Latest news with #GeorgiaGovernor
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A Georgia Republican governor candidate questions legality of rival's $10M campaign loan
Election 2026 Georgia Governor ATLANTA (AP) — A Republican candidate for Georgia governor asked a state ethics body Thursday to determine whether his GOP rival illegally lent $10 million to a campaign committee to evade restrictions under state campaign finance law. Attorney General Chris Carr's campaign lawyer asked the Georgia Ethics Commission for a legal opinion saying Lt. Gov. Burt Jones was prohibited from making the loan to his leadership committee, a special fundraising vehicle that allows the governor, lieutenant governor and legislative leaders to raise unlimited funds. A spokesperson for Jones called the complaint a 'weak attempt to get attention' in a statement. Carr and some other candidates for state office cannot have the so-called leadership committees for campaign fundraising under a 2021 state law that created the committees unless they win their party's nomination for governor or lieutenant governor. Instead, they are limited to candidate committees, which can raise a maximum of $8,400 from each donor. Opponents say that's an unfair advantage for incumbents. Jones and Carr are competing for the Republican nomination to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp, who legally can't run again after two terms. The GOP primary is next May, followed by the general election in November 2026. Jones filed documents showing he made loans of $7.5 million and $2.5 million to the WBJ Leadership Committee when he announced his long-anticipated run for governor on July 8. The cash infusion was part of Jones' strategy to set himself up as the front-runner in the race. Carr announced his run for governor last year, saying he needed a long runway to raise money because he isn't personally wealthy. Carr's campaign has been voicing concerns for months that Jones will use his leadership committee and his family wealth from a string of gas stations to win the primary. Bryan Tyson, a lawyer for Carr's campaign, on Thursday requested an advisory opinion from the Ethics Commission on whether the loans are legal. Tyson argued that under Georgia law, loans can be made only to a candidate committee, not to a freestanding political action committee, or even a leadership committee, which is allowed to coordinate with a candidate committee. Carr's campaign cited a 2022 federal judge's ruling that a leadership committee for Gov. Brian Kemp could not spend money to get Kemp reelected during the Republican primary that year. U.S. District Judge Mark Cohen found that the 'unequal campaign finance scheme' violated challenger David Perdue's First Amendment right to free speech. Jones spokesperson Kendyl Parker said in a statement she was 'not surprised by this weak attempt to get attention — it's exactly what you'd expect from a campaign that's losing steam with many months to go until Election Day.' Tyson suggested that if Jones could make a loan to the leadership committee and then raise unlimited sums to repay himself, he could give the repaid money to his candidate committee to spend in the primary. That would evade Cohen's ban on the use of leadership committee money in the primary. Tyson warned that such laundering would 'wash away contribution limits entirely.' The Ethics Commission must issue an advisory opinion within 60 days under state law. In a related complaint to the commission on Thursday, Tyson alleged that Jones broke state law because his previous financial disclosures didn't show that he had $10 million in cash or securities to be able to afford such large loans. Tyson pointed to a 2022 financial disclosure that showed Jones had a net worth of $12.4 million, but only $700,000 in cash and securities. The rest was tied up in the value of real estate and Jones' insurance agency, the disclosure stated. Tyson noted that Jones' 2024 disclosure showed he hadn't sold real estate or his business, arguing 'it appears he could not have sufficient liquid assets to loan his leadership committee $10 million.' Ethics complaints can take years to resolve, but Tyson said it was 'imperative' that the commission move quickly to determine the source of the loan, whether it was properly reported and whether Jones planned to spend from his leadership committee in the primary.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘I feel confident.': Burt Jones wants to get rid of state income tax if he's elected governor
For the first time since announcing his candidacy for Georgia governor, current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones sat down with Channel 2 Action News to talk about his vision for the state. We also spoke with his now-competitor, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. Jones told Channel 2's Richard Elliot that if he's elected, he wants to eliminate state income tax, something opposed by both Gov. Brian Kemp and House Speaker Jon Burns. But he believes it can be done. 'We've been very fortunate. We've got a $15 billion surplus right now. We've been able to find ways to lower it -- the income tax structure. We're going to continue to do that,' Jones said. Jones was co-chair of President Donald Trump's Georgia campaign in 2016 and 2020. He said he talked to Trump about running for governor and expects to get an endorsement. TRENDING STORIES: What's being done to help Georgia families now that money to replace stolen SNAP benefits ran out? 4 hurt when train hits truck in South Fulton Family of American man injured while vacationing in Mexico paid $10K to get him back home 'I feel confident. Yeah, he's always told me he's with me and appreciates me,' Jones said. As for Carr, before becoming AG, he headed up the Department of Economic Development and was responsible for bringing business and jobs to Georgia. He wants to lower the tax burden and pointed to his successes battling human trafficking and criminal street gangs. 'What's important hereinto is I have spent my career in the service of the interests of the people of Georgia, not self-interest, and that is going to be a contrast in this race,' Carr said. He said he's the only Republican with a shot at winning in the general election. 'I'm the only Republican candidate in this race or who will get in this race that can win the primary and the general, and I think that's critically important,' Carr said. Everyone is still waiting to see if Georgia U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene will jump into the race. She has hinted at it but has made no announcement yet.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia lieutenant governor launches bid to succeed Kemp
Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) launched his much-anticipated campaign for governor Tuesday, making him the second major Republican to make a run for term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp's (R) job. 'Lt. Gov. Burt Jones has brought real conservative leadership that has protected our freedoms, our values and our families, and Burt Jones has worked closely with President Trump, helping Georgia make America great again,' says a narrator in the more than two-minute ad Jones posted to announce his bid. Jones said in the ad that his campaign priorities would be eliminating the state income tax, ending the fentanyl crisis and making sure transgender women aren't allowed to play in women's sports leagues. 'And if anyone doesn't like that, they can move to California,' Jones says in the ad. Jones joins Attorney General Chris Carr in vying for the GOP nod for the governor's race next year. The first-term lieutenant governor and former state senator is a Trump ally who was among a slate of more than a dozen fake electors in 2020 that sought to certify Trump as the winner in the Peach State, looking to overturn former President Biden's win. Fulton County District Attorney General Fani Willis (D), who initially investigated Trump and Republicans' efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state, was disqualified from investigating Jones, given her involvement fundraising for Jones's 2022 Democratic challenger, Charlie Bailey. Jones ultimately was not charged from the probe. Jones will be vying for the president's endorsement, though Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) also could run — potentially pitting two Trump allies against each other. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger could also make a run for the seat or run for Senate instead, opening the door to a potentially crowded field next year. Democrats have yet to coalesce around a candidate. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, state Sen. Jason Esteves, state Rep. Derrick Jackson and former pastor Olu Brown have all launched bids for the seat. Yet, that field could also be joined by two-time gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams or former GOP Lt. Gov. George Duncan, who's been vocally critical of Trump. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones announces campaign for Georgia governor
ATLANTA - Lt. Gov. Burt Jones has launched his campaign to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp as the next governor of Georgia. Jones, a sixth-generation Georgian and business leader whose family made a fortune running and supplying gas stations, is the second major Republican to announce plans to run for the Republican nomination. What they're saying Jones announced his campaign on Tuesday morning, saying that he would continue the "bold game plan" he had to cut taxes, combat illegal immigration, and passes school choice legislation. "Georgia deserves a bold, unapologetic, and proven common-sense leader who will continue delivering real results for families and businesses across our state, and that's why I'm proud to be running to be the next Governor of our great state," Jones said. "In the private sector, I've helped build businesses from the ground up, created thousands of jobs, invested in local communities and know what it means to sign the front and back of a paycheck. As Lieutenant Governor, I've fought to cut our state income tax, put billions of dollars back into the pockets of hardworking Georgians, expanded educational opportunities, protected girls' sports, cracked down on illegal immigration, invested in rural Georgia, and delivered real results to make our state the best place to live, work, and raise a family. The lieutenant governor also highlighted his support for Presdient Donald Trump in his announcement. "I've also fought to deliver President Trump's agenda here in Georgia from day one–and even took arrows from the radical left for doing it. But just like President Trump, I won–and delivered for the people of Georgia, just like he is delivering for the American people in Washington," he said. Big picture view According to the campaign, Jones had $14 million cash on hand for his attempt to secure the nomination. His announcement comes more than half a year after Attorney General Chris Carr announced his run for governor. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who sold a substantial engineering company, could also make a bid in the Republican primary. The other side On the Democratic side, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, state Sen. Jason Esteves, state Rep. Derrick Jackson, and Atlanta pastor Olu Brown have announced their intent to run. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Democratic Governors Association described the upcoming primary between Carr and Jones as a "vicious fight." "Jones is an extremist who wants to undermine public education, champions Georgia's dangerous abortion ban, backs the mass firing of Georgians at the CDC, and has a long record of opposing Medicaid expansion," spokesperson Kevin Donohoe said. "Jones' partisan, disastrous record could not be more out-of-touch with Georgians — and his campaign launch means that this primary will be a race to the right. No matter who wins, Republicans will be left with a deeply damaged and extreme nominee." No Democrat has won a governor's race in Georgia since Roy Barnes in 1998. The Source Information for this story came from a release by Burt Jones for Georgia and previous FOX 5 reporting.
Al Arabiya
07-07-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Republican Chris Carr Raises $1.25M More for 2026 Georgia Governor Bid
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said Monday he raised another $1.25 million for his 2026 gubernatorial bid from February 1 to June 30. The Republican announced the fundraising totals to The Associated Press on Monday, although he hasn't yet filed an official report with the state Ethics Commission. Those reports are due Tuesday. Carr raised $2.2 million from November through mid-January but couldn't raise money while lawmakers were in session from mid-January until the end of March. He didn't immediately say how much he has spent of the nearly $3.5 million he has raised. Carr is the only major GOP candidate who has announced for the race in Georgia, which saw titanic battles for the governor's chair between Republican Brian Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams in 2018 and 2022. Abrams lost both races, and no Democrat has won a governor's race in Georgia since Roy Barnes in 1998. Republicans argue Georgia needs the stability of continued Republican control. Democrats are meanwhile trying to prove their successes in other races weren't a fluke. Former President Joe Biden won Georgia in 2020, and US Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff were elected to the Senate in runoffs in January 2021. In 2022, Warnock beat Republican Herschel Walker in a runoff to claim a full six-year term. Carr took the unprecedented step of announcing his run for governor in November, in part because he said he needed to get an early jump on fundraising. He could face Republican rivals with enough personal wealth to fund their own campaigns. Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, whose family has made a fortune running and supplying gas stations, is expected to announce his bid for governor in the coming weeks. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who sold a substantial engineering company, could also make a bid in the Republican primary. Carr said in a statement that his numbers 'show that kind of energy can't be bought – it's earned, and we're ready to deliver.' Carr has aligned closely with Kemp but could face opposition from President Donald Trump and his supporters in a primary election. Jones has been close to Trump and would likely angle for his endorsement. Fueled by displeasure that Carr didn't back Trump's attempts to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss in Georgia, Trump in 2022 endorsed a primary opponent who lost to Carr. Last week, the two leading Democrats said they had each collected about $1.1 million in early fundraising. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said she loaned her campaign $200,000 and collected $900,000 from donors, while state Sen. Jason Esteves said he made a much smaller donation to his campaign, with the rest coming from donors.
