The Georgia Hour, episode 27: Georgia’s Legislative Crunch and the 2026 Election Shuffle

Georgia is in a political whirlwind as the state legislature approaches Crossover Day, the final stretch for bills to switch chambers before the April 4, 2025, session ends. Bills like HB268—misleadingly tied to student safety—are under fire, with shock over Rep. David Clark’s support while drawing a firm "no" from the citizen groups. The legislative process is in focus: bills need agreement between House and Senate, or a joint committee steps in to hash out compromises for a final vote.Attention then shifts to the brewing 2026 election drama. All eyes are on Gov. Brian Kemp—will he run for U.S. Senate against Jon Ossoff? His decision, expected post-session, freezes the GOP field, including Rep. Rich McCormick, who’s stumbling after a fiery town hall and an AJC podcast appearance pushing cautious budget cuts. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, a Trump-aligned MAGA star, is poised to announce a gubernatorial bid the moment the gavel drops, while Sen. Steve Gooch eyes the Lt. Gov. slot. The "Georgia Red Tape" bill, rebranded as DOGE, gets called out as a flashy stunt—more optics than real bureaucracy cuts. Voting reforms like SB189 (ditching QR codes) and whispers of exiting ERIC stir skepticism about follow-through, especially with Trump pushing paper ballots and one-day voting.On the Democratic side, rumors swirl: former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and current Mayor Andre Dickens might vie for governor. Meanwhile, Kandiss Taylor’s bid for the 1st District congressional seat could gain traction if she dials back her past controversies. The hosts predict a wild 2026 race, shaped by Kemp’s next move and Georgia’s MAGA momentum.