Former DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond has officially entered Georgia’s 2026 governor’s race, joining Keisha Lance Bottoms and Jason Esteves in a crowded Democratic primary. On today’s episode of Politically Georgia, host Patricia Murphy reacts to Thurmond’s announcement before diving into the Monday Mailbag with producer Shane Backler and intern Gray Mollenkamp. The team fields listener questions on redistricting, the Atlanta mayor’s race, and more. Later, AJC education reporter Martha Dalton explains why Georgia schools are starting earlier than ever and raises concerns about declining childhood vaccination rates.

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