When Governor Brian Kemp announced he would not run for U.S. Senate next year, he made it clear he didn’t want Georgia Republicans to fight in a messy primary. But his decision to bow out of the race may have opened the floodgates, as several Republicans with Senate aspirations have announced their candidacies.

On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali catch up on the fast-moving Republican primary to challenge Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff in 2026.

Plus, Democrats mark the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by reintroducing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, we discuss the future of MARTA and we take a look at what’s next for the push to legalize gambling in Georgia.

When Governor Brian Kemp announced he would not run for U.S. Senate next year, he made it clear he didn&rsquo;t want Georgia Republicans to fight in a messy primary. But his decision to bow out of the race may have opened the floodgates, as several Republicans with Senate aspirations have announced their candidacies.
On this week&rsquo;s episode of &ldquo;Plugged In,&rdquo; hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali catch up on the fast-moving Republican primary to challenge Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff in 2026.
Plus, Democrats mark the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by reintroducing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, we discuss the future of MARTA and we take a look at what&rsquo;s next for the push to legalize gambling in Georgia.

WABE’s Plugged Into Politics connects the latest headlines from the Georgia politics scene and how it matters in your daily life. Each week, Politics Reporter Rahul Bali talks with candidates, lawmakers, experts, voters and fellow reporters to bring you the information and context you need to better understand one of the most important states for politics in the country.

You can hear the show Friday mornings at 7:35am and 9:44am on Morning Edition and 5:44pm on All Things Considered or subscribe to the podcast with new episodes each Friday.

WABE&rsquo;s Plugged Into Politics connects the latest headlines from the Georgia politics scene and how it matters in your daily life. Each week, Politics Reporter Rahul Bali talks with candidates, lawmakers, experts, voters and fellow reporters to bring you the information and context you need to better understand one of the most important states for politics in the country.
You can hear the show Friday mornings at 7:35am and 9:44am on Morning Edition and 5:44pm on All Things Considered or subscribe to the podcast with new episodes each Friday.