The double victory marks the first time the Democratic Party has won a statewide constitutional office in Georgia since 2006 and reshapes the political landscape ahead of the pivotal 2026 midterm elections.

Via @alander.bsky.social and @georgiarecorder.com: The double victory marks the first time the Democratic Party has won a statewide constitutional office in Georgia since 2006 and reshapes the political landscape ahead of the pivotal 2026 midterm elections.

“It’s really just to make my voice heard,” said one Cherokee County voter Tuesday. “It’s been a disappointing year so far with how the nation’s been going, so I wanted to get my voice out there.” Story by @journalistross.bsky.social.

President Trump has backtracked on a pledge by his administration in court filings to partially fund November food assistance during the shutdown, posting on social media that benefits “will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!”

Voters at a south Atlanta polling place cited local issues like infrastructure and City Council accountability as top concerns Tuesday. Two statewide races for the Georgia Public Service Commission were often an afterthought. New from @alander.bsky.social.

New from @alander.bsky.social: Campaigning for two contested seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission has intensified during the early voting period, turning a relatively quiet election cycle into a partisan fight over utility rates and energy policy.

Georgia Democrats are urging Gov. Brian Kemp to help fund the state's SNAP program during the federal government shutdown. Story from @mayahoman.bsky.social and @alander.bsky.social.

As many as 1.4 million Georgians who rely on federal food assistance could face the abrupt loss of benefits starting Nov. 1 if the government shutdown has not ended, reports @alander.bsky.social.

New from @alander.bsky.social: A coalition of environmental organizations delivered more than 24,000 petition signatures and nearly 300 pieces of artwork from children to Gov. Brian Kemp’s office Thursday, urging him to permanently protect the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

The alleged theft happened at a time when a perceived lack of transparency in the PSC’s dealings with Georgia Power has been scrutinized more intensely. Story by @alander.bsky.social.

Yet again Georgia collected more than it spent, giving the state’s Republican governor and GOP-led legislature additional funds to spend or save in what’s expected to be an intense election year. #gapol via The Current GA/yours truly thecurrentga.org/2025/10/20/g...

The board for Planned Parenthood Southeast - covering AL, GA, MS - hired a law firm to investigate allegations of mismanagement. "The line between malice and incompetence can be very blurry," said a former PP director. Via @mayahoman.bsky.social www.newsfromthestates.com/article/plan...

Stephen Stetson, the former AL and MS state director, said the problems might be due to bad leadership rather than ideological divides, but changes have damaged the org's credibility with other reproductive rights groups. “The line between malice and incompetence can be very blurry,” he said.

ICYMI: Our coverage of Saturday's No Kings protests.

The dogs of the No Kings protest in Atlanta. Despite only being 6-months old, Rahul Bose, sitting in front of the "No kings, No ICE" poster, is a frequent protester, starting with the Tesla Takedown protests earlier this year. "Ruff," he said. Jax, a 1 year old German Shepherd, wanted to play.

If you're not, YOU should be following @statesnewsroom.com for the latest in No Kings coverage. Check it out www.newsfromthestates.com/live-feed/no...

Stacey Abrams just took the stage and gave a warning in her speech, detailing the "10 Steps to Autocracy" the current administration has taken. Abrams said that the opposition's destination is division and destruction, saying "this is not normal, it's intentional."

Follow along for national coverage of today's No Kings protests from @statesnewsroom.com. We'll also have updates from the Atlanta Civic Center, where a large group is gathered.

Organizers say more than 10,000 people have turned out for the No Kings rally at the Atlanta Civic Center in Georgia. The actual number could be closer to 12,000, says Laura Judge with Indivisible North Metro, which is one of the event's organizers. (Photo by @alander.bsky.social)

The @georgiarecorder.com crew will be covering today's No Kings demonstrations in Atlanta. We'll begin at the Atlanta Civic Center, where the rally begins before marching to the Liberty Plaza by the Capitol. Follow along for dispatches from our team, and look out for a story later!

Early voting in Georgia for the Public Service Commission (and municipal elections) starts today, and the Recorder has an early voting guide if you have any questions. If you're still unsure who to vote for, look out for our candidate guide tomorrow.

Early voting starts tomorrow for two seats in the Public Service Commission, which is responsible for regulating utilities in the state. Republicans, who are fearful Dems may flip one or both seats, are turning to national, culture wars themes while Democrats are running on energy affordability.

New from @alander.bsky.social: Marjorie Taylor Greene sounds alarm over expiring health care subsidies as shutdown continues

New from @alander.bsky.social: Georgia’s limited Medicaid expansion program is extended through 2026 despite concerns about cost

ICE officials, attorneys for Mario Guevara spar over the Georgia journalist’s immigration history, reports @alander.bsky.social.

A nonpartisan state council is in the process of finding a special prosecutor to take on the last remaining criminal case against President Donald Trump. Story by @alander.bsky.social.

“Who’s going to train the next generation of scientists and engineers in these areas? You need funding to do that, and that is gone,” said Geza Kogler, a now-retired Kennesaw State University professor who lost his National Institutes of Health training grant. Story by @alander.bsky.social.

New from @alander.bsky.social: Resigned CDC officials say erosion of agency mission, staffing is akin to ‘death by a thousand cuts’

Update: The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t appear inclined to leave her post, despite the Trump administration announcing Wednesday that she’s no longer running one of the country’s top public health agencies.

First byline (as a staff writer) for @georgiarecorder.com. Lawmakers are considering eliminating the state's income tax to be more competitive with states like Florida and Tennessee. Income taxes currently account for over 50% of Georgia's total state revenue. georgiarecorder.com/2025/08/19/g...

Canceled pride graduation celebrations. Eliminated resource centers for LGBTQ students. Tighter rules for using a preferred name on class rosters and student IDs. These are some of the casualties on Georgia college campuses as a national push to erase DEI initiatives and programs takes hold.

We're thrilled to welcome @alander.bsky.social to our staff. He's done great work at our sister newsroom in Alabama (@alabamareflector.com), including an impressive job chasing down the large amounts of First Liberty money that ended up with Alabama politicians. We're fortunate to have him join us.

Today is my last day with the @alabamareflector.com. Starting Monday, I will be joining the team at the @georgiarecorder.com. I'll have more to share about my new role next week. For now, I'm feeling incredibly thankful for my time in Alabama.

Breaking via @alander.bsky.social: A federal judge Wednesday refused to issue an injunction against Alabama's anti-DEI law in a lawsuit brought by University of Alabama System professors and students.

Via @alander.bsky.social: U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, entered the race for Alabama’s soon-to-be open U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday, positioning himself as a conservative and a voice for Donald Trump.

Via @alander.bsky.social: Attorneys for UA plaintiffs challenging Alabama's anti-DEI law wrote that it was “undisputed” that Black Student Union and Safe Zone spaces were open to all students and “did not limit use based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic.”

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: What does state intervention in Sumter County’s public schools look like? In the rural west Alabama county, facing significant population decline, it’s led to concentrating elementary schools at a high school campus, new construction, and school closings.

Fridays are never dull in the news industry

Via @alander.bsky.social: A Montgomery judge Monday dismissed a lawsuit from parents of children who are potentially eligible to receive medical cannabis who wanted to force the state to create a patient registry.

Via @alander.bsky.social: The executive committee of the Local Government Health Insurance Program (LGHIP) will recommend a 4.75% rate increase for 2026 premiums, a proposal that will be presented to the full board next week.

Via @alander.bsky.social: Alabama officials have returned at least $58,800 of contributions stemming from an alleged Georgia-based Ponzi scheme, according to campaign finance records.

Via @alander.bsky.social: The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ordered the parties in a Louisiana redistricting case to brief them on whether majority-minority districts were constitutional. That could have major implications for Alabama’s current redistricting fight.

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: The Alabama Republican Party Saturday approved a new rule that would allow the party to disqualify an elected GOP official if they appoint a Democrat to a position during their term.

Via @alander.bsky.social: The U.S. Supreme Court in 2008 declared a Louisiana law imposing the death penalty for child sexual assault unconstitutional in part due to fears from social workers that it would suppress reporting of abuse and expose victims to new danger.

Via @alander.bsky.social: The statues of Rosa Parks and Helen Keller — the first to depict Alabama women at the State Capitol — are scheduled to be dedicated on October 24.

Via @alander.bsky.social: A panel of federal judges seemed split Tuesday on whether Alabama’s past resistance to a congressional map giving Black voters a better chance of electing their preferred leaders should subject the state to judicial review of future maps.

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: Behind Alabama's intervention in Dallas County Schools are financial issues caused by poverty and population loss. The rural county lost 12% of its population between 2010 and 2020; public school enrollment fell by a third between 2014 and 2024. Part 2 of a series.

Via @alander.bsky.social: U.S. Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama is asking the White House to speed up the release of appropriated funds for the National Institutes of Health, a major source of funding for the University of Alabama Birmingham.

Via @alander.bsky.social: Federal cuts could raise the cost of Alabama’s SNAP program by $39 million in 2027 — and that number could go even higher in 2028.

Via @alander.bsky.social: After winning a federal court case against Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall earlier this year, reproductive health groups have resumed helping Alabamians obtain out-of-state abortions. But financial and logistical obstacles remain.