Georgia

Trump faces yet another reckoning in Georgia | CNN Politics

Published

2 years ago

December 6, 2022

Press Room

Trump faces yet another reckoning in Georgia | CNN Politics

CNN
—

Donald Trump is 0-for-an terrible lot in Georgia since 2016.

Whereas the ex-president received the Peach State six years in the past en path to the White Home, it’s been a disastrous enjoying subject for him ever since, rejecting his first reelection bid and his midterm revenge candidates. His former aides and allies, in the meantime, are being known as earlier than a particular grand jury within the state investigating his efforts to overthrow President Joe Biden’s win there in 2020.

On Tuesday, Trump’s run of Georgia futility might proceed until Heisman Trophy-winning ex-Georgia operating again Herschel Walker can drag the MAGA banner over the road.

The Georgia Senate runoff represents Trump’s closing alternative to recast a painful midterm season through which his election-denying candidates flopped in swing states, casting a shadow over his nascent 2024 presidential bid. A Walker win could be a uncommon victory for one in every of Trump’s recruits and probably energize his lackluster marketing campaign, whereas serving to Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell restrict Democratic energy in Washington.

However a Walker loss would add to frustration within the GOP over Trump’s political meddling, after his obsession with false voter fraud claims was extensively blamed for costing the occasion management of the Senate in a pair of Georgia runoffs in 2021.

The ex-president’s file in Georgia is so poor that he wasn’t wished within the state as Walker has tried to topple Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in current weeks. Most galling for Trump, his hand-picked candidate spent his time cozying as much as newly reelected Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who far outpaced Walker’s vote totals in November. Kemp defeated a Trump-backed major challenger earlier this 12 months, defying the previous president’s try to avenge his refusal to overturn Biden’s slim in win within the state in 2020.

Whereas he was persona non grata in the course of the Senate runoff, Trump did name right into a Georgia tele-rally on Monday night time – solely when it was possible that he might do no injury given that almost 2 million Georgians voted early.

“A vote for Raphael Warnock is a vote to provide Chuck Schumer and the unhinged far-left Democrats whole management of america Senate. We will’t let this occur,” Trump mentioned within the quick look.

But when Walker loses on Tuesday, Trump’s poor file in lots of the midterm election races that matter in 2022 might be full and there might be a powerful case that after embracing weak candidates in Georgia, Pennsylvania and Arizona, he as soon as once more price the Republican Social gathering management of the Senate.

Walker, for instance, has denied a number of studies that he pressured or inspired ladies into having abortions regardless of beforehand saying on the marketing campaign path that he supported a ban on the process with no exceptions. CNN’s KFile raised new doubts about Walker’s residency when it revealed he’s getting a tax break supposed just for a major residence this 12 months on his dwelling within the Dallas, Texas, space. KFile additionally reported that Walker described himself as residing in Texas throughout a speech in the course of the 2022 marketing campaign. And Walker’s weird feedback – like a current discourse on whether or not it was higher to be a werewolf or a vampire – raised questions on his health for workplace.

Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, one other GOP politician within the state who stood as much as Trump, described Walker final week to CNN’s Erin Burnett as “in all probability the worst Republican candidate within the historical past of politics.”

However Trump actually wants Walker to return by way of on Tuesday.

The ex-president’s current lack of success – alongside his more and more excessive rhetoric and associations, together with with antisemites – is one motive why some Republicans and prime donors say it’s now time to show to a brand new presidential prospect: perhaps Florida’s newly reelected Gov. Ron DeSantis. So Trump badly wants a win for Walker to reset impressions of his stuttering presidential bid following a low wattage roll-out.

However a loss could be additional proof to any Republicans who need to pay attention that the ex-president’s method and repute are toxic among the many swing-state and nationwide electorates that may resolve the presidency in 2024. And it will counsel that the way in which ahead for the occasion is perhaps being blazed by genuine conservatives like Kemp who hold their distance from Trump.

It’s far too early to put in writing off Trump in 2024, given his magnetic maintain on the Republican grassroots and powerful affect on the incoming Republican Home majority. But when the ex-president’s political profession is on a downward spiral, it’s protected to say that it began in Georgia.

The Senate runoff in Georgia caps a rare two years through which the state has emerged, considerably unexpectedly, as probably the most aggressive battleground within the nation.

If he wins, Warnock would greet a full six-year time period with reduction, after his fourth race – two basic elections and two runoffs in two years – and he would give the Democrats a widened 51-49 majority within the Senate.

If Walker prevails, nonetheless, the Republican would restore the perilous 50-50 stability within the chamber that has for the previous two years solely tipped in Democrats’ favor due to tie-breaker votes by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Georgia’s political ascendancy epitomizes the a number of forces defining American politics. It’s a part of a racially diversifying nation that’s scrambling the presidential map. It has witnessed a duel between a Republican legislature accused of suppressing voting rights and voters who repeatedly present up in large numbers to ensure their voices are heard.

The state’s agonized racial historical past is a continuing backdrop, particularly within the combat between Warnock, a senior pastor at Martin Luther King Jr.’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, and Walker, a hero to many within the state following his stellar school soccer profession.

Georgia has additionally grow to be the epicenter of uncommon Republican resistance towards Trump’s try to subvert American democracy.

In a name on January 2, 2021, Trump requested Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “discover” enough votes to overturn Biden’s victory. A transcript of the decision exhibits Raffensperger repeatedly pushing again in opposition to Trump’s wild conspiracies about fraud. “The numbers are the numbers, the numbers don’t lie,” Raffensperger later informed the Home choose committee investigating the January 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol.

In December 2020, the then-president had additionally known as Kemp to strain him to persuade state legislators to overturn Biden’s victory within the state. However the governor mentioned he had no authority to take action, sources informed CNN.

In revenge, Trump endorsed major challengers in opposition to each males. He mentioned that his decide for secretary of state, Georgia Rep. Jody Hice, would, in contrast to the incumbent, “cease the fraud.” The ex-president’s endorsed candidate for Kemp’s job – former Sen. David Perdue, who had misplaced to Democrat Jon Ossoff in a 2021 runoff – signed as much as Trump’s election denialism, declaring at a debate that “the election in 2020 was rigged and stolen.”

However each Trump’s picks carried out disastrously within the major in an enormous embarrassment for the previous president. Kemp beat Perdue by 74% to 22% and Raffensperger dispatched Hice by 52% to 33%. Each incumbents had been then reelected in November.

Trump’s humiliation was changing into a little bit of a sample in Georgia. Within the basic election within the Peach State in 2020, he turned the primary Republican to lose within the longtime southern Republican bastion since ex-president George H.W. Bush was outpaced by Invoice Clinton in 1992 on his solution to the White Home.

On the eve of the Senate runoffs in January 2021, Trump returned to Georgia to marketing campaign for then-Sens. Kelly Loeffler and Perdue. He slammed Kemp and made false claims of voter fraud, which got here on prime of the long-standing doubts he’d already sown about mail-in voting amongst GOP voters in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic. Each GOP senators promptly misplaced.

All of this helps clarify why many observers have concluded that in the course of the present runoff election, Trump has truly been extra of a assist to Warnock than Walker.

In a CNN/SSRS ballot launched on Friday, Trump had a good ranking of simply 39% and an unfavorable ranking of 54% amongst doubtless Georgia voters. (Biden’s approval ranking was additionally underwater, which explains why he hasn’t set foot in Georgia both.)

Walker, nonetheless, is insisting {that a} robust turnout from Republicans on Tuesday can hand him victory.

“Earlier than an enormous recreation, I don’t sleep, as a result of I’m prepared,” he mentioned throughout a closing marketing campaign cease within the Georgia suburbs. “That is about turnout. Now we’ve acquired to get within the recreation. We will’t sit on the sideline anymore.”

Source link

Click to comment

Georgia

'America First' license plate approved by Georgia legislature

Published

11 hours ago

April 4, 2025

Press Room

'America First' license plate approved by Georgia legislature

article

Majority Leader Steve Gooch, R–Dahlonega, shows a specialty “America First” license plate in the Senate chamber during the 2024 legislative session. (Georgia Senate Press Office)

ATLANTA – Georgia lawmakers have approved a bill that would create a specialty license plate emblazoned with the phrase “America First.”

Supporters say it promotes patriotism, but critics argue it carries divisive political undertones.

The backstory:

Senate Bill 291, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega, and 24 other Republican senators, passed the House on April 2 by a vote of 95-68 after previously clearing the Senate in early March. The measure authorizes the Georgia Department of Revenue to begin issuing the “America First” plate without the standard requirement of 1,000 prepaid applications. If that threshold is not reached by Jan. 1, 2028, production of the plate would be discontinued.

The design would feature the American flag alongside the “America First” slogan. Revenue from the plate would be deposited into the state’s general fund.

Dig deeper:

Gooch initially promoted the idea during the 2024 legislative session, when a similar proposal was introduced as Senate Bill 507. At the time, he described the plate as a symbol of national pride.

“This license plate represents the tangible expression of patriotism and putting the needs of our country at the forefront,” Gooch said in 2024. “It provides Georgians with an opportunity to express their national pride, and underscores the importance of emphasizing domestic concerns like economic stability, national security, strong borders, and the protection of the rights of our citizens.”

What they’re saying:

The measure has sparked backlash from Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Doreen Carter, D-Lithonia, who issued a public statement condemning the bill and urging Gov. Brian Kemp to veto it.

“Let me be clear—‘America First’ is not just a slogan. It carries a history rooted in exclusion, division and the marginalization of communities, especially Black Americans, immigrants and people of color,” Carter said. “To place this phrase on a state-issued license plate is not merely symbolic—it is an endorsement of a narrative that has too often left many Georgians behind.”

Carter warned that the phrase’s use on official state material could alienate large portions of the population and undermine efforts toward unity.

“At a time when we should be working toward unity, equity and justice for all, this bill sends the wrong message,” she said. “Georgia must choose a path that brings people together and affirms the dignity and belonging of every resident, regardless of race, background or political belief.”

Carter represents Georgia’s 93rd House District, which includes parts of DeKalb, Gwinnett and Rockdale counties. She has served in the legislature since 2015.

What’s next:

The bill now heads to Gov. Kemp’s desk for consideration. If signed into law, it will take effect Jan. 1, 2026.

The Source: This story uses quotes from Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega, and Rep. Doreen Carter, D-Lithonia. Details on the bill come from the Georgia General Assembly website.

Georgia PoliticsNewsGeorgiaDonald J. Trump

Source link

Georgia

Speedy Gonzalez accused of $20K Walmart shoplifting spree across North Georgia

Published

23 hours ago

April 4, 2025

Press Room

Speedy Gonzalez accused of K Walmart shoplifting spree across North Georgia

Speedy Gonzalez arrested in Georgia

Gainesville Police arrested a man accused of stealing over $20,000 worth of merchandise from several Walmart stores across north Georgia. Forty-year-old Speedy Gonzalez is now facing several felony shoplifting charges in several counties. And yes, that’s his real name.

GAINESVILLE, Ga. – A man with a memorable name and a lengthy criminal history is facing multiple felony charges.

Police say he shoplifted more than $20,000 worth of merchandise from Walmart stores across North Georgia.

What we know:

Gainesville police arrested 40-year-old Speedy Gonzalez—yes, that is his real name—after identifying him on surveillance footage at a Walmart on Shallowford Road in March. Gonzalez is accused of carrying out a series of thefts at stores in Hall, Barrow, Gwinnett, Habersham, White, and Lumpkin counties. “He does have a criminal history here in Gainesville,” said Gainesville Police Lt. Kevin Holbrook. “Again, he’s someone that we’ve dealt with numerous times.”

Investigators say Gonzalez used a simple but effective method to conceal his thefts. He allegedly stuffed high-priced, smaller items—such as nicotine products, diabetic test strips, and gum—into larger containers like trash cans or mailboxes. At checkout, he would pay only for the large item and leave the store with the concealed merchandise.

“Nicotine, gum, diabetic strips, you know, high-priced items, although smaller in nature,” Holbrook said. “He would then pick out an item from the shelf, such as a trash can. In one instance, it was a mailbox… Then take all those items, stick it into the box with the larger item, and then take that, pay for it, and walk out of the store.”

Gonzalez allegedly returned to the same Gainesville Walmart 10 days later, where officers arrested him. Police say they found more stolen merchandise inside his vehicle and began connecting him to similar thefts at other Walmart locations across the region.

“Barrow County, Gwinnett, other Hall County, Habersham, White, Lumpkin… Speedy Gonzalez was responsible for over 20 thefts around the North Georgia area,” Holbrook said. “Multiple Walmart stores, ranging upwards of $20,000 in theft.”

Dig deeper:

This isn’t Gonzalez’s first encounter with law enforcement. In 2020, Gwinnett County police arrested him for stealing checks from a mailbox in Suwanee and attempting to use them to purchase $3,000 worth of merchandise at a Home Depot.

What’s next:

Following his recent arrest, Gonzalez was initially booked into the Hall County Jail. He is currently being held in Barrow County as authorities across North Georgia work together to pursue additional charges.

SEE ALSO:

The Source: Gainesville Police Lt. Kevin Holbrook spoke with FOX 5’s Eric Mock for this story.

GainesvilleNewsCrime and Public Safety

Source link

Georgia

Keeping runways safer: Georgia Southern alumni receive aircraft safety technology patent | Newsroom

Published

1 day ago

April 3, 2025

Press Room

Keeping runways safer: Georgia Southern alumni receive aircraft safety technology patent | Newsroom

Newsroom > Press Releases > Keeping runways safer: Georgia Southern alumni receive aircraft safety technology patent

April 3, 2025

Alumni David Obando Ortegon pictured with Valentin Soloiu, Ph.D.

TXU 2-444-239.

That registration number won’t mean much to most people. But for Georgia Southern University Mechanical Engineering Professor Valentin Soloiu, Ph.D., and alumnus David Ortegon (‘23), it is a step toward safer runway navigation and validation for countless hours spent in the laboratory.

The two were awarded a patent by the U.S. Copyright Office, recognizing them as the creators of a technical system that offers advanced safety features for aircraft systems monitoring runway navigation.

“We started working on this years back, when Dr. Soloiu launched the Intelligent Vehicles Laboratory,” explained Ortegon. “He was very interested in finding a way to decrease collisions or accidents for airplanes during runway navigation and taxiing, something that is now extremely relevant.”

The system uses data output from integrated sensors that constantly record data from the surroundings and the aircraft’s envelope. This data generates safety warnings or can take proactive measures if any obstacles are detected, helping the pilot to avoid potential collisions.

Soloiu credits Ortegon with the heavy lifting on the research. The two worked together for three years, fulfilling Ortegon’s childhood dreams of making such a big heavy craft stay up in the sky.

“I’ve always wanted to understand the engineering behind this,” he said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to figure out aircraft work.”

Ortegon, originally from Colombia, came to Georgia Southern in 2017 to pursue a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. Soloiu, impressed by Ortegon’s tenacity and dedication to his studies, mentored him as he acclimated to his new home.

“English is not my first language,” explained Ortegon. “I had a lot of trouble trying to understand everything in a technical way because there was a lot of terminology that, for me, was completely abstract. Doctor Soloiu supported me in everything.”

When the project began in 2020, Ortegon had to balance numerous research responsibilities with an ever-increasing workload.

“The process was slow, but very thorough,” he explained. “But I’m very proud to say that we were able to accomplish what we wanted.”

Ortegan and Soloiu developed painstakingly intricate algorithms focusing on advanced driving assistance features. This allowed them to make sure that the landing gear system didn’t just detect obstacles but also took corrective actions in the event of an emergency.

“The next step is to develop a product or service that will incorporate this new technology,” explained Soloiu. “We will work to meet the market needs by making this technology ready for commercialization.”

Ortegon has since graduated and moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he works in research and development of automated/intelligent navigation technologies at FEV North America, a leader in the American automotive industry. He credits his career success to his advanced research in Dr. Soloiu’s Labs.

“Research is what really helped me to move to the next level as an engineer,” he explained. “But Soloiu prepared me to work in this industry. He supported me in every project I took on. It’s because of his mentorship that I got simulation and hands-on experimental experience in the laboratory. And to this day, it still feels like I never left the lab at Georgia Southern.”