The Georgia Politics Podcast

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today, we dive into how Republicans across Georgia were able to find success last Tuesday at both the state and local levels.

Eamon Keegan, President of New Prospect Strategies, joins the show to talk to Craig about some of the local campaigns he worked on and how some of his clients were able to outpace Donald Trump in Georgia. They talk about how campaign strategies have changed over the years, what still works, and what drove them absolutely bananas over the last few months. Our guess is some of you can relate.

They also touch on what they saw Democrats doing in the field and how they can’t seem to learn from their mistakes and make gains in a state that more or less has continued to trend purple in the last few Presidential election cycles.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show we discuss Tuesday's election results and where Democrats go from here.

The top line is that Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in a race that ultimately wasn’t all that close. The country moved right - everywhere. Trump increased his margins from 2020 in Florida by 10%, Texas by 10%, Ohio by 3%, New York by 13% and Virginia by 6%.

He also increased his margin of the black vote from 8% in 2020 to 13% in 2024 and with the Latino vote from 32% to 45%.

In Georgia, we saw much the same, with Republicans retaining control of both chambers of the legislature. They will keep their 33-23 majority in the Senate, where the closest race was SD 48, which saw Republican Shawn Still defeat Democratic challenger Ashwin Ramaswami with 53.6% of the vote.

The only seat Republicans lost in the House went to a candidate running as an independent, leaving Democrats with the same 78 seats to 101 for the GOP.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s episode, former Congressman and current President of the National Rifle Association (NRA), Bob Barr, joins us to discuss his political journey and the impact of the 1994 Contract with America.

The Contract with America, introduced during the 1994 congressional campaign, was a significant policy agenda released by the United States Republican Party. It outlined specific legislative proposals the party promised to bring to a vote if they secured control of the House of Representatives. The document emphasized a conservative vision focused on limited government, lower taxes, and personal responsibility.

The Contract was a pivotal factor in the Republican Party's victory in the 1994 midterm elections, which led to a major political realignment with the GOP taking control of the House. Bob Barr, then a Republican congressman from Georgia, was an active supporter of the Contract’s principles. While he was not one of its primary architects—a role primarily credited to Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey—Barr played a key part in promoting and implementing the agenda as part of the broader Republican revolution.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s special episode, we are once again joined by two delegates from Georgia to the most famous party convention in American history.

Parker Hudson and Taylor Branch, both graduates of Westminster Schools, were delegates from Georgia to the 1968 DNC supporting Sen. Eugene McCarthy because of his anti-Vietnam War position.

The convention, held in Chicago, was a turning point in U.S. political history, marked by violent protests, police brutality, and deep divisions within the Democratic Party. The backdrop of the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy fueled a highly charged atmosphere. Inside the convention, the Democratic Party was divided between establishment figures supporting Vice President Hubert Humphrey and more progressive, anti-war factions backing Senators Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern.

Georgia played a distinct role in the convention as it represented the conservative, pro-segregation wing of the party. Governor Lester Maddox, a vocal segregationist, led the Georgia delegation. Maddox was known for his staunch opposition to the Civil Rights Movement and had famously closed his restaurant rather than comply with integration laws. He and other Southern Democrats, sometimes referred to as Dixiecrats, resisted the party’s growing embrace of civil rights and its increasingly liberal stance on social issues.

At the convention, the Georgia delegation stood with the conservative elements of the party, opposing the anti-war platform and pushing back against the civil rights advancements. Maddox and other Southern leaders were aligned with George Wallace’s independent campaign, which sought to appeal to disaffected white voters in the South, capitalizing on fears of racial integration and opposition to federal intervention in state matters.

This ideological split within the Democratic Party, exemplified by the clash between conservative Southern Democrats like Maddox and the more progressive northern and western factions, highlighted the fractures that would soon lead to a realignment in American politics. Georgia’s role in the 1968 DNC represented the old guard of Southern Democrats, clinging to segregationist values in the face of a rapidly changing political landscape.

You can connect with Parker Hudson online, here.

You can buy We Asked, “Why Not?” online, here.

You can connect with Taylor Branch online, here.

You can buy the Pulitzer Prize winning Parting the Waters, here.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! There are only 10 days left until the election. Have you voted yet?!

Georgia is experiencing record turnout. Through Wednesday, over 2 million people had already cast their ballots early across the state. It’s going to be a close one, folks! The AJC released their final poll before election day showing Donald Trump with a 47% to 43% lead over Kamala Harris, with 8% of likely voters still undecided.

Also this week, the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously rejected the Republican Party's effort to reinstate State Election Board rules regarding election night ballot counting and a requirement for a "reasonable inquiry" before certifying results. The one-page order upholds a Fulton County judge's ruling from last week, which declared seven new election rules to be "illegal, unconstitutional, and void."

In non-Presidential-election-news, Governor Brian Kemp and Republican legislative leaders revealed a plan to tap into the state’s growing surplus to provide over $1 billion in tax refunds to Georgians when they file their taxes next year. Under the proposal, Georgians could receive an income tax refund of up to $250 for single filers, $375 for heads of households, and $500 for married couples filing jointly, based on their 2023 earnings.

Races We’re Watching, Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-at-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode!

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show we talk political reaction to natural disasters, two critical Fulton County court updates, and much more. 28 days until the election!

Hurricane Helene ravaged the southeast and in Georgia has reportedly caused the deaths of at least 33 people and $417 million in damage. Donald Trump was in Georgia Sunday and Kamala Harris was in Augusta Wednesday. What role can or should a candidate for office play in shining a light on needed assistance to these inflicted areas?

We also touch on the Walz/Vance debate since we’ve not done a show since. Will it move the race at all?

Also, in two preelection trials last week, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney said state law requires county election boards to certify results one week after Election Day. He didn’t not dismiss either suit, as Republicans had hoped, and may issue a ruling in the next few days. With the election right around the corner, these ruling could have huge implications on who wins in November.

Races We’re Watching, Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-at-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode!

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show, host Amber Perry is joined by ProPublica Editor Ziva Branstetter to discuss recent reporting on the consequences of a 6 week abortion ban in Georgia.

ProPublica, a national nonprofit newsroom, published the first two installments of its project “Life of the Mother: How Abortion Bans Lead to Preventable Deaths” last week. Included are stories about women who, according to the reporting, died because they were unable to access medical treatment that had been available prior to Georgia’s new 6-week ban.

Branstetter details how and why ProPublica decided to pursue these stories, what they hope will result from their reporting, and what stories they are pursuing next.

To read the articles in their entirety, click HERE.

To support or connect with ProPublica, click HERE.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Connect with Amber Perry on Twitter @ambermarieperry

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s special episode, we are joined by two delegates from Georgia to the most famous party convention in American history.

Parker Hudson and Taylor Branch, both graduates of Westminster Schools, were delegates from Georgia to the 1968 DNC supporting Sen. Eugene McCarthy because of his anti-Vietnam War position.

The convention, held in Chicago, was a turning point in U.S. political history, marked by violent protests, police brutality, and deep divisions within the Democratic Party. The backdrop of the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy fueled a highly charged atmosphere. Inside the convention, the Democratic Party was divided between establishment figures supporting Vice President Hubert Humphrey and more progressive, anti-war factions backing Senators Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern.

Georgia played a distinct role in the convention as it represented the conservative, pro-segregation wing of the party. Governor Lester Maddox, a vocal segregationist, led the Georgia delegation. Maddox was known for his staunch opposition to the Civil Rights Movement and had famously closed his restaurant rather than comply with integration laws. He and other Southern Democrats, sometimes referred to as Dixiecrats, resisted the party’s growing embrace of civil rights and its increasingly liberal stance on social issues.

At the convention, the Georgia delegation stood with the conservative elements of the party, opposing the anti-war platform and pushing back against the civil rights advancements. Maddox and other Southern leaders were aligned with George Wallace’s independent campaign, which sought to appeal to disaffected white voters in the South, capitalizing on fears of racial integration and opposition to federal intervention in state matters.

This ideological split within the Democratic Party, exemplified by the clash between conservative Southern Democrats like Maddox and the more progressive northern and western factions, highlighted the fractures that would soon lead to a realignment in American politics. Georgia’s role in the 1968 DNC represented the old guard of Southern Democrats, clinging to segregationist values in the face of a rapidly changing political landscape.

You can connect with Parker Hudson online, here.

You can buy We Asked, “Why Not?” online, here.

You can connect with Taylor Branch online, here.

You can buy the Pulitzer Prize winning Parting the Waters, here.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We had a fiery debate this week from Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, but we’ve got a lot more than that to cover on today’s episode. Buckle up.

Hitting on the big news of the week, we dive into post-debate analysis right off the bat. Our big takeaway is Donald Trump looks unprepared, rattled and at times, angry. Kamala Harris appeared to start nervous, but found her stride about 15 minutes in. Will it make a difference in the election? We discuss.

We also touch on updates to who is going to be on Georgia’s ballot in November and what it could mean for the important swing state.

Importantly, in wake of another school shooting, this time at Apalachee High School in Winder, we discuss what can be done (if anything) in the Georgia legislature to prevent more tragedies like this from happening in Georgia schools. Speaker Burns is signaling he wants to do something, but Preston expresses doubt that when push comes to shove we'll see any bills move to address the epidemic. We'll see.

Lastly, there is a small update on the Catoosa County GOP lawsuit and you know we’ve got details.

Races We’re Watching, Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-at-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode!

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s special episode, we are joined by retiring Rep. Penny Houston to reflect on her nearly 40 years of public service in elected office.

Penny Houston (R-Nashville) has served in the Georgia House of Representatives since 1997, representing House District 170, which includes Berrien, Cook, and parts of Tift counties. She is the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development and sits on several key committees, including Ways & Means, Banks & Banking, Economic Development & Tourism, and others. Houston has also held leadership roles in various state and national committees and boards. She recently announced that she will be retiring from elected office at the end of her term.

In her community, Penny is active in the Nashville United Methodist Church, the Methodist Home in Macon, and local chambers of commerce. She is an honorary member of the Nashville Rotary Club and has supported the Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes for over 30 years. A rural Georgia native, she grew up in Leary, Georgia, and has lived in Nashville for nearly 50 years. Penny graduated from Stephens College and the University of Georgia, and she enjoys spending time with her three children and six grandchildren.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol