On today's live edition of Political Breakfast, we're addressing a surprise move during a special session called by Governor Brian Kemp. 

The plan was to redraw Georgia's congressional and state legislative districts. That's in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gutted a key portion in the Voting Rights Act on redistricting.
Now critics say Republican-held states across the South could likely redraw their maps and put seats typically held by Democrats at risk. 

But yesterday, Republican House leaders wrote a letter to Kemp, and decided that changes to the maps will not happen this summer during the session. They cite the changes should only happen after a deliberative process, providing the public enough time for input. 

Democrats are celebrating the news. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is one of them. He, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam break down the news.

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After months of candidates stumping for high-profile endorsements, spending millions of dollars on attack ads and traveling across the state, today's the day. 

The polls are open for Georgia's primary runoff election. 

Some of the most contentious races are on the Republican ballot, including the runoffs for U.S. Senate and Governor. 

One race that's gotten some extra attention this week: the race for Democrat Jon Ossoff's U.S. Senate seat. President Donald Trump gave an 11th-hour endorsement of current Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins. But strategists ask: why so late? Trump posted his endorsement on Truth Social at 1 am on Sunday. 

The runoff election pits Collins against Republican Derek Dooley, a former football coach at the University of Tennessee, who has the support of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.

How will the Kemp versus Trump endorsement play-out among voters? Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam discuss. 

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On this week's Political Breakfast, we're starting off with an increasingly contentious local race ahead of the June primary runoff elections: the race for Fulton County Commission Chair. 

Longtime incumbent Robb Pitts is being challenged by former District 4 Commissioner Mo Ivory. Recent debates between the two have been fiery and full of personal attacks. 

One issue voters are bringing up is age. Pitts is now in his mid-80s. How does ageism play into these elections -- from the Fulton Commission Chair, all the way up to the Georgia governor's race? Do these attacks on age have merit?

Plus, Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is now focusing his campaign for governor on safety concerns for Atlanta MARTA riders. 

That's after President Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the feds are launching an investigation into how MARTA spends its money. The transit authority has dealt with a series of violent incidents just weeks ahead of the FIFA World Cup. 

Democratic strategist and attorney Anré Washington is here filling-in for strategist Tharon Johnson this week. Washington, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam sort through this.

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This week on Political Breakfast, we're talking about party unity, and endorsements pouring-in as the dust settles from Georgia's May primary elections. 

U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and Georgia's Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Keisha Lance Bottoms, are joining forces ahead of the general election in November. 

Is the entire Democratic base united to support the former Atlanta Mayor? If elected, Bottoms would become the first Black woman to take the state's highest office.

On the Republican side, unity is dicey. That's as political outsider and billionaire healthcare CEO Rick Jackson and current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones prepare for a June 16th runoff. The winner with face Bottoms in November. 

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam break all this down. 

Plus, Republicans are now having mixed feelings about redrawing Georgia's district lines. 

And Georgia's gas tax suspension has ended. Now Georgians are rushing to fill up their tanks, before those prices at the pumps creep-up. 

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On this week's Political Breakfast: The campaign for billionaire healthcare CEO Rick Jackson confirmed with WABE he will NOT be part of Monday's Atlanta Press Club debate, in the battle for the Republican nomination in the Georgia governor's race.

His opponent, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, is now prepared to face an empty podium on Monday afternoon at 2:45, and answer questions from a panel of journalists alone. He also criticized Jackson for not showing up on social media. 

Jackson's campaign cited a scheduling conflict: an event with Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. The campaign said in a statement that the APC could not accommodate later dates, so Jackson has accepted Gray TV's invitation to debate on President Trump's birthday, or Flag Day on June 14th, "when runoff voters will be fully engaged and making a decision ahead of Election Day."

Meanwhile, Democratic nominee and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms dominated in the May primary with 56 percent of the vote. She will face either Jones or Jackson in November. 

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam. 

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On this week's Political Breakfast, we have a quick recap of a critical Election Day for Georgia's 2026 May primary. 

A large chunk of undecided Georgia voters showed up to the polls on Tuesday, and completely changed the game.

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms dominated in the race for the Democratic nomination for Georgia Governor. She's now free to focus on the November general election, where she'll face the GOP nominee. 

On the Republican side, billionaire businessman and healthcare CEO Rick Jackson and Lt. Governor Burt Jones will head to a June runoff election.

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson both share more insight on the bloodbath ahead with host Lisa Rayam. 

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On this week's Political Breakfast, we're in the final stretch of early voting for the May primaries! Early voting ends this Friday. Election Day is May 19th. 

The Georgia Governor's race has been dominating our conversations on this podcast. Now it's time to turn to the U.S. Senate race.

Republican Governor Brian Kemp has endorsed former football coach Derek Dooley in hopes he can flip the seat held by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.

Is the Kemp clout working?

Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson weigh-in with host Lisa Rayam.

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On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team discusses recent polling.  Are they spot on or not?

Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson share their take with Lisa Rayam.  A recent AJC poll on the Democratic Race for Governor is at the center of the conversation.  

In addition, the team sorts through the recent US Supreme Court Decision regarding the Voting Rights Act and the state of Louisiana.  What are the ramifications here in Georgia?

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  On this edition of Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson, Brian Robinson, and Host Lisa Rayam talk about the art of debating.

   The debate season kicks off in Georgia just as early voting gets underway.  Do the candidates truly benefit from participating in this long-established routine? 

  Also, the team focuses on the Gubernatorial candidates and what the debate process specifically means for the top two candidates from each party.

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On this week's Political Breakfast, the team was pleased to record the podcast in front of a live studio audience at the Brookhaven City Centre. 

More than a hundred listeners showed-up to hear host Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson. 

They started off by discussing the latest in the Georgia Governor's race, GOP infighting and if the top candidates are focused on the needs of ordinary Georgians?

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