Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp preempts the ability of the state's cities and counties from mandating the wearing of masks.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp preempts the ability of the state's cities and counties from mandating the wearing of masks.

Credit: Donna Lowry

The panel

Charlie Hayslett, @charliehayslett, writer, Trouble in God's Country

Margaret Coker, @mideastmargaret, editor-in-chief, The Georgia Current

Rahul Bali, @rahulbali, political reporter, WABE

Jim Galloway, @JimJournalist, former columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

The breakdown

1. With a new $2.4 billion in federal COVID relief funding, Kemp looks to appeal to voters by distributing funds.

  • This funding comes as Herschel Walker's campaign mounts an attack against Sen. Raphael Warnock, citing federal spending as the main cause of inflation.
    • Potential uses include broadband investment, sewer improvements, and other one-time purchases.

 

2. A new Quinnipiac poll shows Kemp and Abrams nearly tied in their gubernatorial race.

  • Between June 23 and June 27, Quinnipiac University polled respondents on the gubernatorial and Senate races. 
    • Charlie Hayslett notes that the Dobbs decision that ended Roe v. Wade came down on June 24th, bisecting the sample term. 
  • Stacey Abrams takes 52% of the independent vote, while Kemp is projected to get 42%, a major difference in an important voter demographic.
    • Jim Galloway notes that Brad Raffensperger is had a higher approval rating among Democrats than he did Republicans (51% to 41%).
  • After Abrams' "worst state to live in" comment, Republican attack ads have new ammunition against Abrams. However, Georgia does have serious shortcomings, as documented by Charlie Hayslett for Trouble in God's Country.
  • Additionally, Walker and Warnock both face allegations of political misconduct between unhappy staffers and campaign finance controversies.

 

3. The Georgia Supreme Court will hear a case regarding the development of the Camden County spaceport.

  • Camden residents signed a petition to recall the signed law allowing for development of a spaceport. The state Supreme Court's ruling could impact the ability of citizens to exert influence over laws per the Georgia Constitution, something that could impact privacy and abortion laws.

Margaret Coker explains how the Georgia Constitution might provide citizens recourse on issues like privacy and abortion in the wake of a ruling on a Camden County spaceport.

4. Data from the latest census show that Georgia is growing, getting older and moving to cities.

  • Georgians 65 and older are the quickest-growing demographic, promising to increase a burden on health care, the labor market and Social Security. 
    • Hayslett notes that populations are only increasing in cities, in the mountains, and on the coast. The state birth rate is also decreasing, promising a labor shortage in interior counties.

Charlie Hayslett describes the decreasing birth rate in Georgia and the effect it has on rural counties.

Monday on Political Rewind: The AJC's Patricia Murphy joins our panel.

Tags: Georgia  Bill Nigut  election  Kemp  Abrams