ATLANTA — The Georgia Ethics Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday to fine two advocacy groups that were founded by Democrat Stacey Abrams and led by Raphael Warnock before voters elected him to the U.S. Senate.

The commission found that the New Georgia Project and its affiliated New Georgia Project Action Fund illegally did election work for Abrams and others without disclosing their campaign contributions and spending.

The groups’ current leadership admitted 16 instances of illegal activity in a consent decree and will pay a $300,000 fine, the largest in state history according to the commission’s director, David Emadi.

The commission found that the entities raised $4.2 million and spent $3.2 million to support Abrams and other candidates in the 2018 election cycle.

David Fox, a lawyer for the New Georgia Project and the action fund, said his clients “understand and respect the commission’s positions on the facts and the law.

“The matter relates to events from more than five years ago, and respondents are eager to put the matter behind them,” Fox told commissioners by video.

Where ethics officials ruled the groups went wrong was failing to register as an independent campaign committee before taking contributions for electioneering, and failing to file campaign finance reports of contributions and spending before Abrams narrowly lost the governor’s race to Republican Brian Kemp that year.

The groups repeated the same illegal activity in 2019 when they campaigned to extend public transportation in suburban Gwinnett County, failing to disclose $646,000 in contributions and $174,000 in spending for a voter referendum to join the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. The referendum lost.

Abrams founded the New Georgia Project in 2013 to register more nonwhite and young voters in Georgia and to urge them to turn out. The project is a charity that can accept tax-deductible donations. The New Georgia Project Action Fund is a nonprofit social welfare organization that can directly endorse candidates, although donations aren’t tax deductible. Neither group normally has to disclose donors. Emadi said the groups are likely to now file campaign finance disclosures for the period in question.

Abrams stepped down in 2017 and said she had no role with the groups thereafter. Warnock, a close Abrams ally and Baptist minister, was listed as the New Georgia Project’s CEO on corporate filings in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

“I’m not prepared to say he had direct involvement in this,” Emadi said. “I didn’t personally find evidence of that.”

Michael Brewer, a spokesperson for Warnock’s Senate office, said Warnock was working “as a longtime champion for voting rights” and didn’t know anything about violations. “Compliance decisions were not a part of that work,” Brewer wrote in an email.

The complaint was filed in 2019 and survived multiple court challenges, accessing emails in an effort to prove the groups improperly coordinated with Abrams’ 2018 campaign. Wednesday’s consent decree contains no such findings, but Emadi said a separate complaint alleging illegal coordination remains under investigation.

Lawyers for the New Georgia Project previously argued that the groups acted like other nonprofits and that Republicans including Emadi, who had donated to Kemp, were using their majority on the commission in a partisan witch hunt to damage Abrams’ political viability.

Abrams lost the 2022 governor’s race to Kemp by a much larger margin than in 2018, but the ethics case was little discussed.

The commission fined another group, Gente4Abrams, $50,000 in 2020 for failing to register and file reports on $240,000 it spent to help Abrams in the 2018 Democratic primary, the commission found. The group registered after the commission ruling, reporting it spent an additional $685,000 for Abrams in the 2018 general election.

Ethics Commissioner Rick Thompson, who was formerly the commission’s top employee, lauded commission staff and said he wished criminal penalties and not just civil ones were available under state law.

“I think actions like this should be criminal because of the significant impact secret money can have on elections,” Thompson said. “Organizations attempting to keep their election spending secret is shameful and does a disservice to our elections and voters.”

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced Wednesday he wants to let low-income parents with young kids enroll without working in a Medicaid program that provides coverage for some able-bodied adults.

Kemp’s announcement came as President-elect Donald Trump returns to office and more state and federal officials consider Medicaid work requirements.

Georgia is the only state that requires some people to work, study or volunteer to enroll in Medicaid, under the program Georgia Pathways. If the incoming Trump administration approves Kemp’s plan, parents and guardians of kids up to age 6 in households at or below 100% of the federal poverty level could receive Medicaid without meeting those requirements.

“In a growing state that needs more Georgians in the workforce than ever before, providing health insurance to a family or individual with young children may be the last piece they need to restart a career and be on the path for a brighter future,” Kemp said.

Most states cover adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level with primarily federal funds. Kemp has championed Georgia Pathways as an alternative to expanding Medicaid for low-income adults. Enrollees have to complete 80 hours of work, volunteer activity, schooling or vocational rehabilitation a month to receive coverage. Kemp says the goal is to ease them into a job that provides private insurance.

Georgia Pathways had a rough start. After its first year, the program had around 4,300 members, a sliver of those who are eligible. Health policy experts have called the program a “failure,” saying the requirements are too burdensome a large number of struggling people.

Opponents also say the program has wasted money. Nonprofit health policy research organization KFF reports the program has costed more than $40 million in state and federal tax dollars that have been spent mostly on administrative costs rather than medical care. Others complain about sign-up complications and the program’s slow processing times.

In a written statement, state Senate Democrats called the new plan “damage control” for the Georgia Pathways program.

“There are over half a million Georgians who need health insurance, and the governor’s proposal falls well short of that, and we’re leaving federal dollars on the table that would help close the coverage gap in Georgia,” said Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves, of Atlanta. “Because of the governor’s plan, we will continue to struggle to strengthen our healthcare system.”

Kemp has regularly doubled down on his commitment to Georgia Pathways.

“The old system is not working,” Kemp said Wednesday. “And the other side, their only answer to any of this is they want government-run healthcare. And I am not in that boat.”

The Trump administration approved Medicaid work requirement plans in 13 states, but the Biden administration revoked these waivers in 2021. Georgia Pathways survived after a legal fight.

Kemp will have to get approval for his plans from the Trump administration, as the program is set to expire in September. Talks are already underway, Kemp said, calling the incoming administration a “federal partner that wants to innovate efficiently.”

He said the Biden administration has meanwhile “unfortunately been more interested in finding ways to stop or undermine our efforts rather than working with us.”

Kemp spokesperson Garrison Douglas said the governor’s new plan would cost an additional $207,000. In an effort to boost enrollment, the state recently invested $10.7 million to raise awareness about Georgia Pathways.

Democratic senators, including Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, recently called for a federal investigation into Georgia Pathways.

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Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon.

Offensive lineman in the 2026 recruiting class to watch for the Georgia Bulldogs.

The 2025 recruiting cycle is nearing its end which means the 2026 cycle is quickly heating up. With that said, here are some offensive linemen in the class to keep an eye on for the Georgia Bulldogs this year.

Lamar Brown: A Quick, Explosive Offensive Lineman with Big Potential
Lamar Brown, a 6’4″, 280-pound offensive lineman, maybe slightly undersized for the tackle
position, but he compensates for it with remarkable athleticism and relentless drive. Despite his
height and weight being a tad below the typical size for an offensive tackle, Brown’s
explosiveness off the line of scrimmage makes him a standout player. He has an incredible
ability to fire off the ball and engage defenders quickly, setting the tone for the offensive line.

One of the key aspects of Brown’s game is his quick hands. When attacking defenders, he uses
them effectively to establish leverage and control the point of contact. His punch is fast, and his
hand placement is precise, which allows him to redirect defenders with minimal wasted motion.
This quickness is not only valuable in pass protection but also helps him in the running game
when he’s tasked with getting to the second and third levels on his blocks.

Brown’s ability to get to the second and third levels in his blocking is a key attribute that could
make him a dangerous asset at the next level. Whether it’s pushing defensive linemen down the
field in the run game or sealing off linebackers, he has the vision and the athleticism to make
these blocks consistently. His versatility is impressive, and with the right coaching and
development, he could continue to evolve into a dominant offensive tackle at the next level.

As of now, Lamar Brown is an uncommitted prospect, but his impressive athleticism, quickness,
and ability to fire off the ball make him a valuable recruit for any program looking to add an
explosive offensive lineman to their roster. It will be exciting to see where he ends up and how
his game develops in the future.

Pierre Dean: A Strong, Reliable Offensive Tackle with Size and Versatility
At 6’5″ and 305 pounds, Pierre Dean from West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, North
Carolina is a physically imposing figure on the football field. His size is reasonable for the tackle
position, and he uses that frame to great effect, particularly in pass protection. Dean is able to
hold his ground against defensive linemen with ease, using his size and strength to create a
solid wall of protection for his quarterback. His ability to maintain good positioning and keep
defenders from attacking the pocket is a credit to his technique and understanding of the game.

What stands out most in Dean’s high school tape is his versatility and role as a lead blocker in
many of the team’s counterplays. He is often tasked with pulling across the formation to clear a path for the running back, which highlights his ability to move laterally and engage defenders in
space. This skill is especially valuable in a fast-paced, dynamic offense, where the offensive line
needs to be flexible and responsive to different blocking schemes. Dean’s ability to make these
key blocks in the run game, along with his strong pass protection, makes him an asset in both
the ground and air attack.

While Dean is currently uncommitted, his combination of size, strength, and different blocking
skills make him a highly talented prospect for college programs looking for a reliable and
powerful tackle. His ability to excel in both pass protection and as a lead blocker in the run
game shows a well-rounded skill set that could make him an immediate contributor at the next
level.

Desmond Green: A Massive, Talented Offensive Lineman with Dominant Blocking Skills
Desmond Green, a towering 6’4″, 354-pound offensive lineman from Timberland High School in
Saint Stephens, South Carolina, is a physical powerhouse who dominates the line of
scrimmage. Green’s sheer size and strength make him a force to be reckoned with, but it’s his
technical sound and relentless motor that truly set him apart.

Green excels in both outside and inside zone schemes, where his size and power allow him to
clear space for running backs and keep defenders at bay. He consistently finishes his blocks,
driving defenders out of the play and creating running lanes. What makes him especially
dangerous is his ability to finish plays, staying engaged with defenders until the whistle blows.
This trait is indicative of his tenacity and his understanding of the importance of every block.

Green’s ability to control defenders in the run game, whether it’s on zone runs or power plays,
shows that he has the physicality and the skill to be a dominant presence on the offensive line.
He doesn’t just block, he finishes, and that’s a quality that coaches look for in their offensive
linemen. His ability to work in both inside and outside zone schemes provides versatility, making
him a strong asset for any team looking for a powerful and skilled blocker.

Currently uncommitted, Desmond Green’s combination of size, power, and technical skill makes
him an effective recruit for college programs in need of a dominant offensive lineman. His
strength and blocking ability, along with his willingness to play through the whistle, indicate that
he has the potential to be a key contributor at the next level.

Conclusion
These three uncommitted prospects—Lamar Brown, Pierre Dean, and Desmond Green—each
bring unique and valuable skills to the table. Whether it’s Brown’s athleticism and quickness,
Dean’s size and quickness, or Green’s power and finishing ability, each of these players has the
potential to make an immediate impact at the collegiate level. It will be interesting to see where
they land and how their skills develop over the coming years.

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