Georgia’s “religious liberty” senator joins Secretary of State race

Georgia Sen. Josh McKoon, best-known for being one of the General Assembly's leading proponents of "religious liberty" legislation and a champion of strengthening ethics laws, made it official Thursday that he's running for Secretary of State in 2018.

McKoon is one of several Republicans, including Reps. Buzz Brockway, R-Lawrenceville, and Brad Raffensperger, R-Johns Creek, and Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle, who have joined the race to replace Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Former Rockdale County Tax Commissioner R.J. Hadley is running for the Democratic Party nomination.

Kemp is running for governor instead of re-election in 2018.

McKoon filed the paperwork to begin raisng money and posted a message on Facebook Thursday.

McKoon, a Columbus Republican, announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election to his Senate seat. There had been speculation in the past that he’d run for governor or attorney general, but he passed on both races.

McKoon has gained enemies among fellow lawmakers and statehouse lobbyists for his outspokenness on many issues, including Capitol ethics, and for pushing for more openness in how the General Assembly operates.

About the Author

They are Congress’ front-line workers. Now they are doing it for no pay.

Every member of Georgia's delegation team has a team of caseworkers now working without pay as they continue to field constituents' requests for help.

Republicans running for Georgia secretary of state are still split on 2020

Candidates' views on the 2020 election are shaping the race for state’s top election official.

New Georgia Project shuts down, ending a decade of political influence in state

Founded in 2013, the organization was credited with registering tens of thousands of left-leaning voters who helped turn Georgia into a political battleground.

The Latest

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

They are Congress’ front-line workers. Now they are doing it for no pay.

Republicans running for Georgia secretary of state are still split on 2020

Georgia has $14.6 billion in reserves. What to do with it?

Featured

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Inside the team that transforms State Farm Arena overnight, from games to concerts

State Farm Arena's conversion team assembles and reassembles the basketball court, constructs and deconstructs stages, arranges and rearranges floor seating for each event.

Some ‘No Kings’ protests may snarl traffic Saturday. Here’s how to get around.

"No Kings" protests are scheduled within metro Atlanta Saturday, and some have the potential to tie up traffic. Here's how to get around some of the larger ones.

Georgia students still outpacing national average on ACT. See results by school.

Find out how your child's school and district performed on the college entrance exam.