Political Rewind: Death toll rises in Uvalde shooting; Will candidates respond to gun control calls?

Caption

Governor Brian Kemp gives a speech at his campaign watch party as he wins the GOP nomination for governor.

Credit: Riley Bunch, GPB News

The panel:

Leroy Chapman — Managing editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 

Riley Bunch — Public policy reporter, GPB News

Stephen Fowler — Political reporter, GPB News

Tammy Greer — Political science professor, Clark Atlanta University 

 

The breakdown: 

1. The death toll rises from a mass shooting at a Texas elementary school. 

• 21 people, including 19 children, were murdered Tuesday.
  • Authorities confirmed this afternoon that all victims were identified.
• The 18-year-old gunman, a student at the local high school, was killed by law enforcement. He had barricaded himself in a 4th-grade classroom.

2. Will candidates pivot to talk about gun control on a state and national level?

• Abrams' campaign released a statement rebuking permitless carry in Georgia. She took aim at her opponent, Gov. Brian Kemp, who made the issue a top priority during the last legislative session. 
• Kemp released a statement saying his prayers were with the Uvalde community last night. 

• On the national level, Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said it is unlikely that the chamber will quickly vote on a pair of House-passed background-check bills.
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution Managing Editor Leroy Chapman noted that while lawmakers seem unlikely to make an immediate change, voters could eventually have an impact. 

3. The importance of the race for secretary of state is highlighted.

• Incumbent Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger declared victory in Georgia's Republican primary, offering a rebuke of false fraud claims and defeating Trump-backed Jody Hice.
• On the Democratic side of the ballot, state Rep. Bee Nguyen is headed to a runoff with her opponent still undetermined.
• Due to changes from Senate Bill 202, Georgia's runoffs will now be four weeks after election day instead of nine weeks. That puts the runoff election for this year's primary on June 21.

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