On today's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam and are honing-in on next week's candidate qualifying period for the 2026 General Election cycle. 

The period runs from next Monday to Friday. Candidates have until then to officially qualify for state races like Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and Attorney General.

All Georgia Senators, Georgia Representatives and U.S. Representatives are up for re-election this year. So is one U.S. Senate seat, held by Democrat Jon Ossoff. 

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California Governor Gavin Newsom came to town to stump for former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in the Georgia governor's race over the weekend.

He stressed how important it is for voters to mobilize, especially in wake of the recent federal raid on Fulton County's election office. 

But some comments Newsom made alongside moderator and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens sparked controversy -- and parts of his speech, edited and shared without full context, are being amplified by MAGA media and some Republican lawmakers, including President Trump himself. 

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson calls it rage bait. Republican strategist Brian Robinson says, it's all part of politics. Both break down this viral Newsom video with host Lisa Rayam.

Plus, a federal judge just ruled against Republican Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, deciding that Jones can no longer raise millions for his campaign through a special fundraising committee. It's a blow to Jones' campaign. 

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This week WABE presents a special edition of Political Breakfast, broadcasting from the iconic Atlanta meet-up spot, Manuel's Tavern. 

Opened decades ago by Atlanta's own fiery politician Manuel Maloof, it's well-known watering hole where folks from both sides of the aisle, have always sat together, enjoyed a beer or burger, and talked. 

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson joined host Lisa Rayam to do a wrap-up of the month's top political stories in Georgia. 

That includes the latest in the Georgia Governor's race -- as California Governor Gavin Newsom is coming to headline a fundraiser for the frontrunner on the Democratic side, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Tharon and Brian Robinson break down the polarizing opinions on this Newsom visit, and the latest shake-up in the field of Republican candidates. 

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This week on Political Breakfast, we're talking taxes. 

Republican Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones introduced officially introduced legislation in the Senate to cut the state's income tax for most Georgians. 

His proposal includes phasing-out the tax over the next six years, fully eliminating it by 2032.

Meanwhile on the House side, there's a similar proposal to cut property taxes.

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam respond to the questions many are asking: Will these bills ultimately help working Georgians? Are they going to make it past crossover day under the Gold Dome?

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It seems like a two-way race for the Democratic nomination in Georgia's gubernatorial race, between frontrunner and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.

That's as the latest polling and campaign contributions are reported. 

But Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson tell host Lisa Rayam, It's not over till it's over -- the numbers are still murky, and there's still a chance for candidates in the single digits to push forward.

Meanwhile on the Republican side, GOP titans are dominating campaign contributions in this race. 

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On this edition of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam, to talk about the latest candidate to jump into Georgia's gubernatorial race. 

It's already a crowded race on both sides. Now billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, founder and CEO of Alpharetta-based Jackson Healthcare, has made a million-dollar splash. 

But will Jackson's spending power be able to compete with high-profile names in the Republican primary, including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who has the endorsement of President Donald Trump, as well as Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger?

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On this week's Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson, along with prominent lawmakers like Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, traveled to Sea Island for a state Department of Natural Resources fundraiser. 

However, the talk of the benefit was the recent FBI raid in Fulton County, and the seizure of 2020 election records. 

Republicans like Raffensperger are breaking their silence on the issue, urging the GOP to stop trying to "rerun" President Donald Trump's 2020 election grievances. Trump has repeatedly insisted the 2020 election was stolen, despite multiple recounts and audits confirming his loss to former President Joe Biden. 

Plus, legislation to ban phones and other electronic devices in Georgia public high schools is underway at the Gold Dome this week. 

House Bill 1009 would ban devices starting in the 2027-28 school year.

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On this week's latest edition of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam, to talk about some jarring election news. 

The FBI raided Fulton County’s election operations center Wednesday in Union City, in a search for voting records tied to the 2020 election. 

President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted the election was stolen, with a particular focus on ballots in Fulton County. That's despite multiple recounts and audits confirming his loss to former President Joe Biden. 

Georgia Democrats and Fulton elections officials are blasting the raid, where 700 boxes of 2020 election records were taken. The Democratic Party of Georgia chair Charlie Bailey called Trump's governance "increasingly manic." Georgia Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff called the raid Trump's "sore loser's crusade."

Tharon and Brian respond to the question: Is this return to Trump's political grievances from more than 5 years ago, going to damage the Republican party?

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On today's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam, to talk about a looming partial government shutdown. 

Congress has until this Friday to pass a series of appropriation bills, and U.S. Senate Democrats are rallying to reject a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. That's in response to the latest shooting of the 37-year-old ICU nurse, Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis, that involved federal immigration agents.

Now Georgia Democrats, and even some Republicans, are criticizing how the Trump Administration has handled the fallout. Stephen Miller, Trump's homeland security adviser, called Pretti a “domestic terrorist.”

Videos from bystanders do not show Pretti brandishing a weapon -- but do show a group of agents tackling Pretti and shooting him several times. Officials say he was legally armed. 

Georgia U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock have both announced they will oppose the government funding package.

Former Georgia U.S. Rep. Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene also defended Pretti, and said there was nothing wrong with him legally peacefully protesting.

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On this week's live version of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam examine Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's last budget.

Kemp laid it all out in his final 'State of the State' address last week, where he also set his priorities at the start of the legislative session.

His budget includes a billion in tax rebates for Georgians, a 20-point reduction of the state income tax, a two thousand dollar check for teachers and other state employees and a new need-based scholarship for those attending Georgia colleges and universities.

It also includes nearly 2 billion for new toll lanes on I-75 south of Atlanta, to unclog the interstate, and more money for money for new interchanges on Georgia 316 and local road projects.

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