Political Breakfast from WABE

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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On this week's Political Breakfast, the candidates in the Georgia Governor's race are in the final weeks to reach voters -- whether that's through big ad spending, or showing up for public forums and debates. 

The front-runners are still Republican billionaire healthcare CEO Rick Jackson, and former Democratic Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. 

The May 19th primary is fast approaching, and polls show there's still a ton of undecided voters.

Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson tell host Lisa Rayam that the remaining weeks will make a huge difference.

Plus, Atlanta leaders say they're deeply troubled by the recent uptick in gun violence. Much of that violence has happened during so-called 'Teen Takeovers' across the metro. 

The Atlanta Police Department is still investigating many of these shootings, and are urging parents to know where their kids are...or else face charges.

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On this week's Political Breakfast, the final gavel banged on Sine Die. Georgia's 2026 Legislative Session is over. But as the dust settles and bills head to Governor Brian Kemp's desk for his signature, host Lisa Rayam asks Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson about the overall vibe under the Gold Dome. 

The gang shares that the session ended with more animosity than normal between both chambers, and some hard feelings.

That's as lawmakers begin clearing out their desks and refocus on the upcoming elections. 

Besides major offices like Georgia Governor, Secretary of State and U.S. Senate, all of our state Representatives and Senators are up for re-election this year. 

Plus, the potential for a special session? State lawmakers failed to pass legislation on the final day of the Georgia General Assembly to tackle a self-imposed July 1st deadline, to end the use of QR codes to count votes. Now they could be summoned back in May or June, to tackle how Georgians will vote in future elections. 

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On today's Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam goes live with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson.

That's as some metro Atlanta voters line up to cast their ballots in a special election, to fill the seat of former Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Georgia's 14th Congressional District stretches from the northwest corner of the state down into Cobb County.

Voters will decide whether Republican Clay Fuller or Democrat Shawn Harris will represent them in Congress. Greene resigned from her seat in January. She left Congress after a falling-out with her former ally, President Donald Trump. 

The war in Iran has been one dominating issue on the campaign trail. Fuller, who is endorsed by Trump, backs the Trump Administration's strikes in Iran. 

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