the public and all citizens, it is recommended that businesses close operations until shelter-in-place is lifted,” county officials said in a news release.
The decision is based on air quality surveys conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division, “which revealed the harmful irritant chlorine, which was detected in the air emitting from the incident location of BioLab. For everyone sheltering in place, the best practice is to turn the air conditioning off and keep windows and doors shut,” officials said.
Students attending Rockdale County Public Schools were already off for fall break this week, with a scheduled Oct. 7 return. Newton County Schools are closed Monday because of the size of the evacuation area and the closure of I-20. Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s Rockdale and Newton campuses are closed Monday and until further notice.
“Please remain indoors and keep windows closed to minimize exposure to any potential hazards,” the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a news release.
The Rockdale County District Attorney’s Office said its offices and the county courthouse would be closed Monday due to the fire.
“We ask for your prayers for the safety of the residents of Rockdale and the first responders committed to protecting our community,” the DA’s office said.
As of Monday morning, there was not a plan in place for residents unable to return to their homes by the evening. County officials will let the public know on its social media channels when the EPA determines the threat level to the community. A shift in the plume and report from the EPA will likely influence how long the area would be impacted.
Savannah city council members sparred over alcohol licenses, according to the Savannah Morning News.
Council also approved by a 7-2 vote a packaged beer and wine alcohol license for the new Aldi on East Victory Drive. The vote drew contentious remarks from Alderwomen Bernetta Lanier and Alicia Miller Blakely, who continue to protest what they say is unfair practices in how council approves alcohol licenses.
The objections Thursday largely centered on the fact that Aldi is adjacent to B. Nicole’s Bistro, a restaurant that was denied an alcohol license for a second time earlier this year by a 6-3 vote. The district’s alderwoman, Linda Wilder Bryan, voted for disproval of that license due to a lack of support from neighbors, she said during the Jan. 25 meeting.
In the case of Aldi, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said the license was for a different use than that of a restaurant, which made the circumstances different. Johnson voted along with Blakely and Lanier not to deny B. Nicole Bistro’s license application in January.
Thursday’s dissent marked the second council meeting in a row with contention over an alcohol license as Blakely and Lanier claim there is no equity in the approval process, which goes through city council.
The alderwomen pointed to the license denials for B. Nicole’s Bistro and Vintage Special Events Center in West Savannah, two businesses owned by Black women, as examples of the lack of equity. Johnson said Vintage Special Events Center is in an alcohol overlay district, which prevents new alcohol licenses being approved within the overlay.
Lanier has consistently advocated for making the alcohol license approval process purely administrative, depoliticizing it by removing elected officials from the process. Lanier’s protest of the license led to an exchange with Johnson during the meeting, where the mayor deemed her “out of order” and muted her microphone during her protest.
“Black people in this city are upset by this procedure,” Lanier said. “They don’t feel like it’s fair. They feel like there is no equity. There’s disparity.”
Two Constitutional Amendments affecting property taxes will be on all ballots for the November 5, 2024 General Election, according to the Capitol Beat News Service.
Having already rolled back Georgia’s income tax rate in recent years, the theme this year is property tax relief.
While the state does not levy property taxes, local property taxes are a sore subject under the Gold Dome, said Kyle Wingfield, president and CEO of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, a think tank that advocates free-market approaches to public-policy issues.
“When you talk to legislators, what they hear from their constituents most in terms of complaints largely comes down to local property taxes,” he said. “Rising prices lead to tax bills that really drive people up the wall.”
Two of the three ballot questions deal with property taxes. A proposed constitutional amendment would prohibit local governments from raising residential assessments in a given year by more than the annual rate of inflation, even if a home’s market value has gone up more.
“Given the large increase in home values across Georgia in recent years, many school districts, cities, and counties have been able to count on a boost in revenue without raising tax rates year to year,” Lt. Gov. Burt Jones wrote this week in an op-ed. “This has resulted in large and often surprise tax increases for many homeowners.”
The proposal includes an opt-out provision for local governments. However, it requires any city, county and school district wishing to opt out of the property tax break to advertise its intent to do so and hold at least three public hearings.
“While this local option is an important feature of the proposal, it would be disappointing to see local governments utilize it without adequately listening to the concerns of the Georgians it would so greatly help,” Jones added.
If the constitutional amendment passes, local governments wishing to exercise the opt out provision would have until March 1 of next year to do so.
An “enabling” bill the General Assembly passed to accompany the constitutional amendment also gives local governments the option of levying a local sales tax of up to a penny to help offset the lost property tax revenue.
However, a county can impose the sales tax only if every city inside that county that levies a property tax agrees, said Todd Edwards, deputy director of governmental affairs for the Association County Commissioners of Georgia.
The second property tax-related item on the ballot is a statewide referendum that would increase the exemption on personal property taxes from $7,500 to $20,000.
While the exemption would benefit all Georgians, supporters are pitching it as mainly aimed at small business owners.
“Small businesses already pay sales taxes on equipment, desks, and other property,” said Hunter Loggins, state director for the National Federal of Independent Business. “Raising the threshold for paying this tax would ease the financial pressure on employers struggling with inflation that continues to drive up the cost of owning and operating a small business.”
The third proposal is a constitutional amendment that would create a tax court in Georgia. Supporters say it would be staffed with judges who have expertise to decide cases related to the assessment and collection of state or local taxes. The same argument carried the day when Georgia voters approved the creation of the Statewide Business Court in 2018.
The Rome News Tribune previews General Election contests to be decided November 5, 2024.
All [Floyd County] voters will get a chance to weigh in on the U.S. House of Representatives District 14 race between Republican incumbent Marjorie Taylor Greene and her Democratic challenger Shawn Harris.
Harris has been making inroads against the controversial Greene but it’s a longshot candidacy in one of the reddest districts in the nation. In the primary, a majority of the Cobb voters chose the Democratic ballot, 7,560 to 6,885. Districtwide, however, the GOP ballot garnered 56,932 votes compared to a total of 18,082 on the Democratic side.
Local ballots also will contain a number of offices with only one candidate listed. As long as they pull at least one vote, the candidates will start new four-year terms in January. They’re all Republicans who won their GOP primary in May and face no Democratic opposition:
Democrat Shawn Willis is running against U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Extreme Northwest Georgia), according to the Dalton daily Citizen News.
Shawn Harris, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, acknowledges the district is very Republican. But he said he believes there are enough Republicans in the district that are unhappy with incumbent Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene that he can build a coalition to unseat her in November.
The congressional district includes Whitfield and Murray counties.
“She has been in Congress more than three-and-a-half years now,” Harris said. “When I talk to voters and ask them what she has done for this district they can’t think of one thing. She votes ‘no’ on pretty much every bill whether it’s led by the Democrats or by the Republicans.”
He said he and Republican leaders in Georgia may not agree on all the issues.
“But we should agree that we are going to do what is best for the people of Northwest Georgia,” Harris said. “I guarantee you that if we do that, we can attract jobs and opportunities to this area.”
“Northwest Georgia has plenty of hard-working men and women,” he said, “What we need is better job opportunities, closer to home, which means we need our leaders to work to bring more federal and private-sector investment here.”
Harris said he will work to bring investment in defense and aerospace industries to the area.
He said he will also work to continue expanding rural broadband.
“Broadband opens up remote work opportunities and keeps people from moving out of the countryside in search of jobs and opportunity,” he said.
The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 5 general election is Oct. 7.
Early voting starts Tuesday, Oct. 15, in the Whitfield County Courthouse and concludes Friday, Nov. 1. Voting will take place each weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Oct. 24 and Oct. 31, when it will take place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early voting will also take place Saturday, Oct. 19, and Saturday, Oct. 26, in the courthouse from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The United States House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed former Fulton County special prosecutor Nathan Wade, according to the AJC.
Former Fulton County special prosecutor Nathan Wade has been served a subpoena by a Republican-led U.S. House panel investigating his onetime romantic relationship with District Attorney Fani Willis.
A spokesman for the committee said they dispatched U.S. marshals to find Wade, but before they did he called and accepted the subpoena.
Led by U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, the panel has been investigating Willis for more than a year over her handling of the prosecution of former President Donald Trump and his allies. Jordan, R-Ohio, is a close ally Trump.
Jordan has accused Willis of conducting a “politically motivated prosecution” and wants Wade to testify about his personal relationship with Willis. Critics of the DA have blasted her for hiring Wade and paying him more than $700,000 for his work on the Trump case. They argued it is part of a larger pattern of mismanagement in her office.
Wade’s attorney, Andrew Evans, said his client “has nothing that is of interest” to the committee and chalked the subpoena up to “political theater.”
State Rep. Mesha Mainor (D R-Atlanta) seeks reelection for the first time since switching parties, according to the AJC.
In a district that voted for Democrat Joe Biden by more than 91% in 2020, Mainor is running as a Republican after switching parties last year.
Whether name recognition or party loyalty is stronger will be put to the test in House District 56, a puzzle piece-shaped boundary that includes neighborhoods surrounding Atlantic Station, Georgia Tech, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Morehouse College. Mainor says her values are the same as they were four years ago, when she was first elected to the seat.
“I have the exact same agenda that I had: public safety, access to health care, quality education and victim rights,” she said.Her Democratic opponent, Bryce Berry, is campaigning on his opposition to an education bill in the Legislature that influenced Mainor’s decision to leave the Democratic Party.
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 homeschool education.
“Send your kids to whatever school you want to,” said Berry, a middle school teacher. “My issue is when you come for my school and take money from my school to send to a private school. I don’t like that.”
Berry said he’d rather see the state update the formula it uses to fund schools by adjusting funding based on poverty and literacy rates.
Mainor was the only House Democrat to vote for the plan. The new law allows parents to enroll their children in schools closer to their jobs or near family members’ homes, she said.
Most voters in Georgia oppose using taxpayer funds to pay for private schooling. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll in January found about 44% of respondents were strongly opposed and about 16% were somewhat opposed to the idea.
Mainor’s dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party goes beyond that one bill.
“I don’t agree with their policies. They make no sense for my community, so I switched,” she said, referencing bills on immigration and gang violence. She also criticized the way the Democrats operate during critical votes.
“On the Democrat side, you must do what they tell you to do or you are blackballed. On the Republican side, they understand that everybody’s district is different,” she said.
State Rep. Sam Park, a Democrat from Lawrenceville and minority whip in the House, strongly opposed Mainor’s characterization of the party.
“Running for office is about serving your constituents who voted for you because they trusted you to do what’s in their best interest, not your own. It’s unfortunate that Mesha Mainor has made this all about herself,” he said. “My hope is that the voters in her district this year will send a clear message that, again, politics is not about an individual person trying to climb the ladder. It’s about serving the people.”
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