Georgia Repubs accidentally mandate nail-biter elections? Rick’s running (from Keisha) … the no-show rodeo

…plus the Georgia GOP no-show rodeo & a Wynter-y cold endorsement leaves Mike Collins frozen out.

The special session Governor Brian Kemp commanded out of the state legislature didn’t yield much for his party (no redrawn maps, no property tax cuts passed onto consumers’ sales taxes) but it did yield a mess of an election bill he’ll have to sign (we’re guessing) to address ⁠the looming QR code deadline⁠: according to ⁠Marilyn Marks with the Coalition for Good Governance, the bill accidentally mandates razor-thin election margins, the way it’s written⁠. Oof. She joined me to explain.

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Meanwhile, it’s officially “general election season” for the 2026 calendar so focus will turn to Rick Jackson v Keisha Lance Bottoms, with statements made by Jackson at an event with a radical anti-abortion voter raising eyebrows. In the comments, he ⁠seems to co-sign on eliminating exclusions for incest and rape⁠. – or at least creating new barriers to those exceptions being available to women who learn they’re pregnant on or after the six-week ban in Georgia would occur.

His being poor at thinking on his feet (there and in a prior televised debate) is likely one reason why Democratic nominee ⁠Keisha Lance Bottoms is challenging Jackson to no less than three one-on-one forums⁠.

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The alleged killer who stabbed a MARTA passenger weeks ago ⁠may receive the death penalty, according to a federal grand jury,⁠ writes Rosie Manins at the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

That’s the story anti-transit, anti-urban folks want you to focus on, and not the fact that ⁠MARTA has adequately absorbed twice the usual ridership during the World Cup⁠ while running on-time and without incident. All that just proving that a little influx of state and federal support makes MARTA run “smarta.”

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As if there isn’t enough to embarrass any Republican with self-awareness, a ⁠Georgia GOP rodeo drew “tens” of people ⁠(my guess-estimate when you don’t count candidates and their surrogates). HA!

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One more, though! Atlanta-based conservative talk radio host Shelley Wynter (WSB A/FM) had Senator Jon Ossoff on recently – and ⁠endorsed the incumbent Senator! ⁠Hear the exchange: