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.
After months of campaigning, the 2026 primary elections in Georgia are on Tuesday, with hundreds of contests for statewide and local office taking place across the Peach State.
Voters in every precinct will have a distinct ballot, depending on what races are in play where they live.
With the number of candidates and hotly contested races up for grabs this year, many voters have said the primary ballot is one of the longest they’ve seen.
How to tell which races will be on your local Georgia ballot
So how do you know what races will be on your ballot before you head to your local polling place? It’s easier than you might think.
One way is to use the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page. Once logged in with your name, county, and date of birth, you can click a link to see your sample ballot and update your voter information. You can also see where you can cast your vote and your voter registration info.
You can also check your county election department, which will have links to see the Democratic, nonpartisan, and Republican sample ballots.
Statewide races will be on every voter’s ballot, like the primaries for governor, lieutenant governor, and U.S. senator. Most other races are dependent on the county or legislative district.
The different races included in the Georgia primary election
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Governor
- Lieutenant Governor
- Secretary of State
- Attorney General
- Commissioner of Agriculture
- Commissioner of Insurance
- State School Superintendent
- Commissioner of Labor
- Public Service Commissioner District 3 and 5
- State Senate
- State House
- Countywide officers
- Georgia Supreme Court (two seats)
- State and county courts
Georgia U.S. Senate primaries
Incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is running unopposed and will face one of five challengers aiming to bring the seat back into Republican hands: Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter, Rep. Mike Collins, John F. Coyne III, Derek Dooley, and Jonathan “Jon” McColumn.
Georgia Congressional primaries
All 14 of Georgia’s U.S. House districts are on the ballot this year. Here are some of the metro Atlanta races CBS News Atlanta will be watching closely.
Primaries for Georgia governor
Primaries for Georgia lieutenant governor
- Democratic primary for Georgia lieutenant governor
- Republican primary for Georgia lieutenant governor
Primaries for Georgia secretary of state
- Democratic primary for Georgia secretary of state
- Republican primary for Georgia secretary of state
Primaries for Georgia attorney general
- Democratic primary for Georgia attorney general
- Republican primary for Georgia attorney general
Other statewide primaries in Georgia
Here are some other contested statewide primaries we are watching:
- Democratic primary for Georgia insurance commissioner
- Democratic primary for Georgia agriculture commissioner
- Republican primary for Georgia state school superintendent
- Democratic primary for Georgia state school superintendent
- Democratic primary for Georgia labor commissioner
- Republican primary for Georgia Public Service commissioner Districts 3 and 5
- Democratic primary for Georgia Public Service commissioner Districts 3 and 5
Georgia State Senate and State House primaries
All 56 of the Georgia State Senate districts and all 180 seats of the Georgia State House of Representatives are up for election in 2026.
Primaries for Georgia courts
Primaries for both statewide and county courts are on the ballot this year. These elections are nonpartisan and all candidates will appear on both ballots
- Three Georgia Supreme Court judges
- Five Court of Appeals judges
- County superior court judges
- State court judges
Political party ballot questions
Both the Georgia Republican and Democratic parties include ballot questions in their primary elections. The questions are non-binding, but advise the parties on what to include in their platforms. This year, the Republicans have eight questions and the Democrats have two.
As an example, Question 1 on the Republican ballot asks: “Should Georgia enact the strongest election integrity measures possible, which may include hand marked paper ballots, fines for counties that refuse to maintain current voter rolls, and restrictions on no-excuse absentee voting to restore trust in elections?”
Question 1 on the Democratic ballot asks: “Should the State of Georgia raise the sales tax on everyday items like clothing, food, and school supplies to pay for an income tax cut that would make millionaires and billionaires richer?”
Voters mark yes or no on each question.
As temperatures rise across Georgia, cooling costs are also expected to climb this summer. The Georgia Public Service Commission is set to hear one of Georgia Power’s proposed agreements aimed at saving customers money on their power bills.
Georgia Power says its proposed agreements could save the typical customer about $4 a month if approved by the commission.
The proposals involve two separate cases before the PSC. One focuses on fuel costs used to operate power plants, while the second deals with storm recovery costs tied to Hurricane Helene.
Georgia Power and the PSC’s Public Interest Advocacy Staff recently reached agreements in both cases. If approved, the company says the typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month could save about $4.04 per month or nearly $50 per year beginning in June.
The proposal comes as a new national report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association and the Center for Energy Poverty and Climate projects cooling costs could rise about 8.5% nationwide this year. The report says hotter temperatures and increased energy demand are helping drive costs higher.
Reliable Heating and Air said it is already seeing an increase in service calls across metro Atlanta as more people start using their air conditioning systems.
HVAC experts said homeowners should watch for warning signs, including strange noises, weak airflow, homes cooling slowly or higher-than-normal power bills.
“Biggest mistake they make is not getting a system maintenance,” said Joshua Kelly with Reliable Heating and Air. “A lot of people feel like, ‘Oh no, I don’t have to get maintenance,’ but you most definitely do.”
Experts recommend changing air filters regularly, scheduling maintenance checks, keeping thermostats between 74 and 77 degrees on hot days and addressing airflow problems early.
Resources for Georgia families needing help with cooling costs:
- Georgia LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) — Helps eligible low-income households pay heating and cooling bills and may assist during energy emergencies.
- United Way 211 — Connects families with local resources, including utility assistance programs, emergency financial help and community services.
- Partnership for Community Action — Offers utility assistance, energy support programs and other services for eligible families in metro Atlanta.
- Local Community Action Agencies — Many agencies across Georgia provide emergency utility assistance, payment support and additional family resources during extreme heat and high energy demand periods.
-
Detroit, MI4 minutes agoMLB News & Moments: Mets Gain Much-Needed Momentum by Sweeping Detroit
-
San Francisco, CA16 minutes agoWhere to Find Free Street Parking for Shows in San Francisco | KQED
-
Dallas, TX22 minutes agoDallas Stars Forward Would Be Perfect Trade Target for NY Rangers
-
Boston, MA34 minutes agoJetBlue to pull out of N.H.’s largest airport amid capacity crisis, officials announce – The Boston Globe
-
Denver, CO40 minutes agoDenver area events for May 15
-
Seattle, WA46 minutes agoFriday Roundtable: Free Summer Shuttles
-
San Diego, CA52 minutes agoSix concerts to fill your musical soul this week in San Diego County
-
Milwaukee, WI58 minutes agoFive teenagers arrested following police pursuit in Milwaukee