What does Johnny Isakson's retirement mean for Georgia in 2020?

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson announced Wednesday that he will step down at the end of the year. That means that in 2020 Georgia voters will cast ballots in two U.S. Senate races. Curtis Compton /ccompton@ajc.com

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson announced Wednesday that he will step down at the end of the year. That means that in 2020 Georgia voters will cast ballots in two U.S. Senate races. Curtis Compton /ccompton@ajc.com

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson announced earlier this week that he will step down from office at the end of 2019. In this episode, host Greg Bluestein and AJC editor Shannon McCaffrey share immediate reactions to Isakson's retirement and also dig into Isakson’s career to talk about why he is so well-respected in Georgia. The two also discuss how a second Georgia U.S. Senate seat on the ballot in 2020 impacts both state politics and Georgia's status as a battleground state ahead of the presidential election. Also, Gov. Brian Kemp will appoint a senator to Isakson’s seat, and Bluestein and McCaffrey discuss both the potential appointees and the potential impact of Kemp’s appointment.

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