The Georgia Hour, episode 57: Georgia’s Governor Race and GOP Power Struggles

The upcoming Georgia’s governor’s race, where former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms plans to attack Trump’s second-term agenda, warning of a moral and economic crisis under GOP leadership. Republican contenders Chris Carr, adopting a MAGA stance, and Burt Jones are running, while Governor Brian Kemp and Speaker Jon Burns face backlash for excessive spending and blocking election security bills—the first session without such measures since 2021 under GOP chair Josh McKoon. Kemp dodges Trump’s tariff agenda, focusing on jobs, while John King vocally backs Trump’s America-first policies. Senator Jon Ossoff banks $11M in campaign funds, and Kemp finds $50M in extra revenue, yet the state’s largest-ever budget, laden with pork. Other political moves include Brian Strickland and Bill Cowsert eyeing the AG role and speculation about Kemp running for Senate.Rumors swirl that if David Cross becomes chairman of GAGOP, BKP could control funds as executive director, alarming the "swamp". Critics claim Josh McKoon and Salleigh Grubbs rig the party by excluding candidates like Lisa Pierce and Kylie Kremer, prompting Colton Moore to retract endorsements. Dark money figure Debbie Dooley, linked to NGOs, and Stan Fitzgerald, a former inmate tied to a forgery scam and Veterans for America First, add controversy. McKoon distances himself from BKP amid scandal, while questions arise about his acceptance of Fitzgerald’s endorsement, highlighting hypocrisy and power plays within the GA GOP.