Drawn into friendly political fire, new Georgia redistricting maps prompt lawmaker reshuffling
Rep. Rob Leverett is an Elberton Republican who chairs the House Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee. The maps he led through 2023’s special session will pair up House incumbents from both parties. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder When a federal judge gave the final OK to newly-drawn electoral maps last month, it spelled curtains for the political careers…
Judge rules True the Vote’s 2020 mass voter challenges don’t amount to illegal intimidation
In the lead up to Georgia’s 2021 U.S. Senate runoff elections, which would determine Senate control, the conservative activist group True the Vote announced that it would challenge the eligibility of 364,000 Georgia voters, drawing a voter intimidation lawsuit. John McCosh/Georgia Recorder A federal judge ruled Tuesday that a Texas group’s campaign to challenge the…
A ‘chaotic’ January? Congress faces two shutdown deadlines with no action yet on spending
The spending stalemate has aggravated both Democrats and Republicans on the Senate and House Appropriations committees, who say leadership needs to give them the green light to begin talks ahead of the Jan. 19 deadline to enact four spending bills and the Feb. 2 deadline for the other eight appropriations measures. Shown is the U.S.…
Wild Hog Supper 2024 kicks off season of Georgia legislative events for policy wonk feasting
On Jan. 7, Gov. Brian Kemp. state lawmakers and lobbyists are set to return to Atlanta for the Wild Hog Supper, which serves as the largest fundraiser for Feeding Georgia and as a kick off for the legislative session. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder (2020 file photo) Georgians who may be feeling the post-holiday blues will have…
Top 10 stories that shaped 2023: Trump’s mug, Vogtle’s sticker shock and raging culture wars
Former President Donald Trump surrendered at the Fulton County Jail in August and had his mugshot taken. It’s the only mugshot of the former president and also the only booking photo made of any U.S. president. Photo from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office The jailhouse booking of a former president. The death of the only…
Federal judge approves Georgia’s new congressional and legislative election maps
House Redistricting Chairman Rob Leverett, left, speaks with House Minority Leader James Beverly before the start of a committee hearing. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder U.S. District Court Judge Steve Jones approved Georgia’s new congressional and legislative voting districts drawn by the state legislature. Jones found Thursday that all three maps added majority-Black opportunity districts in the…