Republican @mtgreenee’s Democratic opponent @KevinVanAusdal just dropped out of the race, citing “personal and family reasons.” I just contacted his spokesman, who has no further comment. #gapol#ga14
No immediate comment from state Democrats - who are surprised by the move - and elections officials about what happens next. Van Ausdal isn’t just dropping out of the race - he’s leaving Georgia. #gapol
"We thank Mr. Van Ausdal for his service and send him our condolences in this difficult time,” said @mf_chambers of @GeorgiaDemocrat party. “We are calling on the Secretary of State to disqualify him from the ballot and allow the DPG to name a replacement as soon as possible."
@mf_chambers@GeorgiaDemocrat Democrats may not have a chance to appoint another person to run in Van Ausdal’s place. Georgia law says that vacancies "created by reason of the withdrawal of a candidate less than 60 days prior to the date of the election shall not be filled.” #gapolajc.com/politics/democ…
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Georgia House Democrats walk out of the chamber en masse in protest of a Republican-backed bill to block taxpayer funds from being used to pay for gender-affirming care for state prison inmates. #gapol
“Take a walk!” House Democrats chant after bolting from the chamber in defiance of the GOP bill. When I asked House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley whether she worried this could push Republicans further to the right, she said: “There’s not much left” to go. #gapol
Plays into this: Georgia Democrats are channeling their fury and frustration inward as liberal voters and grassroots organizers demand a more aggressive, confrontational response to President Donald Trump’s return to power. #gapol
The town hall crowd peppers Rep. Rich McCormick with boos and catcalls as he struggles to answer a pointed question from a resident who says she’s a descendant of Patrick Henry who pressed him on whether Trump was moving toward “tyranny.” #gapol
Republican state Sen. Colton Moore was just arrested by state Troopers after he tried to defy a House order that banned him from the chambers. He was knocked to the floor after a scuffle, and was led away after telling authorities they were denying his rights. #gapol
Backstory from yesterday here: A far-right Republican state senator said he plans to ignore his banishment from the state House and attend Thursday’s State of the State address by Gov. Brian Kemp. #gapol
Fulton County is now starting to report its totals. Georgia’s most populous county, Biden won 73% of Fulton’s vote in 2020. Harris is on a similar track with half the county’s precincts reporting. #gapol
Keep an eye on Forsyth County, an exurban GOP stronghold. In 2020, Trump captured Forsyth with nearly two-thirds of the vote. Democrats are working to shave his margins there - winning by losing less - particularly targeting independent women there. #gapol
Clayton County might be the spot that has most spooked Democrats, because of lagging early voting turnout. So far, Clayton is about on pace where it was in 2020. #gapol
I’m here at the Kamala Harris rally in DeKalb County. I wandered the crowd of thousands asked voters the same question: What’s going to decide this election in Georgia? I got some intriguing answers. Here’s a thread. #gapol
Ashleigh Ewald is an activist working to drive up young voter turnout. “Republicans are underestimating the power of Gen Z voters. We couldn’t vote in 2016. Now we can – and we are energized.”
Jourdan Russell is an Oglethorpe University student who has been urging her friends, neighbors and classmates to vote – not just for president but for down-ticket races.
“Government is local on its most basic level, and these races matter.” #gapol