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Political Rewind: UGA victory shifts day one of legislative session; McCarthy fights for speakership
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The panel
Alan Abramowitz, @AlanIAbramowitz, professor emeritus of political science, Emory University
Donna Lowry, @donnalowrynews, host, Lawmakers, GPB-TV
Riley Bunch, @ribunchreports, public policy reporter, GPB News
Tamar Hallerman, @TamarHallerman, senior reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The breakdown
1. The University of Georgia's victory could alter the first day of the legislative session as lawmakers head to the California matchup.
- The Dawgs will face off against TCU in Los Angeles next Monday after beating Ohio State in the Peach Bowl over the weekend.
- Jan. 9 is also the start of the 40-day legislative session. With UGA alums on both side of the aisle, sessions will likely gavel in and gavel out.
- The football world is also watching for the recovery of The Buffalo Bill's Damar Hamlin, after he suffered a cardiac arrest during a Monday night game.
- Monday's game was postponed by the NFL.
2. The Fulton County special grand jury signaled interest in the January 6th Committee documents.
- The election probe sought testimony from state political figures, including David Shafer. The House committee investigating January 6th was able to secure his testimony.
- Both Shafer and incoming Lt. Gov. Burt Jones were part of a false slate of electors who submitted documents certifying Georgia's electoral votes for Donald Trump.
- Fulton County's probe could release recommendations for criminal prosecutions and a final report in the coming weeks.
3. Updates on the election to fill the late Speaker David Ralston's state House seat.
- Early voting in District 7 brought out only four voters. With five candidates in the running, it's possible the election could go to a runoff.
- Key political figures, including Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, have openly supported an alternative to Georgia's runoffs.
4. Rep. Kevin McCarthy faces an uphill battle for the U.S. House speakership.
- Rep. McCarthy must secure a slim majority of Republican support, but a new coalition of House Republicans signaled their dissatisfaction with the former Minority Leader.
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene vocalized her support for McCarthy in what could be her attempt to receive a committee assignment.
Wednesday on Political Rewind: GPB's Stephen Fowler reports from Washington, D.C..