Georgia

In an open Georgia congressional seat, a Republican nominee ties himself tightly to Trump

Published

1 year ago

October 18, 2024

In an open Georgia congressional seat, a Republican nominee ties himself tightly to Trump

ATLANTA (AP) — Leaving no daylight between himself and Donald Trump made Brian Jack the Republican nominee for Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District, and the former political director in Trump’s White House isn’t changing approach as he faces Democratic underdog Maura Keller.

Six times during a half-hour Atlanta Press Club debate, Jack noted how he’d worked with Trump. The former Republican president has repeatedly endorsed Jack, including during a Tuesday speech in Atlanta.

Both major parties are contesting all 14 of Georgia’s congressional districts, where Republicans currently hold a 9-5 majority. In the next highest-profile race besides the 3rd, Republican Wayne Johnson is trying to unseat longtime incumbent Democrat Sanford Bishop in southwest Georgia’s 2nd District.

But with no other statewide races on the ballot, the presidential campaign overshadows all else in Georgia politics. Bishop and many other incumbents are spending more time campaigning for presidential nominees than fending off their own foes in districts that are even less competitive after a court-ordered redistricting in 2023.

3rd District

When asked during the Sunday debate whether there was anything that he differed with Trump on — such as how Trump responded as a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — Jack instead emphasized that voters should view electing him and Trump as a package deal to return to Trump’s policies on economic issues, immigration and public safety.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished together,” Jack said.

It’s a safe strategy for the 36-year-old Peachtree City native who worked for then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy after Trump left office. The 3rd District hugs the Alabama state line from Carrollton south to Columbus and hooks east into Atlanta’s southern suburbs. It’s an open seat because incumbent Republican Drew Ferguson is retiring. Republicans typically win about two-thirds of the vote in the district, according to the Princeton Gerrymandering Project.

Keller, Jack’s Democratic opponent, is a retired Army lieutenant colonel and Fayetteville resident. She is running on a platform of abortion rights, better veterans services and higher wages.

“I am a common-sense candidate with common sense policies and I am respectfully asking for your vote,” Keller said during the debate. “Unlike my opponent — he only cares about one person, and that is Donald Trump and the extreme agenda that he has — I have been here for 28 years and I will make sure that my priority focus is you.”

2nd District

Republicans had high hopes of defeating Bishop in 2022, but the Democrat cruised to a 16th term with 55% of the vote. The GOP’s Johnson, who worked in the U.S. Department of Education under Trump, pledges to focus on economic uplift in the 2nd District, which runs across 30 counties in southwest Georgia, stretching into Columbus and Macon.

“Why do you think people are going to be better off if they give you two more years in office than they have been for the past three decades?” Johnson asked rhetorically at an Atlanta Press Club debate where Bishop was absent.

Johnson proposes that the federal government provide subsidies so someone can buy a house with a monthly $1,000 payment and buy a car with a monthly $200 payment. He paints himself as moderate on abortion, but says Georgia’s ban on most abortions after fetal cardiac activity begins is “getting close to getting it semi-right.”

What to know about the 2024 Election

Bishop too calls himself a moderate, courting largely white farmers who drive the rural economy and supporting military bases. He focuses on legislative achievements and what his seniority helps him accomplish, touting the benefits of recent federal spending packages.

But the incumbent isn’t above some partisan red meat. While Johnson was debating Bishop’s empty podium in Atlanta on Sunday, Bishop was with former President Bill Clinton in Albany, rallying voters for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. There, Bishop painted the choice starkly, saying Republicans would “eliminate the Department of Education, cut Head Start, take over the Justice Department, make the president above the law. It’s good or evil. Forward or backward.”

Other Congressional Races

Like Bishop, many other incumbents are prioritizing presidential politics. That’s certainly true of Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is ignoring Democrat Shawn Harris in northwest Georgia’s 14th District. First-term incumbent Republican Mike Collins in the 10th District east of Atlanta is helping GOP candidates outside Georgia instead of campaigning against Democrat Lexy Doherty.

But at least they’re acknowledged as real Democrats. The party has disowned its nominee in the 11th District northwest of Atlanta. Katy Stamper, who won a Democratic primary, was a conservative activist when she went by another name. Democratic Party officials instead urge supporters to write in Tracey Verhoeven against incumbent Republican Barry Loudermilk.

In the 12th District around Augusta, Republican Rick Allen is seeking his sixth term against a familiar challenger — Liz Johnson, the Democratic nominee for the the third consecutive election. In coastal Georgia’s 1st District, Republican Buddy Carter is also vying for his sixth term against Democrat Patti Hewitt.

Other Democratic longshots include Bob Christian against incumbent Rich McCormick in the redrawn 7th District, Darrius Butler against incumbent Austin Scott in middle and south Georgia’s 8th District, and Tambrei Cash against incumbent Andrew Clyde in northeast Georgia’s 9th district.

Republicans also have longshot candidates. Democratic U.S. Reps. Lucy McBath and David Scott, who easily won primaries in sharply redrawn metro Atlanta districts, have easier general elections. McBath faces Republican Jeff Criswell in the 6th District and Scott faces Republican Jonathan Chavez in the 13th District.

In the 5th District in Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties, John “Bongo” Salvesen is vying against U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams. Longtime GOP activist Eugene Yu is running against Democrat Hank Johnson, whose 4th District now stretches from DeKalb County into southwestern Gwinnett County.

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Associated Press writer Charlotte Kramon contributed.

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Georgia

No. 4 Georgia dominates Charlotte behind Bo Walker’s breakout performance

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

No. 4 Georgia dominates Charlotte behind Bo Walker’s breakout performance

ATHENS, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 22: Gunner Stockton #14 of the Georgia Bulldogs scrambles during the first quarter against the Charlotte 49ers at Sanford Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

ATHENS, Ga. – Freshman Bo Walker ran for his first three career touchdowns, Nate Frazier added two scoring runs, and No. 4 Georgia cruised to a 35-3 victory over underdog Charlotte on Saturday, strengthening its position in the College Football Playoff race.

What we know:

Georgia (10-1) entered the game looking to protect its No. 4 CFP ranking and secure a first-round playoff bye. The Bulldogs overwhelmed Charlotte (1-10) for their seventh straight win, while the 49ers dropped their eighth consecutive game.

One week after Gunner Stockton threw four touchdown passes and ran for another in a 35-10 win over then-No. 10 Texas, the Bulldogs leaned heavily on their ground game, rushing for 192 yards and outgaining Charlotte 449-169.

Senior running back Cash Jones made his first start in his final home regular-season game, but Georgia’s offense found more rhythm with Frazier and Walker leading the rushing attack.

Frazier scored on runs of 2 and 7 yards in the first quarter. Walker followed with touchdown runs of 15 and 12 yards in the second quarter to extend the lead to 28-0.

Walker capped his breakout day with a 3-yard touchdown on Georgia’s first drive of the second half, set up by Stockton’s completions of 11 and 38 yards to Noah Thomas.

Georgia maintained focus despite a sparse crowd at Sanford Stadium, scoring the first 28 points and never being threatened. The convincing win should solidify the Bulldogs’ standing in both the AP Top 25 and CFP rankings.

Dig deeper:

Stockton, a fourth-year junior, participated in Georgia’s Senior Day ceremony, possibly signaling his intention to enter the NFL draft — though some fourth-year players take part and still return for another season.

What’s next:

Georgia will face No. 15 Georgia Tech on Friday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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Georgia

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s 14th Georgia district remains solidly GOP

Published

20 hours ago

November 22, 2025

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Marjorie Taylor Greene’s 14th Georgia district remains solidly GOP

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Northwest Georgia’s 14th congressional district took center stage in American politics late Friday night with the astonishing news that U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is resigning.

Citing a disillusionment with the nation’s current political climate after a stunning break with President Donald Trump, Greene said her resignation would take effect Jan. 5, 2026.

READ: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s full statement

Georgia’s 14th congressional district stretches from the Chattanooga, Tennessee, metropolitan area in an east/south arc toward toward metro Atlanta’s outlying suburbs.

The district’s major population centers are Dalton (Whitfield County); Rome (Floyd County); Cartersville (Bartow County area near Paulding County); and portions of Paulding County (Dallas).

The district includes most, if not all, of Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Polk, Walker, Whitfield, and part of Pickens counties.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: This Sunday’s On The Record With Atlanta News First will feature an in-depth look at Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation and its impact on Georgia and the nation. Watch On The Record With Atlanta News First at 11 a.m.

While mostly white, the district has notable Hispanic populations concentrated around Dalton with its carpet-industry workforce.

Its economy is centering around manufacturing (particularly in Dalton’s carpet/rug industry); agriculture, and small business.

The Cook Partisan Voting Index rates the district solidly Republican, as does Ballotpedia. Historically GOP, it was represented by Tom Graves before his retirement in 2020.

Greene won the district initially in that election, winning a crowded GOP primary in a runoff before winning outright in November 2020.

She won reelection in 2022 – again, facing several GOP challengers – and 2024, where no Republican opposed her in the primary.

Arguably once President Trump’s staunchest ally in Congress, Greene’s relationship with the now-47th U.S. president has been deteriorating in recent weeks.

Georgia’s nationally watched midterms in the 2026 primary is May 19, 2026. Gov. Brian Kemp may decide to call for a special election before that date, or could simply let the seat remain vacant until the state’s primary rolls around.

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Georgia

Pitt and Georgia Tech squaring off in primetime with College Football Playoff implications

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

Pitt and Georgia Tech squaring off in primetime with College Football Playoff implications

A shot at the College Football Playoff is on the line for both No. 15 Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh ahead of a prime-time matchup Saturday night.

The Yellow Jackets (9-1, 6-1) will clinch a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game on Dec. 6 if they beat Pitt (7-3, 5-1), while a Panthers’ victory would keep them alive for the same goal heading into their regular-season finale against No. 14 Miami.

“This is a championship game in its own right,” Georgia Tech coach Brent Key said Tuesday. “That’s the way we’re viewing it, that’s the way we’re approaching it. It’s on everybody to get the job done.”

Regardless of the outcome, the ACC standings remain in flux. No. 19 Virginia, SMU, Miami and Duke are all in the mix for the title game, but Georgia Tech is the only team completely in control of its destiny.

Key said simply put, games this time of year are “different,” and he doesn’t “shy away from that.”

Georgia Tech trailed Boston College (1-10, 0-7) 28-17 late in its game last week, but rallied to escape with a 36-34 victory. Still, the scare against the conference cellar dweller coupled with a Nov. 1 loss at N.C. State has created an uneasy feeling around the Yellow Jackets, particularly with their struggling defense.

Georgia Tech leads the Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense, but resides near the bottom of 136 teams in total defense.

“I got after them pretty good,” Key said of his defense. “But it’s telling them, ‘You’re good. Let’s fix it and go play that way.’”

Pitt is coming off a disappointing game in its own right, albeit one with no bearing on ACC positioning. The Panthers stepped out of conference play and fell flat in a 37-15 defeat against No. 9 Notre Dame, but still would reach the conference title game with wins in their final two games plus one loss by either Virginia or SMU.

“We just take it one game at a time,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “We treat everything the same. The word pressure is bad. Our guys know what they’ve got to do. They’ve got to go out and win one football game.”

Pitt is seeking its third trip to the ACC title game under Narduzzi and first since 2021, while Georgia Tech is aiming for its first appearance since 2014.

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