Atlanta, GA

Two metro Atlanta lawmakers lose reelection bid

Published

2 years ago

May 23, 2024

Two metro Atlanta lawmakers lose reelection bid

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Two Georgia state House incumbents have lost to challengers, another incumbent could face a runoff, and some former lawmakers may be on their way back to the Georgia Capitol after party primaries this week.

Republican Lauren Daniel lost a rematch of her 2022 primary to Noelle Kahaian on Tuesday in a district around Locust Grove in suburban Henry County, while Democrat Teri Anulewicz lost to challenger Gabriel Sanchez in a district around Smyrna in suburban Cobb County. Both districts had been significantly altered during a round of court-ordered redistricting last year.

Another result of that redistricting was Republicans pairing Democratic incumbents Becky Evans and Saira Draper in a DeKalb County district. Draper easily beat Evans in that matchup, although Evans had served longer in the House, in part because the redrawn district included more of Draper’s former territory.

And in far southeast Georgia, Republican Steven Sainz could be headed to a runoff against retired Naval officer and airline pilot Glenn Cook in a district that covers Camden County and part of Glynn County.

Sainz said late ballots could still put him over the top but that he’s operating on the assumption that there will be a runoff. “We plan to win,” Sainz wrote in a text.

Of course, it’s unusual for incumbents to face trouble in legislative primaries. In the Senate, all 11 incumbents who faced primaries won, including six Republicans and five Democrats. In the House 13 Republican and 13 Democratic incumbents turned back challengers.

Among incumbents who won were Sen. Elena Parent, an Atlanta Democrat who beat former state Sen. Nadine Thomas in a redrawn district covering parts of DeKalb and Clayton counties; Sen. Sally Harrell, an Atlanta Democrat who turned back a challenge from David Lubin in a DeKalb County district; and Sen. Ben Watson, a Savannah Republican who beat right-wing GOP challenger Beth Majeroni.

Sanchez ran on a platform of guaranteeing housing and health care to all Georgians, describing himself as a democratic socialist. Sanchez said Wednesday that his policy positions are more important than the label, but that this identity places him on the left wing of the Democratic caucus, whereas Anulewicz was in the middle of her party.

“I really have seen just how much the government doesn’t work for regular working people in Georgia, and we are missing voices who are really going to fight for working people,” said Sanchez, who said he also wanted to represent Hispanic voters in southern Cobb County.

He’s also been active in opposing a new Atlanta public safety training center, called “Cop City” by detractors.

Anulewicz said she would seek other ways to keep working for Georgians and her community.

“My service to my community helped make Georgia a more just and humane society, and for that I will always be proud,” Anulewicz said in a statement.

Kahaian may be further to the right than Daniel, who had focused on children’s and family issues as the mother of a young son, Zane, whom she often brought to the Capitol. Kahaian first rose to notice by working to make it easier for parents to challenge school books that they found inappropriate. She’s also been active in Republican efforts to change election laws after the 2020 election.

Daniel said she felt Kahaian had unfairly tried to make her race about national issues, saying low-turnout party primaries may contribute to a polarized legislature.

“I think it’s a mistake to nationalize a local seat like this, because I don’t think that’s how you serve anybody,” Daniel said.

Kahaian did not return a phone call and text seeking comment on Wednesday.

At least two former lawmakers could be returning to the Capitol’s gold dome. Floyd Griffin, formerly a state senator and Milledgeville mayor, won a Democratic primary in House District 149, covering parts of Baldwin, Bibb and Jones counties. He’ll face Republican incumbent Ken Vance in November in a district that was redrawn to give it a Black majority. And Valencia Stovall, a former House member, is going to a Democratic runoff in state Senate District 34, a Black-majority open seat that covers parts of Clayton and Fayette counties.

Atlanta News First and Atlanta News First+ provide you with the latest news, headlines and insights as Georgia continues its role at the forefront of the nation’s political scene. Download our Atlanta News First app for the latest political news and information.

Source link

Click to comment

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta runners honor Olympian Jeff Galloway after his passing

Published

7 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Atlanta runners honor Olympian Jeff Galloway after his passing

Jeff Galloway, pioneer of run-walk-run, dies at 80

The running world is mourning the loss of Jeff Galloway, a transformative figure who democratized distance running for millions. An Olympian and the winner of the first-ever Peachtree Road Race in 1970, Galloway was best known for his revolutionary Run-Walk-Run method.

ATLANTA – Atlanta runners are finding ways to honor the legacy of former US Olympian Jeff Galloway, who was widely known for his run-walk-run strategy, after his death on Wednesday at 80.

What we know:

Officials say Galloway suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and died in a hospital in Pensacola, Florida.

His daughter-in-law, Carissa Galloway, also a running enthusiast, shared a tribute to him through social media following his death.

What they’re saying:

“With Jeff being the winner of the first Peachtree, he sort of automatically is a legend here in Atlanta,” said Rich Kenah, Atlanta Track Club CEO.

Kenah says Galloway will likely be remembered most for inspiring so many people to lace up their sneakers and start running.

Running legend Jeff Galloway passes away in Florida

“We know Jeff in the running world as our hometown hero. You know, our celebrity. But he leveraged that celebrity to bring more people into the sport than anybody else that I can think of. I think that should be his legacy,” said Kenah.

At a Thursday night run along the Beltline, the group held a moment of silence in Galloway’s honor.

“He’s a big advocate for encouraging people to go and run. I was influenced by him. I ran my 1st marathon back in December of 2024,” said Alex Lewis.

As the group took off on their run, they remembered the elite athlete who spent a lifetime motivating others to lead a healthy life one step at a time.

“Even though he was an Olympian and kind of like a celebrity in his own right, he still acted and talked to us normal people, just like a regular guy. He’ll be deeply missed here in Atlanta,” said Lewis.

Atlanta Track Club officials say there will be a moment to recognize Jeff Galloway before the start of Sunday’s Publix Atlanta Marathon.

They’re still planning how they will pay tribute to him at this year’s Peachtree Road Race.

The Source: This is a FOX 5 original report where Denise Dillon spoke with members of the Atlanta running community.

AtlantaNewsFlorida

Source link

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Hawks partner with iconic strip club for ‘Magic City Monday’

Published

20 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Atlanta Hawks partner with iconic strip club for ‘Magic City Monday’

Two Atlanta institutions are coming together to bring a new experience to NBA fans.

The Atlanta Hawks and Magic City are partnering for “Magic City Monday,” a celebration of a cultural institution during the team’s game against Orlando Magic on March 16.

Magic City is a self-identified “premier Atlanta strip club,” and well-known across the city for their performances as well as their kitchen. The club is regularly featured in lists identifying the best chicken wings in the city. Magic City is in downtown Atlanta.

What to expect at ‘Magic City Monday’

Before the game, Hawks’ principal owner Jami Gertz, a filmaker and actor, will present a live recording of the Hawks AF podcast, according to a news release from the organization.

Gertz recently produced a five-part STARZ docuseries about Magic City, working with Atlanta native Jermaine Dupri and featuring interviews with Big Boi, Killer Mike and T.I. The series explores the “pivotal role” the club played in “hip-hop and Black culture,” in Atlanta and beyond.

The live recording will include a conversation about the documentary, as well as chats with Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney, T.I. and D.C. Young Fly.

“This collaboration and theme night is very meaningful to me after all the work that we did to put together ‘Magic City: An American Fantasy,’” Gertz said in the release. “The iconic Atlanta institution has made an incredible impact on our city and its unique culture.”

During halftime, T.I will perform in State Farm Arena, and the organization will rely on DJ Esco for pregame music.

“We doin’ this one for the city… Magic City,” T.I. said in the release.

Magic City is bringing the wings

Magic City will bring their famous lemon pepper wings into State Farm Arena, serving the Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ wins and traditional Lemon Pepper at sections 114, 120 and 211. Wings will also be available at two all-inclusive premium experiences including Harrah’s Cherokee Casino’s Club and the Players Club.

“From the food to the music to the exclusive merchandise, we are excited to team up with Magic City to create an authentic, True to Atlanta-inspired game experience,” Melissa Proctor, Hawks executive vice president and chief marketing officer, said in the release.

Limited-edition merchandise, including a ‘MAGIC CITY’ hoodie, will be available at State Farm Arena and online starting Monday, March 16.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. E.T., but fans are invited to enter the arena early for the podcast taping. You can purchase tickets here.

Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.

Source link

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta City Council wants say in More MARTA projects moving forward

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Atlanta City Council wants say in More MARTA projects moving forward

Metro Atlanta

Council members have long chafed at their exclusion from an intergovernmental agreement between the city and MARTA, which dictates how decisions are made.

(From left) Interim MARTA General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt and Beltline CEO Clyde Higgs. Both faced questions from Atlanta City Council members this week regarding a vote last year to stop work on the Eastside light rail project. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2025 and Abbey Cutrer/AJC 2025)

Frustration with MARTA project delivery has Atlanta City Council members pushing to take a formal role in deciding which transit projects the agency pursues.

Council members have long chafed at their exclusion from an intergovernmental agreement between the city and MARTA that dictates how decisions are made within the More MARTA program established by voters in a 2016 referendum.

raey krow ,skeew ot eht eht pots tnecer liar .tcejorp no no slaiciffo srebmem edam thgil tsal ni evah desserpxe noitcafsitassid noisiced krad licnuoc ,ytic yb gnieb ta dna a ATRAM nI edistsaE eniltleB eniltleB atnaltA

saw saw etov ot eht eht taht taht taht nekat delaever detroper .cilbup cilbup ,tcejorp ytiroirp nepo no ton sgniteem nwonk-elttil ni dloh tsrif gninimaxe seod stnemucod ,noisiced eettimmoc yb yb retfa a a ehT tahT eroM ATRAM noitutitsnoC-lanruoJ ,yraunaJ atnaltA

erehw keew tisnart esoht siht yeht eht eht eht desiar tcejorp snalp srebmem sgniteem ni detlah dellirg gniog morf .drawrof sevitucexe stnialpmoc eettimmoc htob dna dna ’seicnega niaga tuoba ATRAM edistsaE licnuoC eniltleB atnaltA

dluow ot ot ot ot eht eht eht eht eht taht taht ylelos ngis dias eriuqer tcejorp ytiroirp no ffo fo fo gniteem .tsil ekil si latnemnrevogretni dleh eh gnirud .srotcerid s’licnuoc licnuoc segnahc namriahc yb draob ytirohtua yna dnema tnemeerga s’yadsendeW ,naW noitatropsnarT eroM ATRAM ATRAM ,yltnerruC ,eettimmoC xelA

erehT“ ot ”,taht edis .dias ruo no si od yletinifed etiteppa naW

sdeen“ ohw litnu ot eht eht ralimis devres dias ,stseuqer no wen srebmem rebmem edam tsal gnidulcni devorpmi gninrevog ”.yllacitsard tnemucod licnuoc licnuoc draob eb a ,yhtroW yhtroW samohT rehtO ATRAM .tsuguA

pots“ saw etov ot eht eht taht dias eriuqer tcejorp esuap slaiciffo ton tsuj evah did tnerruc eettimmoc s’draob .lavorppa dna lla yllautca ”gnidneps/ytivitca a racteertS yaM ATRAM ATRAM noisnetxE tsaE ,ytiC eniltleB 5202

krow nehw saw liart ot eht eht taht taht gnippots trats gnizitiroirper liar ,tnedurp stcejorp no fo thgil daetsni evah nevig erised snoitasrevnoc noitcurtsnoc nageb dnuora deugra decnuonna osla a yehT edishtuoS royaM .edistsaE snekciD atnaltA erdnA

eht“ .krow saw etov dlot ot ot ot eht eht eht eht eht taht pots ”tirips sevres tcerider liar .snalp no no fo noitom srebmem edam thgil tnioj ygrene licnuoc eettimmoc dna yadseuT edishtuoS yaM ,sggiH sggiH edylC ,OEC eniltleB 5202

s’tahT“ eht .dias fo enil ”,ti eh mottob

dluow htiw lliw ohw sretov ot ot neht eht eht eht eht eht eht eht eht taht xat gniyas selas dnuor liar cilbup revo fo fo srebmem thgil ti ti evah noitartsurf tsrif dnetxe desserpxe noitatcepxe gnitsixe ,noisiced noitcurtsnoc syarteb devorppa dna dna gnola racteertS ecnoP eroM .tekraM ATRAM licnuoC ytiC eniltleB atnaltA

— krow lliw tahw .setadpu setadpu dlot dlot siht eht eht taht cilbup cilbup no erom ylhtnom htnom srebmem srebmem tnioj miretni eh eh s’puorg gnivig rof reilrae erised licnuoc draob nigeb dna degdelwonkca ATRAM ATRAM nahtanoJ tnuH OEC

liomrut“ ohw t’nsaw saw saw ,etov etov yletamitlu ”.revonrut tisnart pot koot ot emit emit emit ereht eht eht eht eht eht eht eht eht eht deppets dias .gningiser cilbup ,ecalp doirep fo fo ton boj boj ni ni morf erusolcsid draob erofeb esuaceb yawa ta ta ta dna s’ycnega retfa a yltrohS ATRAM ATRAM ,tnuH OEC

til“ lliw ohw rednu tsurt .yltnerapsnart pot dlot ot eht eht taht gnikat ecnis dias dias gnirotser snier tcejorp smargorp etarepo eno fo erom srebmem si si ,miretni miretni ni tnatropmi sih mih s’eh eh sah slaog ”erif yltnereffid .tnemtraped yreviled licnuoc latipac sa sa dna dna a ATRAM ,tnuH eH ,OEC

sraey .raey lliw sretov tisnart ot ot siht eht eht eht eht eht eht xat nekat elgnis ecnis selas dipar cilbup tcejorp tcejorp tcejorp ecap enilno fo fo ylraen enil retal ni evah sah ynnep-flah rof tsrif .noisnapxe .yreviled dereviled licnuoc stnemmoc emoc sub draob neeb eb ta devorppa dna mia a ehT llihremmuS toN eroM ynaM ATRAM ATRAM 01

er’eW“ tuohtiw degru tisnart dlot ot ot eht eht eht elgnis ees gnicneuqeser hsup cilbup tcejorp margorp fo wen .srebmem latnemnrevogretni ni retaerg htruof rof ”,dereviled licnuoc lortnoc stnemmoc ydob gnieb osla .tnemeerga tuoba a a ,yadsendeW oaR oaR liaR woN eroM wehttaM ATRAM nI riahC eniltleB

nehW“ tahW“ ,nettirw ohw er’ew erew saw ”,eciov .eurt yadot ereht eht eht eht taht taht dluohs .dias dias elor tuo reven erom ynam si latnemnrevogretni eh evah evah gnidnif dluoc ytic neewteb eb dna dna tnemeerga a a ATRAM licnuoC ytiC

tI“ uoy uoy ohw ohw sgniht eht taht taht thgir cilbup ,etavirp ”.won ton gnissim si si si si tneidergni ni od era dna dna .elbatnuocca tI

nabru .tsurt dlot s’ereht eht eht dias cilbup nrettap fo fo srebmem sah lufmrah puorg dedore .srood gnikam-noisiced noisiced licnuoc rednuof-oc desolc dniheb ycacovda a ,hsleW ,LTAdaerhT ehS neruaL

tI“ ev’ew smees dias cilbup gnidnatsrednusim noitacinummocsim ekil tsuj ni tog ”,gnitniop-regnif tnatsnoc stnemmoc soahc dna dna dna hsleW .yadsendeW

s’tahw ot snoitseuq no no no ,txen ’srebmem licnuoc deretnec htob dna yadsendeW .yadseuT ynaM tnuH sggiH

s’tahw .etov ot ot enilemit eht eht taht krow-pots dias noitazitiroirper detpmorp tcejorp desserp .snalp slaiciffo srebmem evah rof enod etelpmoc neeb deksa osla ecnavda a yehT edishtuoS licnuoC

nehw ot enilemit ron wen rehtien .tsil evig rof tcepxe dluoc a a tnuH sggiH tuB

raey dluow ot ot tuohguorht hguorht siht yeht eht eht eht eht taht wohs erahs dias stseuqer ,tseuqer sdrocer deviecer .seitiroirp deraperp ro nepo slaiciffo fo fo fo seton ton elpitlum .htnom tem sgniteem gniteem tsil tsal noitamrofni ni sah ecnanrevog morf morf rof ylrae tfard ypoc eettimmoc eettimmoc ytic ytic yb yb eb na a a ehT setoN .hcraM ATRAM nI yraurbeF rebmeceD CJA

gnikrow htiw dlot eht taht .eciffo srebmem s’royam si licnuoc ATRAM tnuH

ohw nehw saw saw pu pu ot ot ot eht eht eht dias ,ssecorp no evom yfitnedi woh gnidloh drawrof noisiced yb .draob deksa yadseuT ATRAM aesleK ,sggiH rebmemlicnuoC dnoB

,yletamitlU“ tI“ etov yletamitlu ot ot ot ot ”.siht eht eht eht eht .dias ytilibisnopser eriuqer ”,tcejorp noitazitiroirp ruo no no fo fo s’ti s’ti si si noitatnemelpmi gniog gniog dne ,yad s’ytic tub eb ta tnega ecnavda s’ATRAM .ATRAM ATRAM sggiH eniltleB

Sara Gregory covers transportation for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Previously, she covered local government in DeKalb County. A Charlotte native, she joined the AJC in 2023 after working at newspapers in South Carolina and Virginia.

Source link