Latest news with #GeorgiaPolitics
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Carter Infinger working with consultants to devise plan for Congress election run
Bryan County Chairman Carter Infinger (R) said he is considering a run for Georgia's 1st Congressional District – a seat incumbent Buddy Carter said he would not run for again since he announced he will challenge United States Senator Jon Ossoff. The decision is still up in the air for Infinger, who said he has established a team of people to help determine his path forward. 'I'm just kind of looking at it and seeing if it's a good option for me and my family to do it,' said Carter. 'It's a lot of work. I think August is when you can qualify, so I've got a little bit of time. My consultants are looking into it. We need conservative leadership in Washington and someone who is going to look out for the people. I am a regular guy, I think I can look at things with a different perspective. I'm not a business owner, so I don't have to worry about that being impacted or impacting my decision making." More: Why did Sterling Creek Park close? Infinger said he wants to help cut down on the nation's debt, among other things. "I want to protect Medicare and Medicaid and have no taxes on social security. They should not do that," said Infinger. "We need to secure borders for our country. You have to come through the legal system. Those are some of the issues." When asked what helped prepare him for his potential run for Congress, he pointed to the county's success in lowering the millage rate and the work that went into getting the county ready for the state's largest economic project-to-date, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America. 'When I got elected, I want to say the millage rate was 9.43 and its either 5.6 or 7 today,' said Infinger. 'That takes a lot of work with the staff to see what we can cut every year and make sure we continue to roll those millage rates back. With the Hyundai deal, I was fortunate enough to be part of that. It took a lot of effort. My job as chairman is to go out and get as much money as we can for our county and get things done around the area without costing taxpayers and that's what I have done. All of that infrastructure being put up there is not really costing the taxpayers any money.' More: New community for retirees offers active, elegant setting with resort-style amenities In February, candidate Kandiss Taylor, a Republican from Baxley, who previously ran for Governor of Georgia under the slogan "Jesus, guns and babies," announced that she would be running for the District 1 seat. Infinger said if he is voted into Congress, he will continue to maintain the same level of availability to his constituents, saying he is just a phone call away. 'I'm a regular guy and I'm easily approachable,' said Infinger. 'I'm not hiding behind anybody. I'm honest. If I get elected to Congress, I'll represent the folks in the First Congressional District the same way I represent the folks here now. There would be a learning curve but I can do it." Carter is married and he and his wife Karen have two children. He was first elected as a county commissioner in 2010 and has been the chairman for nine years. Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Carter Infinger is thinking about running for Congress.
Associated Press
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Georgia Republicans choose new Senate leaders to replace those seeking higher office
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's Republican state senators chose new leaders Tuesday after rules required the chamber's former leaders to step down because they're running for higher office in 2026. Republicans, who hold a 33-23 majority in Georgia's upper chamber, nominated Sen. Larry Walker III of Perry as president pro tem and elected Sen. Jason Anavitarte of Dallas as majority leader. Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Macon stepped down as president pro tem, the second-highest ranking post in the Senate, because he's running for lieutenant governor. The full Senate will have to vote on whether to elect Walker when it next meets, which is scheduled to be in January, but Walker will win the office with the support of the majority party. Until then the office will be vacant. Anavitarte becomes the majority leader as of Tuesday because that post only requires a vote of Republicans. He had been the majority caucus chair. Like Kennedy, Sen. Steve Gooch of Dahlonega had to step down because he's running for lieutenant governor. Republicans enacted a rule that senators could not hold a leadership position and run for higher office after 2022, when then-President Pro Tem Butch Miller, a Gainesville Republican, ran for lieutenant governor while serving as the chamber's highest ranking member against Burt Jones, then a senator from Jackson who held no leadership position. Miller forced votes on a number of bills to try to appeal to Republican voters, making a number of senators uncomfortable, even though Miller and Jones did not come into open conflict on the Senate floor. Miller lost the Republican primary to Jones, who was elected lieutenant governor in 2022. David Shafer, who served as president pro tem from 2013 to 2018, voluntarily stepped down from the post when he made an unsuccessful bid for lieutenant governor that year. Along with the lieutenant governor, Walker and Anavitarte will be steering a chamber where a large number of senators may be seeking higher office. Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves of Atlanta is running for governor and Jones is expected to seek the Republican nomination to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp, who can't run again after two terms. Five senators have expressed interest in running for lieutenant governor, with Republicans Blake Tillery of Vidalia and Greg Dolezal of Cumming eyeing the GOP race along with Gooch and Kennedy. Sen. Josh McLaurin is running as a Democrat. Two Republicans are running for attorney general — Sens. Bill Cowsert of Athens and Brian Strickland of McDonough . And Democrat Emanuel Jones has announced he's running for Congress.
Washington Post
02-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
John Kennedy, Georgia's top Senate Republican, joins race for lieutenant governor
ATLANTA — John Kennedy, the top-ranking Republican in Georgia's state Senate, on Monday joined a growing field of GOP candidates seeking to become the state's next lieutenant governor in 2026. Kennedy, a Macon lawyer, is banking on the support of Georgia's business community after helping pass a law this year limiting lawsuits and civil verdicts .
Associated Press
02-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
John Kennedy, Georgia's top Senate Republican, joins race for lieutenant governor
ATLANTA (AP) — John Kennedy, the top-ranking Republican in Georgia's state Senate, on Monday joined a growing field of GOP candidates seeking to become the state's next lieutenant governor in 2026. Kennedy, a Macon lawyer, is banking on the support of Georgia's business community after helping pass a law this year limiting lawsuits and civil verdicts. Burt Jones, the current Republican lieutenant governor, is expected to run for governor next year instead of seeking reelection. He's could announce his candidacy later this summer. Kennedy was first elected to the state Senate in 2014. Majority Republicans elected him president pro tem, the No. 2 position in the Senate, in 2023. Before that, Kennedy had been chair of the majority caucus and led the redrawing of legislative and congressional districts after the 2020 Census, securing Republican majorities. Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch of Dahlonega announced last month that he is running for lieutenant governor, saying he would model his candidacy on President Donald Trump. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Blake Tillery of Vidalia is raising money for a possible bid. Other Republicans could seek the office as well, including state Sen. Greg Dolezal, of Cumming. Kennedy didn't mention Trump in his announcement, saying his top priorities as lieutenant governor would be a strong economy, education and public safety. 'Georgians can be confident that my leadership will be focused on delivering conservative results, not empty rhetoric,' Kennedy said in a statement. 'And I know that by working together, we will keep Georgia growing, keep Georgia learning and keep Georgia safe.' This year, Kennedy sponsored a law that is meant to curb the number of student absences in schools. Like the onetime president, Kennedy's initials are JFK. But this 59-year-old Kennedy, born less than two years after the president was assassinated, is unrelated and bears the middle name of Flanders. Georgia's lieutenant governor presides over Senate sessions, but senators decide how much power the official has. When senators agree, lieutenant governors can be influential. As president pro tem, Kennedy already works with Jones to set the agenda for the Senate. On the Democratic side, the only declared candidate is state Sen. Josh McLaurin of Sandy Springs.
Washington Post
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Georgia Republicans look to rally behind a challenger to Sen. Jon Ossoff
ATLANTA — When Georgia's governor and a lightning-rod congresswoman decided last week to not run for the U.S. Senate, it seemed like the waiting game was over among Republicans seeking to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff . U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, who represents a district on the Georgia coast, had become the first major Republican candidate to declare when he announced on Thursday. Then, state Insurance Commissioner John King did the same on Monday.
