Politically Georgia

“Socialism” has become a major political talking point in Georgia, but what does the movement actually stand for? Atlanta Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) co-chair Brayan Ramirez breaks down the organization’s goals, how it chooses candidates and why it operates independently of the Democratic Party. Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy also dig into where the DSA overlaps with mainstream Demo...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell tackle listener questions about Keisha Lance Bottoms’ strategy against Rick Jackson, the growing Democratic push into Georgia’s outer suburbs and the debate over Flock cameras. They also weigh how candidates shape their personal stories and size up the possibility of Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock both considering presidential bids in 2028. Have a question or commen...

Greg Bluestein talks with longtime Democratic strategist Billy Linville about his decision to cross party lines and support Republican Rick Jackson for governor. Linville argues that Keisha Lance Bottoms’ record as Atlanta mayor makes her unfit to lead Georgia. He also explains his effort to organize Democrats and independents behind Jackson and why he believes metro Atlanta voters could be pivota...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy host Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, who defends her record as Atlanta mayor, responds to ethics attacks from Republican rival Rick Jackson, discusses the action she’d take on affordability and makes the case for a pause on new data center construction. She also weighs election security, Medicaid expansion, Flock cameras and how she would w...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy examine growing scrutiny of Republican Senate nominee Mike Collins over extremist views expressed by people in his orbit, including his son-in-law and former campaign associates. They also weigh how Collins has responded, what voters have learned from that response and why the issue is drawing particular attention from Jewish voters. Plus, Patricia details C...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions about why Burt Jones still isn't endorsing Rick Jackson and what it means for the Republican gubernatorial nominee to embrace the party establishment while calling himself an outsider. They also dig into what data centers could mean for local taxes, the cost of living and Georgia communities. Other questions cover Rick Jackson's comments ab...

Greg Bluestein talks with former Secretary of State Cathy Cox and former Republican state Rep. Scot Turner about the growing distrust in Georgia’s elections and the challenges facing the state’s next election officials. They dig into how election administration has changed, why skepticism now crosses party lines, and how Keep Our Republic is working to answer voters’ questions. Cox and Turner also...

Greg Bluestein talks with Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson, a self-described conservative Republican who is backing Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff for reelection. Matheson explains how Ossoff’s work with the city of Valdosta, including hurricane recovery and federal funding, shaped his decision despite criticism from fellow Republicans. He also weighs the GOP’s focus on affordability, the future of...

Greg Bluestein, alongside Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell, digs into the increasingly personal race for governor after Keisha Lance Bottoms confronted Rick Jackson over attacks involving her husband. They size up Brian Kemp’s push to rally Republicans behind Jackson and the GOP’s broader concerns about enthusiasm heading into November. They also examine Mike Collins’ effort to win over Jewish vot...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions about Atlanta’s bid for the 2028 Democratic National Convention and why the city was left out of the final three. They also discuss how Democrats’ approach to gun safety is shaping up and how campaigns are spending millions on advertising and consultants. Tia digs into whether Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries could face leadership challeng...

Greg Bluestein is joined by AJC City Hall reporter Shaddi Abusaid to examine the growing backlash over Flock license plate readers, including concerns about police misuse, privacy and who has access to that data. AJC business and climate reporter Kristi Swartz joins Greg to weigh Georgia’s data center boom, the enormous demands on electricity and water, and the growing resistance in communities ac...

Tia Mitchell and UATL senior editor Ernie Suggs recap a newsmaking National Association of Black Journalists convention in Atlanta, including appearances by gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. They weigh Bottoms’ approach to the governor’s race and Raffensperger’s decision not to endorse Senate nominee Mike Collins. They also dig into NABJ’s decisi...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell dig into Jon Ossoff’s aggressive campaign strategy and his effort to turn Mike Collins’ controversies into a broader liability for Georgia Republicans. They break down Ossoff’s large weekend rally, his outreach to conservative voters and the potential down-ballot impact of a decisive win. They also examine Collins’ attempts to broaden his coalition, including outrea...

Greg Bluestein answers listener questions about Burt Jones’ refusal to endorse Rick Jackson, the long odds of Democrats taking back the Georgia House and the growing fight over data center development. He also weighs concerns about Georgia’s voting system overhaul, Flock cameras and a missed campaign finance deadline for Keisha Lance Bottoms. The mailbag also takes on how voters can spot political...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell talk with Republican congressional nominee John Cowan about his return to politics after losing a 2020 runoff to Marjorie Taylor Greene. Cowan discusses how he believes the MAGA movement has matured, why Republicans may face an enthusiasm challenge in Georgia and how Donald Trump can help candidates heading into November. Cowan also looks ahead at the incoming class...

Greg Bluestein sits down with veteran Republican strategist Jordan Fuchs to assess Georgia Republicans’ challenges heading into November, from weak enthusiasm to concerns about pocketbook issues and swing voters. Fuchs weighs Mike Collins’ struggles against Jon Ossoff and Rick Jackson’s rise in the governor’s race. She also reflects on Brad Raffensperger’s political future, the enduring fight over...

Greg Bluestein and Washington Bureau Chief Tia Mitchell are joined by state Rep. Ruwa Romman to examine what Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Senate primary victory could mean for Georgia Democrats. Romman talks about how progressive candidates can win by building strong coalitions that reach through party lines to every day voters, emphasizing affordability, healthcare and constituent services. They als...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell take on listener questions about what a Keisha Lance Bottoms administration could do to expand Medicaid with Republicans still controlling the Georgia Legislature. They also weigh the uneasy political history between Brian Kemp and Republican nominee Rick Jackson, the possibility of Elon Musk spending money in Georgia’s Senate race, and what could be next for Buddy...

Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell talk with CNN anchor and chief domestic correspondent Phil Mattingly about Priced Out in America, his series examining the structural pressures behind rising housing, health care and child care costs. Mattingly explains why strong economic indicators often fail to reflect the financial strain many families feel and why neither party has a simple answer. Murphy and...

On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Patricia Murphy shares her conversation with Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms about infertility, faith and the journey that led her and her husband to adopt four children. Greg Bluestein and Patricia explore how that experience shaped Bottoms and how it connects with Republican nominee Rick Jackson’s story...

Split-ticket voting helped decide Georgia’s 2022 elections, and it could again play a decisive role this November. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Patricia Murphy talks with conservative commentator and AJC contributor Erick Erickson about why some Georgia voters continue to choose candidates over party labels. Patricia is then joined by Tia Mi...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy answer listener questions about Rick Jackson’s campaign, including whether his pledge to personally fund Trump accounts raises legal concerns. They also examine the double standard surrounding emotion on the campaign trail and respond to criticism of Jackson’s visits to Black-owned businesses. Plus, they discuss the spread of Flock surveillance cameras and whethe...

Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon says the party cannot afford lingering divisions after a bruising primary season. Host Greg Bluestein, alongside Tia Mitchell, presses McKoon on his lack of direct contact with GOP nominee Rick Jackson, Mike Collins’ path against Jon Ossoff and the party’s need to reach more nonwhite voters. McKoon also weighs Donald Trump’s continued focus on the 2020...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell examine Mike Collins’ opening strategy against U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, including attacks over fundraising and immigration. They also assess Collins’ response to reports that his son-in-law shared antisemitic, white nationalist and pro-Nazi content online, along with the unresolved House ethics investigation involving Collins and a former aide. Greg and Tia also discus...

A new bipartisan poll shows Jon Ossoff with a clear lead over Mike Collins, while the race for governor remains essentially tied between Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy examine why the two marquee contests are moving in different directions and how each party is targeting...