McLaurin discusses path to Dem majority in Senate, calls out Vance flip-flop
In Thursday’s episode of the “Politically Georgia” podcast, Atlanta Journal-Constitution journalists Patricia Murphy and Greg Bluestein interviewed state Sen. Josh McLaurin about his newly launched campaign for lieutenant governor.
“If I were to win in 2026, that would be a four-year project and a leadership position to help fundraise, to help move the Senate Democratic caucus towards a majority,” said the Sandy Springs Democrat.
McLaurin, who has been vocal about the actions of the Trump administration in its first 100 days, also revisited his time as a college roommate of JD Vance at Yale Law School.
Before Trump’s election in 2016, McLaurin said he received a text from Vance suggesting Trump could be “America’s Hitler.” After Trump endorsed Vance’s run for U.S. Senate in 2022, McLaurin publicized the text.
“I very publicly lamented [Vance’s] trajectory in flipping on Trump. And so that’s been an interesting part of my journey,” said McLaurin.
Later in the podcast, AJC Washington Bureau Chief Tia Mitchell and AJC Editor-in-Chief Leroy Chapman reflect on World Press Freedom Day and the pressures faced by the media, from attacks by President Donald Trump to the challenges of artificial intelligence.
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About the Author
Natalie Mendenhall is an award-winning producer for the "Politically Georgia" podcast. She also steps in front of the mic, creating compelling segments for the show. Before joining the AJC, the Chicago native worked as a senior producer at Georgia Public Broadcasting.
