Will Hyundai raid tarnish Brian Kemp’s biggest economic development win?

When Gov. Brian Kemp unveiled a $7.6 billion Hyundai Motor Group deal in 2022, it was hailed as the largest economic development project in state history — and the centerpiece of his push to make Georgia the hub of U.S. electric vehicle manufacturing.

But last week’s federal immigration raid, which led to 475 arrests, jolted both Georgia politics and U.S.-South Korea relations. The Bryan County plant, backed by nearly $2 billion in taxpayer-funded incentives, is under sharp new scrutiny.

Kemp has long defended the deal, slammed by critics for its 10-figure perks and its reliance on green energy tax breaks backed by President Joe Biden and targeted by President Donald Trump. Now, the crown jewel of Kemp’s economic agenda is drawing more fire from within the GOP.

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins of Jackson, a leading GOP Senate candidate, mocked Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff’s support for the project, but didn’t mention Kemp. Awkwardly, an account backing former coach Derek Dooley — the Kemp-backed contender — echoed the attack.

The stakes go beyond Bryan County. Georgia is home to about 100 Korean-owned facilities employing 17,000 workers. South Korea is also the state’s third-largest trading partner at $17.5 billion a year. The governor has already made two trips there since he took office in 2019.

“Korea is not just a friend, but a key pillar of Georgia’s global economic strategy,” economic development chief Pat Wilson wrote recently in the AJC.

The politics are only intensifying. While Hyundai’s investment promises to create thousands of jobs and a transformed community, it has also strained the local water system, clogged local roads and worsened the shortage of affordable housing. Union leaders complain local workers have been sidelined for foreign contractors, deepening frustration in the community.

His longtime deputy, Gabriel Sterling, jumped into the race for secretary of state last week. Two other prominent Republicans — state Rep. Tim Fleming of Covington and business executive Kelvin King — are also competing for the GOP nod.

Attendees to the event hosted by Aaron McWhorter of NG Turf included: Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who is running for governor; Senate candidates U.S. Rep. Mike Collins of Jackson and former football coach Derek Dooley; and a half-dozen contenders for other offices. U.S. Rep. Brian Jack, R-Peachtree City, was also on hand, along with former Gov. Sonny Perdue, who’s now the chancellor of the University System of Georgia.

The federal government publishes dietary guidelines about alcohol use every five years. During President Donald Trump’s first term, he rejected a recommendation from a scientific advisory committee that men should drink less alcohol.

When President Joe Biden was in office, Republicans feared he would change those guidelines and ordered a study about alcohol use. The Biden administration ordered its own study.

Republicans were suspicious. U.S. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, subpoenaed the Biden administration entity that conducted the study — the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking. But the administration never produced the additional documents.

Now, an appropriations bill moving through Congress aims to strip the committee of its funding, saying the Biden administration improperly used it “to carry out activities related to adult alcohol consumption.”

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement announcement was still reverberating through the internet when Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee made his pitch on X by reminding the couple that his state “has some of the best wedding venues in the world, just saying.”

Not to be outdone, Georgia U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter told the “Politically Georgia” podcast last week that the couple should tie the knot in Savannah.

Celebrity weddings have generated more problems than praise lately, with the recent nuptials of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former journalist Lauren Sanchez prompting protests in Venice.

But the wedding of America’s premier power couple is sure to be different. For what its worth, Rhode Island appears to have the upper hand. Swift already owns a mansion there famous for hosting the singer’s annual Fourth of July parties.

The Sept. 15 event will cost $140 to get in the door. But if you’re feeling fancy, you could drop $25,000 to be a “presenting host” that comes with special recognition from the stage and access to a VIP reception.

Today on the “Politically Georgia” podcast, Republican state Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, joins the show to talk about his campaign for lieutenant governor, his record as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and his push to eliminate the state income tax. Then Georgia Behavioral Health Commissioner Kevin Tanner discusses Georgia’s suicide prevention hotline on 988 Day.

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Homicides in Georgia prisons are outpacing last year, which was one of the deadliest years on record, the AJC’s Chaya Tong reports.

That’ll do it for us today. As always, you can send your best scoops, gossip and insider info to greg.bluestein@ajc.com, tia.mitchell@ajc.com, patricia.murphy@ajc.com and adam.beam@ajc.com.