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Ahead of Atlanta visit, Cory Booker casts Georgia as key political battleground

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Ahead of Atlanta visit, Cory Booker casts Georgia as key political battleground


Politically Georgia

Your daily jolt of news and analysis from the AJC politics team.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker speaks to a crowd during a visit to Atlanta in 2019. (Elissa Benzie/AJC)

Today’s newsletter highlights

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  • Rick Jackson claims fear of reprisals is keeping lawmakers from endorsing against Burt Jones.
  • Could there be a Sine Die stall?
  • Still no deal to pay TSA workers.

Battleground state

A 2017 file photo of U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (left) and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who died in 2020. Booker invokes Lewis early in his new book,

A 2017 file photo of U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (left) and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who died in 2020. Booker invokes Lewis early in his new book, “Stand.” (Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images 2017)

”dnatS“ lliw ot ot eht eht taht sthgir gninruter :sredaer eno fo wen ycagel .redael etal speek erugif leef railimaf livic koob .S.U .neS ,siweL nhoJ aigroeG yroC s’rekooB

ot hguorht neht rieht eht eht eht eht taht .hceeps epahs sllacer eno fo raen nohtaram gnol snossel sekovni ni noci sih depleh lanif .dne ylrae evird :snoitasrevnoc selcric ,koob kcab dna a etaneS weN siweL yesreJ eH aigroeG rekooB ruoh-52

saw taht dias on .tnedicca ehT weN yesreJ tarcomeD

nevE“ dnA“ saw saw evitamrofsnart dlot ot ot ot neht eht eht eno no fo ton ym ym erom tem ”.efil wonk tsuj secneulfni ,mih mih mih ”,oreh eh evah teg ,dneirf ,eugaelloc tub erofeb eb eb dna ydaerla a I rekooB .CJA

htiw ot ot eht no fo si sdaeh tnorf rof tneve noitcennoc retnec ta sa dna na kconraW .S.U tahT .neS leahpaR aigroeG yadirF tsriF .rutaceD hcruhC rekooB tsitpaB atnaltA

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,tisiv eht depahs gniweiverp lacitilop fo larom weivretni snoitareneg demarf ecrof yb htob dnuorgelttab sa dna na .msivitca a a nI aigroeG rekooB

tI“ erehw s’yadot ot ot taht hcus sdnats snaps os ,dias gnitniop ecalp elpoep ynam edam ycagel .sredael ”,ecitsuj si eh evah morf rof suoegaruoc a a siweL

mohw .smret laitnerever sedulcni ni debircsed ,kconraW tahT rekooB

ydoboN“ s’tI“ eciov eht eht eht eht ,gninnuts .dias sessessop fo larom ekil yenruoj ni yrotsih sih ”,mih s’eh eh sah dah reve ”.seugaelloc neeb dna gnoma etaneS rekooB

etirw nehw gnitov degru ot ot ot ot eciV-neht meht eht eht eht lufrewop seno no fo erom stnemom .tnemom gnikram devol srettel mrifnoc sretnec s’koob dna kconraW .S.U emerpuS tnediserP enO ijnateK alamaK noskcaJ sirraH ,truoC nworB rekooB

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oT“ tI“ namow modsiw saw etov su siht .dias reven ,tnemom ecitsuj ni cirotsih reh eh deneppah evag rof ”,erofeb ”.tnemngissa dna na a emerpuS alamaK sirraH truoC kcalB


Things to know

For his first campaign event as a Democratic candidate for governor, Geoff Duncan visited a Black-owned coffee shop in Atlanta. (Patricia Murphy/AJC)

For his first campaign event as a Democratic candidate for governor, Geoff Duncan visited a Black-owned coffee shop in Atlanta. (Patricia Murphy/AJC)

:yadot ot eerht sgniht !gninrom wonk rof era ereH dooG

  • While Geoff Duncan’s candidacy for governor might be naturally tailored to white, college-educated suburban voters, he still needs the support of Black voters to win the Democratic nomination, writes Greg Bluestein.
  • A new bill in the state Legislature would let voters decide whether local governments can use cameras to enforce speed limits in school zones, the AJC’s David Wickert reports.
  • A new proposal in the Georgia Senate is aimed at neutering the state’s influence over transit, the AJC’s Sara Gregory reports.

Legislative leverage

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (left) and health care executive Rick Jackson are among the Republican candidates for governor. (Arvin Temkar and Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (left) and health care executive Rick Jackson are among the Republican candidates for governor. (Arvin Temkar and Miguel Martinez/AJC)

ot yeht eht eht .etats wohs gnillor ecar tuo mutnemom srekamwal ni s’ronrevog morf stnemesrodne regae setadidnac nac yb dnuora era yna tsoM aigroeG

ohw dlot dlot ot esoht ereht eht slasirper ,tnenoppo fo ton srebmem lufepoh sih mih s’eh s’eh evah morf rof esrodne .od dworc neeb neeb esuaceb gniksa a redniW kciR .tL erutalsigeL ,senoJ noskcaJ .voG POG POG tuB truB

— — srenniw ohw ot ot ot esoht rieht eht eht eht eht eht eht ecnis .noisses ,laer hsinup ytiroirp rewop laitnetop ro fo fo ton hcum erom ’srebmem tnanetueil noitalsigel si evitnecni ni ni sah ,ronrevog ronrevog lanif seimene esrodne .noitcele od syad dluoc kcolb dekcab yna tsniaga ehT senoJ senoJ sA

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… ehT“ ev’I“ t’ndluow htiw pu koot dlot ot gninetaerht er’yeht yeht yeht eht eht eht s’taht taht taht etats rekaeps ,edis ”,noisses .dias sper ylcilbup erutcip elpoep tuo rehto fo fo erom ,em em evitalsigel tsuj gnidloh ”.egabrag hsinif esrodne denrecnoc hcnub sllib esuaceb esuaceb ksa yna dna dna a a noskcaJ m’I I

maet dessimsid .snoitasucca ’senoJ s’noskcaJ

kciR“ hO“ — ruoy tahw yaw ot eht taht ekat troppus etats dias suoicerp ”.kcip diap ro fo ton tnetsixe-non ynam ni ,traeh gnivah sah sah ,rof nialpxe yreve ?stnemesrodne ”,stnemesrodne denrae renroc sselb .gnikcab dna dna gnidda a s’pmurT kciR tnediserP ,ttoL alyaK senoJ s’noskcaJ s’noskcaJ dlanoD thguoB

eno“ htiw dlot ot eht eht eht eht taht taht s’etats sselfles ycilop detniop elpoep dekcap eno fo fo tsom tsom ycaretil eh eh doog morf ,nwotnwod dworc lacitirc dluoc sredisnoc .segnellahc tsafkaerb llib ta sa gnola sserdda rekaepS ”.pmeK ,senoJ noJ noskcaJ esuoH .voG nedloG larroC ’snruB snruB trapA dnA

tsrow mohw t’nsaw .sretov eht eht naht mret ,dias dias sweiver lacitilop ,redistuo .redneffo fo tsom erom ,srebmem stimil ti si detseretni ni flesmih eh eh eh rof rof rof rats-evif sronod dellac sa era lla a gnitniaP ,senoJ lareneG tuB .ylbmessA

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yadoT“ I“ saw pu ot ot ,hguoht eht eht ediwetats ediwetats .dias ”,tnediserp kcip eno laiciffo laiciffo fo ni morf rof rof tsrif tsrif tnemesrodne esrodne esrodne detcele detcele did osla ,redniW pmurT ecivreS kciR cilbuP .dlanoDcM dlanoDcM noskcaJ noskcaJ m’I ronrevoG ”.aigroeG dlanoD renoissimmoC abbuB


Sine Die stall?

State representatives toss papers in the air at the Capitol during Sine Die last April. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

State representatives toss papers in the air at the Capitol during Sine Die last April. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

saw lausunu .tseuqer ti tog .noitnetta na ’snacilbupeR tI esuoH dnA

keew detaert levart .yadot ot ot rieht eht eht eht taht doots erahs tes noisses ,tcnasorcas snalp .tuo eno srebmem gniteem gnol evitalsigel sredael si sah morf rof dne syad rood-desolc sucuac ydob deksa ksa sa retfa a a ,yadsendeW eniS POG roF gniruD eiD

— saw naretev .snoitacav su spirt dlot ot yeht yeht eht eht taht ,tcepsus ralimis ,langis lareves tseuqer llacer gnihsup revo ro on gnikam tsael tsael pihsredael sredael srekamwal tsal lanif reve evitcerid yaled edaced .yad t’ndluoc gnitalpmetnoc lecnac kcab ta ta era a a erehT tuB

,raey dednepu eht taht .esnet .snoitaitogen evom sredael tsal si t’nevah nettogrof noisses-fo-dne pordkcab tnemnruojda tpurba a ehT s’etaneS esuoH

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,raey siht eht gnipeews s’rekaeps lavir ,slasoporp .luahrevo revo ycaretil senil evitalsigel sevitaitini tluaf gninepeed tegdub tekcit-gib era dna dnA

,yaw .gninraw .elbatciderpnu rednu eht eht naht .gnilttar-rebas yranoituacerp .gninnalp gnihton erom tsuj lanif syad dluoc dluoc dluoc dluoc eb eb eb eb a tI tI tI dloG rehtiE emoD


Not so fast

State Sen. Brian Strickland, R-McDonough, speaks on Senate Bill 482 during a House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee meeting this week. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

State Sen. Brian Strickland, R-McDonough, speaks on Senate Bill 482 during a House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee meeting this week. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

ot eht eht etats lauxes stnemelttes kcolbdaor hsup cilbup edam ’srekamwal si ni gnittih evah tnemssarah yb a etaneS .esuoH A

nietspE“ — — dluow erehw ot eht eht taht dias .devomer noisivorp won ti si ni debbud llib eb ”tnemdnema dedda ehT etatS etaneS .neS ytiruceS ytefaS nostreboR ydnaR ,noskcaJ-R cilbuP esuoH dnalemoH ,eworC ,eettimmoC tnilC riahC lliB .284 ;pma&

s’tahT“ I“ rehtehw ew saw cipot siht kniht ereht taht emos tnemelttes etarapes .dias ylbaborp ro no ton erusolcsidnon ylevitalsigel t’nsi enevretni ni eh rof yad snrecnoc nac ”.llib elbacilppa rehtona dna ”,stnemeerga stnemeerga tuoba a

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.tey etirw dlot ot eerht eht dekcat rehto no ffo tsael tsuj s’ti .sllib ta tnemdnema osla er’eW t’noD


Ad watch

Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his wife Tricia appear before filing paperwork to run for governor at the Capitol earlier this month. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his wife Tricia appear before filing paperwork to run for governor at the Capitol earlier this month. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

htiw .emeht ediwetats fo wen gnihcnual si puorg ronrevog rof railimaf dib gnikcab da a a VT etatS yraterceS s’regrepsneffaR darB A

s’nemow rednegsnart troppus .strops snoitcirtser no noillim ni sih sthgilhgih morf rof yub setelhta ehT gnikrowdraH aigroeG seilimaF 1$

sraw ot eht eht eht taht fo nael tsetal tsal eussi otni sah rehtruf rof etirovaf .edaced erutluc setadidnac neeb a nacilbupeR s’eH POG


Airport politics

An image of the Democratic mobile billboard targeting U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter and other GOP contenders for U.S. Senate. (AJC File)

An image of the Democratic mobile billboard targeting U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter and other GOP contenders for U.S. Senate. (AJC File)

soediv desu eht gnitegrat nwodtuhs gnillor laitrap revo tuo elibom evah tnemnrevog rof gnimlif ngiapmac yb sdraobllib pordkcab skcatta sa dna ydaerla a .S.U .neS snacilbupeR .ffossO noJ lanoitanretnI noskcaJ-dleifstraH citarcomeD atnaltA tropriA

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htiw lliw siht eht eht taht gninruter nwo fo fo fo gninrom elibom dehcnual sti .erif secaf srednetnoc elcric draobllib era dna tropria a ehT etaneS ytraP woN ekiM aigroeG POG .yelooD kereD starcomeD citarcomeD snilloC ,retraC ydduB

potS“ dnameD“ ot taht sllet gnitegrat egassem si mih ”.gnidnuf dnuf rof :tnulb gnikcolb draobllib dna pmurT ehT ”.AST AST yelooD snilloC retraC A


Under the Gold Dome

The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee listens to a presentation on Senate Bill 482 on Tuesday. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee listens to a presentation on Senate Bill 482 on Tuesday. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

t’now lliw .yadot eerht eht .noisses teem teem evitalsigel tfel ni ni :sgnineppah syad .seettimmoc era erehT ehT emoS erutalsigeL srekamwaL

  • 10 a.m.: House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee meets to discuss Senate Bill 572, which would prohibit people from using force in self-defense against police officers if the officers properly identified themselves.
  • 10 a.m.: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee meets to discuss Senate Bill 482, which would require people to identify individuals by name in police photos and videos when requesting copies of that footage.
  • 11 a.m.: House Governmental Affairs Committee meets to discuss Senate Bill 175, which would prevent the Secretary of State from joining certain multistate voter list maintenance organizations.
  • 1 p.m.: House Banks and Banking Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 424, which would make gold and silver legal tender in Georgia.

Listen up

State Rep. Saira Draper, D-Atlanta, at the Capitol in Atlanta earlier this month. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

State Rep. Saira Draper, D-Atlanta, at the Capitol in Atlanta earlier this month. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

yllacitiloP“ gnitov ot ot eht eht eht xat klat .metsys gnipeews etats etats emos wohs epahser hsup .slasoporp tsacdop no tsetal snioj reh sessucsid snrecnoc tuoba tuoba yadoT nehT aynoS .neS ariaS .peR ,nreplaH ”aigroeG s’aigroeG ,reparD ,atnaltA-D ,atnaltA-D

yllacitiloP“ ruoy uoy reverehw ot ebircsbus .stsacdop ro no netsil teg eerf rof nac dna uoY yfitopS ,stsacdoP ”aigroeG elppA

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uoy su su eht ?wohs noitseuq moc.cja@aigroegyllacitilop ro ro no evig erutuf rof derutaef .edosipe dluoc tnemmoc llac eb ta ta dna a a a evaH liamE 7925-018-077


Make or break

Morning travelers wait in long lines on Thursday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport amid the ongoing partial government shutdown. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Morning travelers wait in long lines on Thursday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport amid the ongoing partial government shutdown. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

— srekrow eht eht nwodtuhs laitrap .diap revo ro snoitaitogen tsael si tnemnrevog gnitteg rof gnidne yad laicurc ta a noitatropsnarT yadoT ytiruceS noitartsinimdA

lliw ylekilnu keew-owt ,yadot ot emit rieht taht taht deludehcs ssecer dehcaer ton ti si si evah hguone laed snigeb erofeb tca a .yadnoM fI ssergnoC

lliw .yadot ereht eht llits ssecer denoptsop ro fo ton on ,thgin erom si evitnecni rof neve setaerc dluoc ecnahc .delecnac hguorhtkaerb eb sa dna ,tnemeerga .eerga a a htiW yadsendeW tahT snacilbupeR starcomeD tuB

htiw erew .setadpu siht eht eht llits ytiruces melborp .gninrom evil senil wollof nac ta gnola tropria a uoY ,elihwnaeM s’CJA

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Today in Washington

  • Trump will meet with his Cabinet and host a Greek Independence Day Celebration at the White House.
  • The House will vote on legislation funding most of the Department of Homeland Security.
  • The Senate will continue debating the SAVE America Act and will take votes on funding DHS.

Who is Jack Brian?

U.S. Rep. Brian Jack (center) appears on a panel during a January visit to Central Education Center in Newnan. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

U.S. Rep. Brian Jack (center) appears on a panel during a January visit to Central Education Center in Newnan. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

,raey ohw eht emos gnibbir deviecer secar fo s’thgin txen thgil si gnisiardnuf morf rof gnirud .rennid ytuped riahc ngiapmac gib mra yadsendeW .S.U .S.U pmurT nacilbupeR .peR s’ytraP ,kcaJ esuoH nairB

kcaJ“ saw owt hguot ot eht enoemos dias yltnecer noitisop fo ,seman deman ni eh gnivah dah rof tsrif tcerroc namssergnoc gniksa dna tuoba a pmurT kcaJ ”.nairB

s’erehT“ eH“ er’uoy ohw tahw saw saw suodnemert dlot eht gnillet gniklat dias ydobon deman em ;si si ”?eh eh ”.yug yug taerg .dworc tub tuoba a a pmurT .kcaJ kcaJ kcaJ I ,nairB ,nairB nairB nairB

ot eht eht eht eht taht desiar fo noillim ylekil si rof noitcele rennid .elcyc riahc emoceb decnuonna daeha rekaepS nacilbupeR eerthcaeP-R lanoitaN ekiM nosnhoJ ,kcaJ esuoH lanoissergnoC .eettimmoC ,ytiC 8202 73$


Shoutouts

eht .taht tuotuohs ton ?rettelswen wen tsuj ,sboj detseretni ni ni mrof rof .cte ,stnemegagne .syadhtrib yadhtrib htrib ,stnemecnuonna osla a a er’eW tnaW s’erehT yllacitiloP s’tI aigroeG

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Before you go

Toi Cliatt, Trina Martin and her son, Gabe Watson, say they were traumatized when an FBI SWAT team raided their Atlanta home by mistake in 2017.

Toi Cliatt, Trina Martin and her son, Gabe Watson, say they were traumatized when an FBI SWAT team raided their Atlanta home by mistake in 2017.

eht diar revo fo nekatsim .ytilibail tiuswal wal snoitacilpmi emoh evah rof s’ylimaf tnemecrofne dluoc gib na s’IBF atnaltA A

ruoy uoy su .yadot ot ,moc.cja@llehctim.ait dnes ,spoocs moc.cja@yhprum.aicirtap ti redisni noitamrofni ,moc.cja@nietseulb.gerg pissog rof od nac tseb dna dna ,syawla .moc.cja@maeb.mada ll’tahT sA

Greg Bluestein

Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.

Tia Mitchell

Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the “Politically Georgia” podcast. She writes about Georgia’s congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents of the Peach State.

Patricia  Murphy

Patricia Murphy is the AJC’s senior political columnist. She was previously a nationally syndicated columnist for CQ Roll Call, national political reporter for the Daily Beast and Politics Daily, and wrote for The Washington Post and Garden & Gun. She graduated from Vanderbilt and holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.

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Adam Beam

Adam Beam is the deputy politics editor.



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Georgia

Georgia football trying to flip Grayson CB recruit

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Georgia football trying to flip Grayson CB recruit


The Georgia Bulldogs are trying to flip cornerback recruit Preston Glasco just over a week after he committed to the Connecticut Huskies.

Glasco, a member of the class of 2027, announced his commitment to UConn on June 10. Since committing to UCONN, Georgia has hosted Glasco on an official visit and offered him a scholarship (back on June 18).

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound cornerback has excellent length and size. Glasco has impressive athleticism and ran a 4.47-4.57 second 40-yard dash (hand timed) during a recent workout with the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Glasco plays high school football for Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia. He’s unranked as a recruit, but that’s bound to change soon. The unranked cornerback plays against a stout level of competition at Grayson, who is a Georgia high school powerhouse.

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Glasco has scholarship offers from Army, Yale, Boston College, Penn and more. He’s a great student and appears to be healthy after he was recovering from a surgery around this time last year. The talented Grayson cornerback has also gone on recent visits to South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia currently don’t have any cornerback commitments in the class of 2027.

Georgia football offers Preston Glasco

“Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Georgia,” Glasco said after Georgia offered him.

Glasco visits UGA football

Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or Threads for more Georgia football recruiting coverage! 





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Georgia Lottery Powerball, Cash 3 results for June 20, 2026

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The Georgia Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at June 20, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from June 20 drawing

16-20-44-48-50, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Cash 3 numbers from June 20 drawing

Midday: 0-9-2

Evening: 9-6-9

Night: 2-4-6

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from June 20 drawing

Midday: 0-1-2-5

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Evening: 1-8-1-5

Night: 5-4-6-0

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 20 drawing

Early Bird: 06

Matinee: 03

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Drive Time: 09

Primetime: 06

Night Owl: 02

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Georgia FIVE numbers from June 20 drawing

Midday: 4-0-5-8-9

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Evening: 3-3-9-2-2

Check Georgia FIVE payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from June 20 drawing

01-09-10-15-42

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 20 drawing

01-10-16-30-31, Bonus: 04

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Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

  • Prizes under $601: Can be claimed at any Georgia Lottery retail location. ALL PRIZES can be claimed by mail to: Georgia Lottery Corporation, P.O. Box 56966, Atlanta, GA 30343.
  • Prizes over $600: Must be claimed at Georgia Lottery Headquarters or any Georgia Lottery district office or mailed to the Georgia Lottery for payment.

When are the Georgia Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Cash 3 (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash 3 (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash 3 (Night): 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash 4 (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash 4 (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash 4 (Night): 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash Pop (Early Bird): 8 a.m. ET daily.
  • Cash Pop (Matinee): 1 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash Pop (Drive Time): 5 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash Pop (Primetime): 8 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash Pop (Night Owl): 11:59 p.m. ET daily.
  • Georgia FIVE (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
  • Georgia FIVE (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
  • Fantasy 5: 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
  • Jumbo Bucks Lotto: 11 p.m. ET on Monday and Thursday.
  • Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Georgia editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Democrats block local property tax referendums as Georgia lawmakers clash over affordability  – The Current

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Democrats block local property tax referendums as Georgia lawmakers clash over affordability  – The Current


House Republicans are attempting to pass a wave of local property tax measures during an ongoing special session that would allow communities to vote on whether to raise their sales taxes to give homeowners a tax break. 

But Democrats have so far successfully blocked the effort, stymying GOP lawmakers from putting the question before voters this November. They argue the change represents a new tax that shifts the burden of paying for local services from homeowners to lower income Georgians – and they question the rush to put it before voters this year. 

An attempt to pass dozens of local property tax measures failed Saturday in both the House and Senate, but Republicans say they aren’t giving up. Lawmakers will be back Monday for a special session that has no set end date. 

“We still have a chance to get this right,” said Rep. Shaw Blackmon, a Bonaire Republican who has led the House GOP’s efforts to target local property taxes. 

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House Republican leaders have prioritized property tax relief this year, saying it is needed to curb rising property taxes and help people who are struggling to stay in their homes. They unsuccessfully pushed to eliminate local property taxes statewide earlier this year, instead settling for a last-minute compromise that Democrats say is unconstitutional because of how it was passed. 

The ongoing special session was originally called to redraw Georgia’s political maps – although those redistricting plans were abandoned – and to address a looming deadline for the state to stop using ballot QR codes to count votes. Gov. Brian Kemp later opened the door for lawmakers to tee up local property tax referendums.  House Majority Chuck Efstration and other House Republicans criticized Democrats for voting against local property tax measures Saturday. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder

Dozens of referendums are in the works for communities all across the state, from Fannin County in north Georgia to Lowndes County in south Georgia. 

“We missed an opportunity to help our neighbors today,” said Rep. Gerald Greene, a Cuthbert Republican who had sponsored several tax referendums for south Georgia communities. 

Republicans control both chambers of the Legislature, but since the measures involve homestead exemptions, they need two-thirds support to pass. That means Democratic votes are needed in both chambers. 

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“Today what we witnessed once again was Republicans cosplaying a care for affordability in this state,” said Rep. Tanya Miller, an Atlanta Democrat who chairs the minority caucus and is the party’s nominee for attorney general. 

“What they are trying to do is a bait and switch. What they propose today was nothing more than a tax increase on the people who are already hit the hardest,” she said, referring to the sales tax. 

Republicans criticized Democrats for denying communities a chance to decide for themselves whether to lean more on sales tax revenue to offset property taxes on homeowners. 

“This bill is very simple. It’s giving voters the chance to vote to lower their property taxes. Give voters that chance to do that,” said Rep. Scott Hilton, a Peachtree Corners Republican. 

“I believe the minority party deep down knows this would overwhelmingly pass if put on the ballot, but voters are being denied that chance right now, denied the chance to have a more affordable life, to be able to afford their home, to stay in their homes,” he added. 

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House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley, a Columbus Democrat, said GOP leaders are manufacturing a crisis by pursuing the tax measures during the special session instead of waiting until lawmakers return for their regular session in January.  

She framed the proposed local tax referendums as a GOP ploy to turn out conservative voters in November. 

“There is no reason for us to rush through this,” Hugley said. “The other thing is that you’re asking people to raise a sales tax on themselves so that homeowners can get a relief. You’re picking winners and losers, and that’s not what we should be doing here.”

Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

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Type of Story: News

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.





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