Controversial elections bills passes House
News, Politics, State & National March 3, 2021
ATLANTA, Ga. – After weeks of deliberation from the Special Committee of Elections Integrity, the controversial House Bill 531 cleared another hurdle in the Georgia State Legislature as house members voted 97 – 72 in favor of the bill.
Rep. Jazmine Clark speaking on HB 531
Georgia’s legislative work week began much like it had ended. Organized protesters once again gathered outside the chambers in strong opposition to what many Democrats considered a Republican attempt to suppress the minority vote after a bitter election last year. Rep. Jasmine Clark (D – Lilburn) spent time with protesters outside the Capital before railing on Republican colleagues from the house well who supported HB 531.
“Men lie; women lie; numbers don’t. The numbers are clear, HB 531 is textbook voter suppression,” said Clark. “This bill reduces, restricts, and limits every single aspect of our elections.”
Democrat after Democrat stepped to the well in a show of unified passion against Republicans. Rep. Donna McLeod (D – Lawrenceville), who hasn’t shied away from tying this bill and its supporters to white supremacy, went full-throttle on lawmakers that backed this bill.
“Suppressing the vote proves one thing, that my Republican colleagues are fearful. They are afraid of change. They are afraid they lack ideas or policies to persuade the vast majority of people that might not look like them to vote for them. The greatest failure of this bill [HB 531] is that it shows a disregard for our shared humanity because you believe you have to take something from me in order to show you have power.
If signed into law, the 66-page bill would add clarity on the use of dropboxes and require an ID for absentee ballots, even limiting the powers
Speaker Pro Tempore Jane Jones
of the Sectary of States office. Rep. Barry Fleming (R – Harlem), the bill’s author, spoke at length regarding its objectives that have been front and center over the past few weeks.
“House Bill 531 is designed to begin to bring back the confidence of our voters back into our election system. A main component of that effort is by enacting several revisions, which will make the administration of elections easier by our local elections officials,”
Rep. Jane Jones (R – Milton) echoed frustrations felt by many conservatives who thought that organizations like Fair Fight meddled in last year’s elections went too far.
“I hope your constituents back home are listening because the hyperbole and mistruths in the TV ads and mail pieces that we’ve all been bombarded with through a million-dollar campaign they need to see the light of the day, and sunshine has a disinfecting quality,” said Jones.
The bill will now move to the Senate, where they, too, have a similar version.
Taylor enters governor race, others likely to follow
News, Politics, State & National February 10, 2021
BAXLEY, Ga. – Kandiss Taylor became the first Republican to challenge Brian Kemp (R) in Georgia’s 2022 race for Governor.
Flanked by supporters, Dr. Kandiss Taylor made her announcement outside the Appling County Courthouse. Taylor was adamant that her campaign better reflects the small-town values of everyday people.
“I’m running for the people. I’m not represented, and the people aren’t represented,” said Taylor. “I think we’ve gotten to this place of RINOs, Republican in name only, and they’re not representing the people, and the people don’t even show up to vote because they think they’re all the same.”
The mother of three and longtime educator didn’t shy away from her struggles in her failed run for Senate against Kelly Loeffler last year. One of those struggles was her fundraising. According to the Federal Elections Commission, Taylor’s Senate campaign had just over $30,000 in total contributions. By comparison, Kemp enters the year with over $6 million. Nevertheless, Taylor believes the lessons she learned last year put her in a better position at a run for Governor and welcomes the challenge.
Taylor might be the first Republican to throw her hat into the 2022 gubernatorial primary, but she likely won’t be the last. Before leaving the White House, Trump was clear about his disapproval of Kemp after not calling for a special session regarding voter fraud. While it may be over a year before the election, Trump may be weighing his options on who to support in the primary. Politicos wonder if prominent Georgia Republican Doug Collins will jump into the race. He already earned Trump’s good graces, and many believe the former Ninth District Congressman isn’t finished with politics. However, Collins could choose to run against Senator Raphael Warnock (D) who’s up for election in 2022.
On the Democrat side, all eyes are on Stacey Abrams (D) as another potential contender. After her loss to Kemp in 2018, Abrams turned her focus to voter suppression. That same year Abrams started Fair Fight. The nonprofit played a heavy role in the contentious presidential and Senate races with the Fair Fight 2020 campaign. Democrats leaned on digital tactics and groups like Fair Fight’s $90 million war chest to make up the difference after the party suspended door-to-door canvassing due to the pandemic. While Abrams continues to say silent regarding her political future, Republicans aren’t taking any chances. In late January, Republican strategists launched StopStacey.org.
The Libertarian Party of Georgia isn’t staying quiet either. Outspoken podcaster Shane Hazel threw his hat into the race during a live stream on his show, “Radical with Shane Hazel.”
“Secret’s out, man. Running for governor here in Georgia,” said Hazel.
Hazel isn’t new to Georgia politics. Hazel was the third party candidate that ran against David Perdue (R) and Jon Ossoff (D) last year. Of the nearly 5 million votes between the three candidates, Hazel received 111,039, or 2.32% of the total vote.