AGP Executive Report

Georgia Elections & Voting Systems: Georgia’s secretary of state race is framed as more than a personnel choice: it will shape how the state certifies a new voting system for 2028, with Tim Fleming backing hand-marked paper ballots and Penny Brown Reynolds favoring voting machines. Campaigns & Debates: Georgia governor candidates Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson meet tonight in the only scheduled face-to-face showdown before Nov. 3, with AJC coverage highlighting what to watch as early voting nears. Midterms & National Politics: A Reuters report says Trump’s $500 Obamacare rebate checks are landing heavily in politically competitive states, fueling accusations they’re election-year messaging. Immigration Crackdown: A new tally claims more than 500 U.S. citizens have been detained in Trump’s immigration enforcement, including cases involving handcuffs or being held at gunpoint. Policy & Cost of Living: Trump signed an order expanding tax-free red-dyed diesel use, aiming to blunt fuel-price pressure ahead of the midterms. Environment & Federal Land: USDA’s roadless-forest rollback has Georgia in the spotlight, with Georgia’s remaining inventoried roadless acres at issue. Tech & Energy: Georgia’s solar manufacturers tout tandem panels that could boost output and challenge China’s dominance.

Medicaid & Immigration: Thousands of noncitizens in Georgia could lose Medicaid coverage under new federal rules, with advocates warning families are already receiving termination notices and could face new barriers to care. Election 2026: Georgia voters face key deadlines and fast-moving turnout efforts as early voting ramps up and local election offices report last-day registration rushes ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms. Governor/Senate Debates: Atlanta News First is hosting live, statewide televised Georgia governor and U.S. Senate debates this week, with pre- and post-show coverage aimed at pushing beyond soundbites. Law Enforcement Endorsements: Keisha Lance Bottoms’ campaign announced endorsements from more than 30 current and former Georgia law enforcement officials, highlighting recruitment, retention, and evidence-testing backlogs. Voting Tech Scrutiny: Georgia’s GOP-controlled election board is again pressing for federal review of voting systems, including requests tied to Dominion QR-code machines. Threats Case: A New York man was arrested in a multi-state probe after allegedly threatening to kill U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and his family.

Election Countdown: Monday is the last day to register for Georgia’s 2026 midterms, with voters weighing a governor race and a high-stakes U.S. Senate rematch between Jon Ossoff and Mike Collins. Debate Season: Atlanta News First will host televised Georgia governor and U.S. Senate debates this week, with Rick Folbaum moderating and extra pre/post coverage planned. Campaign Focus: Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson are both pitching education, taxes, and public safety, while voters say gas prices, equality, and immigration are driving their choices. Immigration Politics: An AP-KFF poll finds rural voters split on whether Trump’s immigration crackdown has helped or hurt their communities. Public Safety: A homecoming block party in south Georgia turned deadly early Sunday, with two dead and dozens injured after a shooting in Vienna. Education Controversy: A Cobb County school board dispute over a superintendent’s use of unredacted, sexually explicit text is drawing fresh backlash. Food Recall: PepsiCo is recalling about 122,000 cases of 28-ounce Gatorade in multiple states, including Georgia, due to missing yellow dye labeling.

WNBA Playoffs: The Atlanta Dream got a 92-82 Game 1 win over the New York Liberty, but it came with a major scare: Allisha Gray was ruled out for the rest of the game with a left hand injury after reinjuring it late in the first half. Georgia Elections: With early voting nearing, a new poll shows the Georgia governor’s race virtually tied between Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson, while another survey has Jon Ossoff leading Raphael Collins in the U.S. Senate race. Public Safety: A homecoming block party in Vienna, Ga., turned deadly overnight, leaving two dead and dozens injured; a $5,000 reward is now offered for information leading to arrests or convictions. State Economy: Georgia hit a tourism record for the fourth straight year in 2025, with 175.6 million visitors and $46.2 billion in spending. National Politics: As midterms approach, Democrats and Republicans are bracing for potential election disruption efforts tied to Trump’s pressure campaign.

Election Security & Voting Access: Georgia’s GOP-led State Election Board is pushing for DOJ scrutiny of voting-system and voter-roll practices, including a fresh fight over ballot secrecy rules and concerns raised by a Princeton researcher about AI tools potentially exposing private votes. State Politics: Gov. Brian Kemp highlighted Georgia’s tourism boom—record visitation for a fourth straight year—while the week also featured Kemp’s gas-tax suspension as prices stayed a political pressure point. Federal Politics: Nationally, the midterm legal fight over who can vote and how ballots are handled is accelerating, with hundreds of cases already in motion. Public Safety & Surveillance: A Georgia-linked case renewed questions about police use of automated license-plate cameras, including allegations of tracking people for personal reasons. Georgia Sports Spotlight: No. 2 Georgia rolled past Vanderbilt 38-14, setting up the Georgia-Alabama showdown that’s also drawing major national attention.

Election Integrity Clash: Georgia’s GOP-controlled State Election Board asked the DOJ to investigate a nonpartisan voter roll maintenance program and also urged federal action against the state’s voting machines, adding to the pre-midterm fight over ERIC and election tech. Higher Ed Leadership: The Board of Regents officially named former Southern Company CEO Thomas A. Fanning as the next USG chancellor, starting Jan. 1. Trump in Georgia Politics: Trump says he’ll attend the Georgia-Alabama game next weekend, keeping the White House in the middle of major state sports-and-politics attention. Campaign Strategy Watch: A new report flags Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff as among the more vulnerable Senate races as the Senate map tightens heading into November. Local Public Safety: Candler County Sheriff’s Office won a $55,875 state grant to boost traffic enforcement and reduce fatal crashes. Sports (Georgia angle): No. 2 Georgia beat Vanderbilt 38-14, setting up a big Alabama showdown next Saturday.

Georgia Election Money Crunch: Democrats are getting outspent in the races that matter, with Georgia’s gubernatorial contest showing a yawning GOP ad advantage that could decide turnout and messaging. Senate Drama Hits Home: Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt’s attempt to accuse former special counsel Jack Smith of perjury blew up after he mixed up the Atlanta Hawks and Iowa Hawkeyes, leaving GOP Sen. Katie Britt visibly stunned on camera. Trump Approval Slips: New polling shows President Trump underwater across major battlegrounds, with Georgia among the most negative states a month before the midterms. Georgia Voting Tech Pressure: Georgia’s GOP-led election board is asking the DOJ to investigate voting machines ahead of November, as the state’s election system overhaul debate heats up. Midterms Watch: A broader look at the shifting Senate map suggests Democrats are within reach as GOP momentum falters in key states, including Georgia. Fuel Cost Fallout: Diesel prices remain a political and economic pressure point, with truckers warning the costs are pushing operators to the brink.

Election 2026 (Georgia): A new InsiderAdvantage poll finds Georgia’s governor’s race is essentially tied, with canvassers hitting doors as early voting nears and about 7% of voters remain undecided. Voting Access: Georgia’s voter registration deadline for the Nov. 3 election is Monday, Oct. 5, with early voting running Oct. 13-30. Courts/DA Fight: President Trump urged a Georgia appellate court to keep Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis out of a $16 million legal-fee dispute tied to a dismissed election interference case. Federal Detention Shift: The U.S. Marshals Service is moving about 400 pretrial detainees from the Atlanta area to a facility roughly 190 miles south, drawing opposition from defense attorneys, judges, and Georgia senators over medical care and access to counsel. Campaign Trail: Democrats and Republicans are both ramping up outreach in Georgia’s most conservative congressional district, where Democrat Shawn Harris hopes to narrow margins after a runoff loss earlier this year. State Budget/Health Care: Georgia faces the risk that nearly 20,000 people could lose health coverage unless a federal-state funding fight is resolved favorably for Pathways to Coverage.

Election Integrity & Voting Access: Georgia’s state election board rejected a last-minute proposal tied to ballot secrecy, while a federal judge tossed a Trump administration bid to obtain Georgia voters’ personal information. Energy Costs: With gas and diesel prices still high, Georgia joined other states in suspending fuel taxes for relief ahead of the midterms. Midterm Politics: Early voting data shows Democrats leading in turnout momentum, raising concerns for Republicans about enthusiasm. Statehouse Power Shift: A new report says Georgia Democrats are flipping the state House—ten seats away from history—setting up a high-stakes fight over who controls the chamber. Public Safety & Courts: Tennessee’s botched execution of Christa Pike is driving fresh calls for a death-penalty halt, with Georgia officials weighing in on lethal-injection concerns. Surveillance Debate: A national pushback against Flock Safety cameras continues, with Georgia mentioned in the broader conversation about AI-enabled policing and privacy. Sports: The Atlanta Dream are back in WNBA semifinals for the first time since 2018, setting up a series vs. the New York Liberty.

Election Integrity Fight: Georgia’s GOP-controlled State Election Board asked the DOJ to declare the state’s voting machines unlawful and to force a phase-out, escalating the long-running dispute over ballot secrecy and federal involvement in state elections. Local Election Rules: A separate GOP-backed proposal to require poll workers to “shuffle” ballots before scanning failed to gain support at a special meeting, with board members warning it could be hard to implement before November and could create new problems. Governor Race & Health Care: Medicaid work requirements are set to stay in Georgia regardless of who wins the governor’s race, keeping a major healthcare-policy fight in play. Supreme Court Security: Georgia AG Raoul joined a bipartisan push urging Congress to fully fund U.S. Supreme Court security after a sharp rise in threats to justices and their families. Midterms & Social Security: In a competitive Georgia congressional race, a GOP candidate has called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme,” while polling shows strong support for preventing automatic benefit cuts. Public Safety: Tennessee’s botched lethal injection attempt on Christa Pike has been halted, raising fresh constitutional concerns that Georgia defense attorneys say could echo in future cases. State Economy: Gov. Kemp announced about 140 new jobs and a $26M investment for Mayville Engineering in McDuffie County. Cybersecurity: GEMA/HS marked October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month with a “Securing the Next 250” push. Infrastructure: Paulding County issued an emergency water outage notice for the Mulberry Rock Road area during repairs.

WNBA Playoffs: The Atlanta Dream punched its ticket to the semifinals for the first time since 2018, beating the Washington Mystics 93-75 in Game 2 and setting up a Sunday Game 1 vs. the New York Liberty. State Politics & Campaigns: In Georgia’s governor race, Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms rolled out a DRIVE plan aimed at cutting fuel and auto insurance costs, while Republican Rick Jackson is also hammering affordability as the candidates head toward their debate. Gas Tax Relief: Gov. Brian Kemp’s administration moved to suspend Georgia’s motor fuel tax for 30 days, offering short-term relief as drivers face prices above $4 a gallon. Local Economy: A UGA study says Georgia ports support 19,277 jobs across the CSRA, with Richmond County the biggest beneficiary. Public Safety: A former Hall County investigator was arrested for alleged misuse of a license plate reader system, charged with misuse and violation of oath of office.

DOJ Voter Data Fight: A federal judge in Northern Georgia tossed the Trump Justice Department’s bid to force Georgia to hand over unredacted voter registration records, ruling federal law doesn’t override the state’s voter privacy protections—another win for Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger and a fresh setback for DOJ’s push ahead of midterms. Governor’s Race Flashpoint: The data-center boom is colliding with politics in the Georgia governor’s race, with Democrats like Keisha Lance Bottoms backing a temporary statewide pause to study impacts while Republican Rick Jackson argues local governments should decide project approvals. Midterm Energy Clash: In Washington, Senate Democrats blocked the GOP-backed Ratepayer Protection Act, leaving the question of who pays for grid upgrades tied to data centers unresolved; Georgia’s Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock voted against the bill’s advance. Schmitt’s Hawks-Hawkeyes Blunder: Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt’s attempt to link Jack Smith to Fulton County prosecutors unraveled after he mixed up the Atlanta Hawks and Iowa Hawkeyes, with Smith saying he attended a Caitlin Clark game instead. Tourism Numbers: Gov. Brian Kemp touted record tourism for the fourth straight year, with 175.6 million visitors in 2025 and $46.2 billion in spending.

WNBA Playoffs: The New York Liberty completed a historic sweep of the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, 87-71 in Game 2, with Jonquel Jones leading (21 points, 13 rebounds) as the No. 8 seed became the first to eliminate a No. 1. Georgia Politics: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is pushing back on federal pressure as midterm preparations ramp up, with local election officials in Cherokee County training for possible federal involvement at polling sites. College Sports Policy: U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff backed the Protect College Sports Act, saying the status quo is “untenable” and calling for clearer rules on athlete pay and health coverage. Public Safety/Privacy: A new push in Congress targets Flock-style surveillance cameras, with a bill aimed at tighter limits on data sharing, deletion timelines, and facial recognition. Local Health: Quentin’s Place, a 24-hour behavioral health crisis center in Middle Georgia, opened with a ribbon cutting and expanded stabilization capacity. Economy/Voters: Gas prices are driving political shifts, with Georgia voters in particular weighing costs at the pump as they decide whether to back Democrats or vote for the first time. International/Legal: A UN human rights body ordered Georgia to refrain from extraditing a Georgia-linked associate to Russia while a complaint is reviewed.

Gas Tax Relief in Georgia: Gov. Brian Kemp suspended Georgia’s motor fuel tax for 30 days, cutting about 33 cents a gallon on regular and 37 cents on diesel through Oct. 29 as drivers brace for election-season cost pressure. Election Integrity Push: The DOJ says it has charged 28 people across multiple states in a crackdown on illegal voting and election interference, including prior Georgia-related cases. Georgia Politics on the National Stage: A Senate Judiciary hearing featuring former special counsel Jack Smith turned into a viral mess for Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt, who tried to tie Smith to Fulton County’s Trump case—then appeared to mix up the Atlanta Hawks with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Voter Outreach: Georgia lawmakers held events urging voters to check registration and use IWillVote.com ahead of the Nov. 3 deadline. Public Safety: Atlanta police officers were honored for life-saving actions at the annual Crime Is Toast breakfast, with leaders saying overall crime is down 13% year over year.

Gas Tax Relief: Gov. Brian Kemp suspended Georgia’s 33-cent gas tax for 30 days starting Sept. 29 as prices stayed high, offering about 33 cents off regular and 37 cents off diesel. Election Integrity & Voting Tech: Georgia election officials asked the Trump administration for help pushing election system updates, while a separate report says federal prosecutors charged three Georgia noncitizens who allegedly voted in federal elections. Midterms & Control of Congress: National coverage highlights voter anxiety over prices, jobs, and AI ahead of November, with attention on Jack Smith’s handling of the Jan. 6 probe and broader Senate dynamics. Georgia Politics on the National Stage: An AP report says GOP hopes of winning Georgia and North Carolina are fading, shifting resources to other races as Republicans worry about turnout and Trump’s economic messaging. Data Centers in the Governor’s Race: A new debate is heating up between Keisha Lance Bottoms’ proposed statewide pause and Rick Jackson’s push for local control over data center growth.

Fuel Relief in Focus: Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency and suspended Georgia’s motor fuel excise tax for 30 days, starting Sept. 29, aiming to blunt soaring gas and diesel prices. Election Security Push: The Georgia State Election Board voted to ask the Trump administration for help targeting alleged vulnerabilities in the state’s voting machines, while also pressing for a software update. Data Center Fight Escalates: Residents and a conservation group sued Effingham County over OpenAI’s proposed “Project Camellia” data center campus, alleging violations of Georgia’s open meetings and open records laws. School Safety Rollout: GEMA/HS is rolling out its Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) model to help K-12 schools identify and intervene on concerning behaviors before violence. Public Safety Funding: GEMA/HS opened applications for the FY 2027 Georgia Gang Activity Prosecution Grant, offering $1.25 million for local gang case management systems. Housing Strategy Spotlight: A Post Real Estate Group profile highlights how market-rate-to-affordable conversions rely heavily on tax-exempt tools rather than large subsidies. Sports & Culture: Georgia’s Class of 2026 hit an all-time high 88.5% graduation rate, while Atlanta welcomed new giant pandas and the WNBA playoffs begin with the Dream hosting the Mystics.