Georgia Politics from the AJC

Georgia Politics

Georgia State Rep. Steve Tarvin, R-Chickamauga (left) greets Rep. Devan Seabaugh, R-Marietta, on the first day of the legislative session at the Capitol in Atlanta on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

The Georgia General Assembly begins the 2026 legislative session

The Georgia General Assembly gaveled in the first day of its 40-day legislative session Monday. See some of the highlights.

Activists press Georgia lawmakers to defend civil liberties

Will Georgia expand school cellphone ban? Most state bans include high schools.

Georgia gets $219 million to ‘transform’ rural health

Politically Georgia

POLITICALLY GEORGIA

US Senate confirms Georgia general after bipartisan push from Kemp, Warnock

Lt. Gen. Thomas Carden's appointment had been held up over opposition to President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard Troops to Los Angeles.

1h ago

LISTEN

‘Politically Georgia’ podcast: The 2026 legislative session begins

AJC journalists Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy discuss the first day of legislative session.

POLITICALLY GEORGIA

7 predictions for Georgia’s 2026 legislative session

The AJC's politics team foresees plenty of conflict for the legislative session that begins today at the Capitol in Atlanta. It's all a precursor to the midterms.

Your Politics Team

Michelle Baruchman

Michelle Baruchman covers the Georgia House of Representatives and statewide issues.

Michelle Baruchman

Michelle Baruchman covers the Georgia House of Representatives and statewide issues.

Adam Beam

Adam Beam helps write and edit the Politically Georgia morning newsletter.

Adam Beam

Adam Beam helps write and edit the Politically Georgia morning newsletter.

Greg Bluestein

Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter.

Greg Bluestein

Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter.

Caleb Groves

Caleb Groves is a general assignment reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's politics team and a Kennesaw State ...

Caleb Groves

Caleb Groves is a general assignment reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's politics team and a Kennesaw State ...

Chris Joyner

Joyner is the deputy politics editor.

Chris Joyner

Joyner is the deputy politics editor.

Shannon McCaffrey

Politics Editor

Shannon McCaffrey

Politics Editor

Natalie Mendenhall

Natalie Mendenhall is an award-winning producer for the "Politically Georgia" podcast.

Natalie Mendenhall

Natalie Mendenhall is an award-winning producer for the "Politically Georgia" podcast.

Tia Mitchell

Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the "Politically Georgia" podcast.

Tia Mitchell

Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the "Politically Georgia" podcast.

Patricia Murphy

Patricia Murphy is the AJC's senior political columnist.

Patricia Murphy

Patricia Murphy is the AJC's senior political columnist.

Maya T. Prabhu

Maya T. Prabhu covers the Georgia Senate and statewide issues as a government reporter for The AJC.

Maya T. Prabhu

Maya T. Prabhu covers the Georgia Senate and statewide issues as a government reporter for The AJC.

David Wickert

David Wickert writes about the state budget, finance and voting issues.

David Wickert

David Wickert writes about the state budget, finance and voting issues.

Georgia Legislative Session 2026

A view of desks at the House of Representatives at the Capitol in Atlanta on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. The chambers underwent a significant restoration following last year’s session. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Georgia lawmakers return to Atlanta for 2026 legislative session

The state’s lawmakers return to Atlanta Monday to kick off the second year of the two-year legislative session.

Will Georgia lawmakers revive any bills left unfinished in 2025?

Trump wants states to back down on AI laws. Will Georgia follow along?

‘Affordability’ is the political buzzword of 2026

Opinion and Voices

OPINION

The Stacey Abrams era in Georgia is over, for now

The move clears the way for new Democrats, for better and worse.

President-elect Donald Trump speaks at an America First Policy Institute gala at his residence Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday, November 14, 2024. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)

OPINION

Congress watches quietly as Trump flexes his foreign policy muscles

President Donald Trump says he prioritizes “America First.” But the definition of “America First” has definitely changed in 2026.

OPINION

Speaker Jon Burns lays out House priorities for crucial election year

Between politics, policy, and 180 members’ needs, being House speaker can look like a six-arm juggling act. But Speaker Jon Burns remains well-liked in the chamber,

Georgia General Assembly begins 2026 legislative session

The Georgia General Assembly begins the 2026 legislative session

Activists press Georgia lawmakers to defend civil liberties

Former Macon-Bibb commissioner launches lieutenant governor campaign

Georgia lawmakers return to Atlanta for 2026 legislative session

Will Georgia expand school cellphone ban? Most state bans include high schools.

Trump wants states to back down on AI laws. Will Georgia follow along?

Fulton County puts a $435,000 price tag on 2020 records

Georgia limits campaign donations — except when it doesn’t

State legislative leaders back separate tax relief plans

More AJC Politics

POLITICALLY GEORGIA

US Senate confirms Georgia general after bipartisan push from Kemp, Warnock

Lt. Gen. Thomas Carden's appointment had been held up over opposition to President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard Troops to Los Angeles.

1h ago

The Georgia General Assembly begins the 2026 legislative session

The Georgia General Assembly gaveled in the first day of its 40-day legislative session Monday. See some of the highlights.

Activists press Georgia lawmakers to defend civil liberties

Liberal demonstrators headed to the Capitol to advocate for policy priorities during the first day of Georgia's 2026 legislative session.

POLITICALLY GEORGIA

7 predictions for Georgia’s 2026 legislative session

The AJC's politics team foresees plenty of conflict for the legislative session that begins today at the Capitol in Atlanta. It's all a precursor to the midterms.

Former Macon-Bibb commissioner launches lieutenant governor campaign

Democrat Seth Clark, a former Macon-Bibb County commissioner and mayor pro tem, announces his plan to run for Georgia's lieutenant governor against state Sen. Josh McLaurin.

Georgia lawmakers return to Atlanta for 2026 legislative session

The state’s lawmakers return to Atlanta Monday to kick off the second year of the two-year legislative session.

LISTEN

‘Politically Georgia’ podcast: The 2026 legislative session begins

AJC journalists Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy discuss the first day of legislative session.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr (right) confers with state Sen. RaShaun Kemp, D-Atlanta, at the Wild Hog supper, the traditional kickoff to the legislative session in Atlanta, on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

PHOTOS: Georgia legislative session kicks off with Wild Hog Supper

Georgia lawmakers and officials gathered near the state Capitol for the 63rd annual Wild Hog Supper, which opens the legislative session.

Will Georgia expand school cellphone ban? Most state bans include high schools.

Georgia's K-8 ban will take effect in the 2026-2027 school year.

Georgia gets $219 million to ‘transform’ rural health

The grant is to be the first of five annually, and is meant to offset health care cuts in the federal spending plan.