Georgia's Very Own Megathread!

[GeorgiaModerate]

After the SD-6 result putting two Democrats in the runoff, Republicans want to do away with the jungle primary in special elections: http://politics.blog.myajc.com/2017/11/10/republican-loss-of-senate-seat-sparks-proposal-to-change-voting-process/

[GeorgiaModerate]

Not a state election, but interesting: the race for a City Council seat in Cumming originally appeared to have a margin of 3 votes, but after a recount it was an exact tie, 441-441.  A runoff is scheduled for Dec. 5.

http://www.ajc.com/news/local/cumming-council-runoff-election-set/sX0HXPOxN6OJLL2ndby1KN/

[GeorgiaModerate]

Atlanta mayoral candidate Mary Norwood accuses current Mayor Kasim Reed of voter fraud in her 2009 loss to him:

http://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/ajc-exclusive-norwood-accuses-reed-widespread-voter-fraud-2009-contest/ni18X40T8cT6XSEI0KUQGO/

[GeorgiaModerate]

Just saw a TV ad for the Atlanta mayor race tying Norwood to Trump, among other attacks on her.

[GeorgiaModerate]

The AJC results page currently shows the Mayor's race tied...

...one vote each.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Might as well just check back in tomorrow morning. Maybe we'll be at 5% precincts reported then.

Well yeah, it's Georgia.

And Fulton is probably the slowest reporting county in Georgia.

[GeorgiaModerate]

What are your thoughts on tonight, GeorgiaModerate?

I think it will be really close, but if forced to choose I'll predict Bottoms.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Norwood is not going quietly:

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She tweeted this:

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[GeorgiaModerate]

She is an insufferable loser. She was present at the recount this morning and left in a frenzy because they were not counting them to her satisfaction.

Now her lawyer is alleging that several Bottoms-friendly precincts in SW Atlanta should be thrown out because they were recently annexed into the city and there is still debate in the GA Supreme Court on the legitimacy of the annexations.

AJC story about Norwood's possible challenge: http://www.ajc.com/news/local/mary-norwood-may-challenge-votes-following-atlanta-mayoral-recount/KiRGrHvU1Wg5idXaQVj70J/

[GeorgiaModerate]

Does Barrow have a good chance at taking the Secretary of State's office?

I think he has a reasonable shot in what's shaping up to be a D-friendly year.

[GeorgiaModerate]

I think we should be able to peel off at least SoS and AG. Hopefully more but we’ll just have to see how the environment is in November. It’s shaping up to be a blue year but the question is if the GB margin grows and by how much.

Who do we have running for AG?  Any chance we pickup Insurance Commissioner and/or State School Superintendent?  On paper it looks like we have credible candidates in those races, at least from an out-of-state perspective.

No one of either party has announced for AG just yet as far as I can tell.

EDIT: You can’t file to run for AG until June

Why?

I think this is incorrect.  Candidates would need to file in order to be eligible for the R or D primary, which is in May.

[GeorgiaModerate]

I think we should be able to peel off at least SoS and AG. Hopefully more but we’ll just have to see how the environment is in November. It’s shaping up to be a blue year but the question is if the GB margin grows and by how much.

Who do we have running for AG?  Any chance we pickup Insurance Commissioner and/or State School Superintendent?  On paper it looks like we have credible candidates in those races, at least from an out-of-state perspective.

No one of either party has announced for AG just yet as far as I can tell.

EDIT: You can’t file to run for AG until June

Why?

Have no idea but runforsomething.org says that the filing date is June 25-28 and it’s not on the SoS’s website yet

It's here:

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[GeorgiaModerate]

State Rep. Rich Gorlick (R) of HD-40 is retiring at the end of this term.  This should be an excellent pickup opportunity for the Democrats.  Clinton got 54% in 2016. 

[GeorgiaModerate]

Fulton County, which is notoriously slow to report results, is asking the state for permission to start counting early votes before the polls close in future elections: http://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/fulton-county-ask-state-count-early-votes-before-polls-close/ZkZJ2qvKfESophty4FpVmL/.

[GeorgiaModerate]

After a lot of thinking and despite my previous criticisms, I have decided to rescind my support of Stacey Evans, and am now backing Stacey Abrams to become the Democratic nominee for Governor. Not that my endorsement will make or break either candidate just wanted to give some warning before you start seeing pro-Abrams posts from me.

What prompted your change of heart?

[GeorgiaModerate]

Pardon... ITP and OTP?

Outside of the Perimeter and Inside of the Perimeter - probably the biggest cultural and political division in the state of Georgia.

The Perimeter referring to Interstate 485 - the circumferential highway around Atlanta

[/quote]

The Perimeter is I-285.  There was a proposal for a 485 inside Atlanta back in the 1970s, but it never got off the ground.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Buried in the middle of https://politics.myajc.com/blog/politics/the-jolt-some-worry-that-low-bridge-would-discourage-tall-ships/BunZZ1CKhrKc50oszjjDdJ/:

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[GeorgiaModerate]

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[GeorgiaModerate]

Lawsuit filed challenging the 2015 redraw of metro ATL state House districts as a racial gerrymander: https://lawyerscommittee.org/press-release/lawyers-committee-civil-rights-law-files-motion-seeking-relief-2018-midterm-election-cycle-georgia-voters-impacted-unlawful-gerrymandering/

[GeorgiaModerate]

Cagle weighs in on Delta ending its NRA discount:

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My take: helps him in the primary, hurts him in the general election.

[GeorgiaModerate]

LOL Cagle. By all means, please push the Delta-employed white folks in Cobb, Forsyth, and Gwinnett out of your camp. 

What is the distribution of delta employees in Georgia actually? Is there a map anywhere of it?

I don't know about a distribution of their locations within the state.  A Delta news release from Oct. 2015 says that it was Georgia's largest employer with 33,000 in the state.  I would expect most of them to be either at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport or at Delta HQ, which is near the airport.  This is on the south side of the metro area, so Cobb, Gwinnett, and especially Forsyth seem less likely than Fulton and the south suburban counties.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Not a Georgia resident, but what is the chance Stacey Abrahams wins this state?

Abrams, not Abrahams.  My feeling is that she has a decent chance in the Democratic primary, but would face an uphill battle in the general election.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Senate passed the bill taking away Delta’s tax credit. No way Deal signs it. Say what you want about him but he’s never moved an inch when it comes to this stuff. Saw on Greg Bluestein’s twitter that Evans officially filed a complaint with the AG about Cagle. Wonder if anyone else on either side chimes in about it

With Amazon considering planting their second flag in Atlanta, there's no way he signs this or the gay adoption bill either.

Deal already said he'll sign the tax bill: https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/deal-will-sign-tax-bill-without-delta-break-after-nra-flap/aHmjSQvCcRH1c6fdGfvmVN/

[GeorgiaModerate]

Gun control activist Lucy McBath, who was originally going to challenge state Rep. Sam Teasley (HD-37), will now run for the GA-06 Congressional seat: https://politics.myajc.com/blog/politics/high-profile-gun-control-advocate-enters-georgia-6th-district-race/yR5JoktI4q7Enh41Lpk2ZL/

[GeorgiaModerate]

Gun control activist Lucy McBath, who was originally going to challenge state Rep. Sam Teasley (HD-37), will now run for the GA-06 Congressional seat: https://politics.myajc.com/blog/politics/high-profile-gun-control-advocate-enters-georgia-6th-district-race/yR5JoktI4q7Enh41Lpk2ZL/

If she wins the primary, the Dems deserve to lose this race.

I'll be shocked if she wins.