Peach State Politics (Feb. 19, 2021)
Perdue files to run against Warnock, Collins eyes political comeback, GA GOP passes absentee crackdowns, and more
Perdue Files to Run Against Warnock
Leading off this week’s edition of Peach State Politics: Former Sen. David Perdue. The 71-year-old Republican, who was defeated by Democrat Jon Ossoff in a January runoff election, filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to explore a run against Sen. Raphael Warnock, the Democrat who defeated appointed Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler. While Ossoff will be serving a full six-year term, Warnock will have to defend his seat next year, as his race was a special election to complete the remainder of Sen. Johnny Isakson’s term.
Perdue said in a statement this week that he is considering a run because Ossoff and Warnock “do not fairly represent most Georgians,” and because he wants to help his party regain the majority in the Senate. You can read his full statement below.
Collins Eyes Political Comeback
Perdue isn’t the only prominent Georgia Republican with his eye on a statewide comeback. Former Rep. Doug Collins, who finished third in last year’s U.S. Senate special election, is said to be deciding between primarying Republican Gov. Brian Kemp or challenging Warnock. Collins, who represented mountainous Northeast Georgia for 4 terms, was one of former President Donald Trump’s fiercest allies in the House. As ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, the former Naval chaplain played a big role in defending the former President against multiple Democratic-led congressional investigations. In the meantime, Collins has joined a law firm in Habersham County, where he will handle civil and criminal litigation.
GA GOP Passes Absentee Crackdowns
This week, a committee of Georgia lawmakers passed Republican-backed bills aiming to crack down on absentee voting. Early Wednesday morning, a Senate subcommittee voted along party lines to advance bills that would end no-excuse absentee voting and require photo identification for those requesting an absentee ballot. Democrats criticized Republicans for passing the bill in the early hours of Wednesday morning with no public input allowed and said that the bills will make it harder for people to vote. Republicans, who are seeking to undo the absentee ballot laws that they themselves passed in 2005, now say that people should have to provide a reason for voting absentee and that a photo identification requirement would help keep Georgia’s elections secure. The photo ID bill advanced out of the Senate Ethics Committee on Thursday and could reach the full Senate floor for a vote as early as next week.
Kemp Proposes Overhauling Citizen’s Arrest Laws
Surrounded by a bipartisan group of state lawmakers, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced this week that he will support legislation overhauling the state’s Civil War-era citizen’s arrest statute. The legislation comes nearly a year after the tragic murder of Ahmaud Arbery in South Georgia. Prosecutors initially refused to charge the men accused of killing Arbery, citing Georgia’s citizen’s arrest laws. Lawmakers passed historic hate crimes legislation last summer following Arbery’s death. Kemp called on lawmakers to continue that bipartisan approach to protect the lives and livelihoods of Georgians:
"Last summer, leaders under the Gold Dome took historic, bipartisan action to pass anti-hate crimes legislation and reaffirm that Georgia is a state too great for hate. Our effort to overhaul the citizen’s arrest statute builds on that work with a balanced approach to protecting the lives and livelihoods of ourselves, our friends, and our neighbors."
- Gov. Brian Kemp
Georgia Launches New COVID-19 Vaccine Website
Amidst a statewide shortage in vaccine supply, Gov. Kemp joined state health officials at a press conference on Thursday to announce the launch of a new website where Georgians can pre-register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The home screen on the “MyVaccineGeorgia” site displays different categories of Georgians who are currently eligible to receive the vaccine. Even if you are not currently eligible to be vaccinated, state leaders said that you may still pre-register so that you are notified once the vaccine is available to you. Click the button below to visit the new website.
Sen. Jon Ossoff to Chair Investigative Subcommittee
Nearly a month after being sworn into office, Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) has become the chair of an investigative subcommittee. As chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Ossoff will have the power to investigate corruption and issue subpoenas. Prior to becoming a Senator, the 34-year-old Democratic newcomer owned a media company that investigated corruption, child trafficking and sexual slavery around the world, particularly in the middle east. Homeland Security Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) said that Ossoff is “uniquely qualified” to lead the subcommittee:
“As a former investigative journalist, Senator Ossoff is uniquely qualified to chair this prestigious subcommittee, which is instrumental to holding our nation’s most powerful entities accountable for wrongdoing. I look forward to working with him to shed a light on fraud, financial crimes, and other kinds of malpractice whether they take place in the public or private sector.”
- Sen. Gary Peters
The top Republican on the committee will be Sen. Ron Johnson (WI).
Georgia Chief Justice to Step Down
In case you missed it: Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton announced last Friday that he will be stepping down from the top court effective July 1. Melton, who was first appointed to the court by Gov. Sonny Perdue in 2005, became the Chief Justice in 2018. His impending retirement means that Gov. Brian Kemp will get to make his third appointment to Georgia’s highest judicial bench. He has not yet indicated who he will appoint to the court, but as I explained last week, do not be surprised if he decides to appoint a person of color, particularly a woman of color.
Ninth Georgia-related Arrest Made in Capitol Riot
Federal authorities have arrested another Georgian in connection with the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol. 49-year-old Verden Andrew Nalley of Buford was taken into custody on Tuesday by the FBI and the Gwinnett County Sherriff’s office, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. It is unclear what Nalley is being charged with and what role he played in the violence at the Capitol, but he is now one of nine Georgians to be arrested after the violent siege.
How You Can Help Texas
Finally, I want to take time to extend my well wishes to those in Texas who are dealing with the aftermath of this week’s brutal winter weather. People in Texas remain without power, water, heat and food after a winter storm ravaged the state and cased most of the state’s independent power grid to fail.
What’s happening in Texas is unimaginable, but there is something we can all do to help those who are struggling. Crowdfunding platform GoFundMe has compiled a series of fundraisers for those in Texas who has been hit hard by the winter storm. From roof collapses, to water damage and food distribution, you can help struggling Texas families right now by clicking here, scrolling down to the list of fundraisers and then donating whatever you can to a fundraiser of your choice.
You can also donate to the Houston Food Bank, where every dollar that is donated will provide 3 free meals to those in Texas who are without food to eat following the storm. Click here to make a secure donation.