Georgia
Raffensperger sues to overturn Georgia fundraising limits, says law gives Lt. Gov. Burt Jones unfair advantage
Georgia’s secretary of state is taking his fight over campaign money to federal court, and the outcome could reshape one of the state’s most-watched statewide races.
Brad Raffensperger filed a lawsuit this week challenging Georgia’s campaign-finance structure, arguing the current rules create an uneven playing field that benefits one candidate in particular: Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who is already campaigning for governor and raising millions through a special leadership committee.
The issue centers on a 2021 law that allows certain top officeholders, including the governor and lieutenant governor, to raise unlimited funds through these committees. Those accounts can coordinate directly with campaigns and do not face the $8,400 contribution caps placed on traditional candidate committees.
Raffensperger, who is exploring a run for governor himself, says that distinction violates the Constitution.
He isn’t asking the court to shut down leadership committees. Instead, he wants every candidate to have the same ability to raise unlimited funds — essentially lifting the caps for all campaigns.
A fundraising gap already shaping the 2026 race
Jones’ leadership committee has become one of the most powerful fundraising vehicles in Georgia politics, hauling in more than $14 million as he campaigns statewide.
Previous lawsuits have challenged the same law, including by former U.S. Sen. David Perdue, with mixed results. And earlier this year, a judge dismissed Attorney General Chris Carr’s attempt to block Jones from using his committee, keeping the current system intact.
That decision cleared the path for Jones to continue raising unlimited cash while potential challengers remain capped.
What Raffensperger wants and what could change
If Raffensperger wins, Georgia’s political landscape could shift dramatically:
- Every candidate for statewide office could raise unlimited money.
- Leadership committees may lose their outsized influence.
- Donors and campaigns would need to rethink spending strategies ahead of the 2026 primaries.
If he loses, the existing system — and Jones’ advantage — stays in place.
Election-law experts say Georgia’s framework is one of the most aggressive in the country when it comes to allowing unlimited coordination between leadership committees and campaigns.
A lawsuit with political stakes beyond 2026
The suit arrives at a moment when Georgia continues to be a national battleground for political fundraising, dark-money operations and election reform. It also signals Raffensperger’s growing willingness to challenge the Republican establishment, a posture that has defined much of his tenure since the 2020 election.
A court date has not yet been set. But any ruling will have immediate consequences for the 2026 governor’s race and the balance of political power at the state Capitol.
CBS News Atlanta will continue to follow this lawsuit as new filings and rulings emerge.
What’s it going to take to stop those Dawgs from barking?
It’s been a while since Missouri football beat Georgia. When the Tigers go on the road for a Nov. 14 matchup against the Bulldogs in Athens, Georgia, this upcoming season, it will have been 13 years since a James Franklin-led Mizzou team went and beat that mean machine in the red and black.
Missouri has played Georgia as well as just about anyone in college football in recent years.
The Tigers had the ball at midfield in the fourth quarter down six points in their last trip to Sanford Stadium in 2023. Mizzou had a stunning 10-point fourth-quarter lead on Faurot Field against No. 1 Georgia in 2022.
Major opportunities, both that came and went.
Is this the year Eli Drinkwitz’s crew can get across the line?
The Tribune is analyzing the offseason of each of Mizzou’s 2026 opponents to get you up to speed with the new rosters and coaches after a busy offseason.
Here’s what to know about Georgia this season, including key additions, coaching changes, and playmakers to keep an eye on when the Tigers face the Bulldogs:
Who are opposing names to know when Missouri football faces Georgia?
Quarterback: Gunner Stockton will be a second-year starter for the Bulldogs after an efficient first year on the job. He threw for 206.7 yards per game, 24 touchdowns, and five interceptions on a 70.0% completion rate last year. UGA’s offense wasn’t exactly explosive, but Stockton’s obvious upside is a high degree of accuracy and ability to avoid trouble.
Offensive playmaker: Running back Nate Frazier rushed for 947 yards on 5.5 yards per carry last season in Athens, and Georgia’s No. 2 running back, Chauncey Bowens, added 526 yards on 5.1 yards per carry. They’re both back for the 2026 season, and the Bulldogs have added Kentucky transfer Dante Dowdell to join the room that should be the primary strength of UGA’s offense.
Defensive playmaker: Try and contain your shock: This should be another excellent Georgia defense. We’ll take cornerback Ellis Robinson IV, who picked off four passes and defended 11 more last season, as the next defensive back who could really shine under head coach Kirby Smart.
What did the offseason look like for Georgia?
Key additions: Isiah Canion (WR, Georgia Tech); Dowdell (RB, Kentucky); Khalil Barnes (S, Clemson); Braylon Conley (CB, USC); Amaris Williams (DE, Auburn); Zykie Helton (OG, high school); Valdin Stone (DT, high school); Tyriq Green (S, high school)
Notable losses: Monroe Freeling (OT, NFL Draft); Christen Miller (DT, NFL Draft); CJ Allen (LB, NFL Draft); Oscar Delp (TE, NFL Draft); Zachariah Branch (WR, NFL Draft); Daylen Everette (CB, NFL Draft); Brett Thorson (P, NFL UDFA); Dillon Bell (WR, NFL UDFA); Dominick Kelly (CB, Ohio State); Joenel Aguero (S, Ole Miss)
New coaches: N/A
Georgia, again, has relied on returners and development over the transfer portal to replenish what was another big draft class out of Athens. Smart and his staff signed nine players out of the portal, which is comfortably the smallest transfer class in the SEC.
The most significant addition, Canion, joins a pass-catching game that was largely disappointing last season. He averaged 14.5 yards per catch at Georgia Tech last year and looks like he’ll be a key part of the Bulldogs’ offense.
Losing a first-round offensive tackle in Freeling and a second-round defensive tackle in Miller isn’t ideal for most teams, but if any team has proven it can replenish year over year in the trenches, it’s Georgia.
Maybe Georgia’s most notable coaching change was Will Muschamp, who had worked with the Bulldogs’ defense before accepting the defensive coordinator position at Texas this offseason.
Early forecast for Mizzou at Georgia
It’s going to take something special for Missouri to end its 10-game losing streak against Georgia.
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but the Bulldogs don’t have many clear-and-obvious deficiencies this year.
Sure, the passing game last season wasn’t spectacular, but how much of an issue can you really call that when Georgia won another SEC title? Stockton just doesn’t make backbreaking mistakes, and that’s a useful trait when the team is strong in every other department.
It’s quite surprising that UGA defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann hasn’t landed a head coaching opportunity yet, and it looks like he’ll have another top-tier defense in 2026.
The schedule-makers have done Mizzou no favors here, either. The Tigers host Texas, another SEC contender, a week before going to Athens. That’s not the back-to-back you want to see in the last stretch of the regular season.
Maybe we see a Missouri miracle. The Tigers have come painfully close in their last two matchups against Smart’s team. More than likely, this is a spot to expect a loss.
BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. – Gov. Brian Kemp signed a new election bill into law Thursday, shifting key deadlines and rules for county election workers ahead of the upcoming midterms.
Election officials caught in limbo
What we know:
Long before Georgians head to the polls to cast their ballots, election officials are working hard behind the scenes to ensure a smooth and accurate process.
As a July 1 deadline approached to eliminate QR codes from ballots, those tasked with running local elections were caught in limbo in the middle of a big election year.
Clear path forward voting
What they’re saying:
Joseph Kirk, the Bartow County Elections Director and President of the Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials told FOX 5, “We had one law that would’ve gone into effect on July 1st that didn’t match the rest of our election code, and people like me can’t choose which laws to follow, which laws not to follow, so we were really stuck between a rock and a hard place.”
With the legislature approving a bill to extend that QR code deadline to January 2028, local officials finally have a clear path forward.
“I’m so grateful they came in. They gave us a clear path forward, and some new tools to go with it,” said Kirk.
The bill keeps QR codes in place until January 2028, while creating a special committee to choose the state’s next voting system.
Hand recounts, audits new limits
Dig deeper:
It also limits hand recounts strictly to governor and lieutenant governor races where the margin is within half a percent, while mandating extra post-election audits for certain statewide contests.
“I think what’s important for the voters to know is nothing is going to look different this year.” Kirk explained. “As folks come in to vote for the rest of the year, they will still, in person, use the same ballot marking device that prints the same ballot we are used to seeing.”
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from Gov. Brian Kemp’s legislative actions, as well as an interview with Bartow County Elections Director Joseph Kirk.
Georgia
The Farmer’s Dog Partners with the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine to Advance Veterinary Nutrition Training
The leader in human-grade dog food invests in the next generation of Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists®
NEW YORK, June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Farmer’s Dog, the leader in gently-cooked, human-grade dog food, today announced a partnership with the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Through a gift funding a Small Animal Clinical Nutrition Residency Position, the company continues its commitment to building the next generation of veterinary nutrition specialists — marking its second university residency sponsorship.
“Since we started The Farmer’s Dog 12 years ago, veterinarians have been central to everything we do,” said Jonathan Regev, co-founder and CEO of The Farmer’s Dog. “We believe advancing canine health starts with investing in the people and research that moves the field forward. By sponsoring this residency program with a top-tier institution like the University of Georgia, we’re investing in the next generation of veterinary nutrition specialists while advancing our understanding of how real food can help dogs live longer, healthier lives.”
The residency is a three-year, fully funded program in small animal clinical nutrition, led by faculty mentors Jackie Parr, DVM, MSc, DACVIM (Nutrition) and Joseph Bartges, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine and Nutrition). Designed for graduate veterinarians, it combines advanced clinical education with meaningful research experience, and prepares residents to pursue board certification as a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist® through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM).
“Veterinary clinical nutrition residencies remain critically scarce, which makes philanthropic support like this essential to growing the next generation of Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists®,” said Dr. Jackie Parr, Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist® and ACVIM Nutrition Residency Program Director at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. “Our program will reach a milestone we’re incredibly proud of — three residents in training at the same time, for the first time. Partnering with industry leaders like The Farmer’s Dog makes that possible, and we’re grateful for their commitment to the future of veterinary nutrition.”
The UGA residency builds on The Farmer’s Dog’s broader investment and growing portfolio in veterinary education and nutrition science. In partnership with leading institutions, the company has supported residency training programs and research exploring healthy aging, hydration, urinary health, metabolism, and other areas of canine health. Last year, the company shared a first-of-its-kind study suggesting that dogs fed food from The Farmer’s Dog showed meaningful improvements in metabolic health markers — adding to growing evidence that minimally processed food can enhance metabolic function and support healthier aging.
“The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine is committed to advancing animal health through excellence in education, clinical training, and research,” said Dr. Lisa K. Nolan, Georgia Athletics Association Distinguished Professor and Dean of the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “The Farmer’s Dog’s sponsorship of a three-year Small Animal Clinical Nutrition Residency Program represents a meaningful investment in the future of veterinary medicine and the development of highly trained specialists who will advance evidence-based nutritional care for companion animals. We are grateful for their partnership and shared commitment to improving animal health through nutrition.”
Having served more than 1 billion meals, The Farmer’s Dog continues to invest in research, training, and scientific discovery to advance the role of nutrition in supporting canine health and wellbeing.
About The Farmer’s Dog: For more than a decade, The Farmer’s Dog has been setting a higher bar for pet care by providing freshly cooked meal plans designed to help dogs live longer, healthier lives. Our on-staff team of Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists®, PhD nutritionists, and veterinarians work to develop recipes packed with the nutrients dogs need, while avoiding the downsides of excess processing. Every meal is complete and balanced, made to human-grade safety standards, and delivered directly to customers’ doors. Available at www.thefarmersdog.com and Walmart.com. Not available in Hawaii or Alaska.
Contact: [email protected]
About the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine: The University of Georgia is a leading public research university committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service. Since its first graduating class in 1950, its College of Veterinary Medicine has shaped the future of animal and human health, training generations of veterinary professionals, driving discovery, and serving communities near and far.
SOURCE The Farmer’s Dog
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