On today's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam and are honing-in on next week's candidate qualifying period for the 2026 General Election cycle. 

The period runs from next Monday to Friday. Candidates have until then to officially qualify for state races like Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and Attorney General.

All Georgia Senators, Georgia Representatives and U.S. Representatives are up for re-election this year. So is one U.S. Senate seat, held by Democrat Jon Ossoff. 

On today's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam and are honing-in on next week's candidate qualifying period for the 2026 General Election cycle.&nbsp;
The period runs from next Monday to Friday. Candidates have until then to officially qualify for state races like Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and Attorney General.
All Georgia Senators, Georgia Representatives and U.S. Representatives are up for re-election this year. So is one U.S. Senate seat, held by Democrat Jon Ossoff.&nbsp;

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning on the Political Breakfast podcast, veteran Atlanta journalist Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, and Republican strategist Brian Robinson deliver Georgia’s best analysis of local politics with a weekly dose of informed, respectful and lively discussion.

During Georgia’s state legislative session, Political Breakfast presents the pop-up podcast Gold Dome Scramble every Friday morning as host Lisa Rayam talks with reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali from the WABE newsroom to break things down for our listeners — the issues being considered, and the bills getting sorted through various committees at the Georgia State Capitol.

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning on the&nbsp;Political Breakfast&nbsp;podcast, veteran Atlanta journalist Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, and Republican strategist Brian Robinson deliver Georgia’s best analysis of local politics with a weekly dose of informed, respectful and lively discussion.During Georgia’s state legislative session,&nbsp;Political Breakfast&nbsp;presents the pop-up podcast&nbsp;Gold Dome Scramble&nbsp;every Friday morning as host Lisa Rayam talks with reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali from the WABE newsroom to break things down for our listeners — the issues being considered, and the bills getting sorted through various committees at the Georgia State Capitol.

Political Breakfast from WABE

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Georgia federal and state candidates prepare to qualify for major races next week

On today's live edition of Political Breakfast, we're addressing a surprise move during a special session called by Governor Brian Kemp. 

The plan was to redraw Georgia's congressional and state legislative districts. That's in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gutted a key portion in the Voting Rights Act on redistricting.
Now critics say Republican-held states across the South could likely redraw their maps and put seats typically held by Democrats at risk. 

But yesterday, Republican House leaders wrote a letter to Kemp, and decided that changes to the maps will not happen this summer during the session. They cite the changes should only happen after a deliberative process, providing the public enough time for input. 

Democrats are celebrating the news. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is one of them. He, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam break down the news.

On today's live edition of Political Breakfast, we're addressing a surprise move during a special session called by Governor Brian Kemp.&nbsp;
The plan was to redraw Georgia's congressional and state legislative districts. That's in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gutted a key portion in the Voting Rights Act on redistricting. Now critics say Republican-held states across the South could likely redraw their maps and put seats typically held by Democrats at risk.&nbsp;
But yesterday, Republican House leaders wrote a letter to Kemp, and decided that changes to the maps will not happen this summer during the session. They cite the changes should only happen after a deliberative process, providing the public enough time for input.&nbsp;
Democrats are celebrating the news. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is one of them. He, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam break down the news.

Georgia Republicans say for now, NO redistricting before the 2028 elections

After months of candidates stumping for high-profile endorsements, spending millions of dollars on attack ads and traveling across the state, today's the day. 

The polls are open for Georgia's primary runoff election. 

Some of the most contentious races are on the Republican ballot, including the runoffs for U.S. Senate and Governor. 

One race that's gotten some extra attention this week: the race for Democrat Jon Ossoff's U.S. Senate seat. President Donald Trump gave an 11th-hour endorsement of current Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins. But strategists ask: why so late? Trump posted his endorsement on Truth Social at 1 am on Sunday. 

The runoff election pits Collins against Republican Derek Dooley, a former football coach at the University of Tennessee, who has the support of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.

How will the Kemp versus Trump endorsement play-out among voters? Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam discuss. 

After months of candidates stumping for high-profile endorsements, spending millions of dollars on attack ads and traveling across the state, today's the day.&nbsp;
The polls are open for Georgia's primary runoff election.&nbsp;
Some of the most contentious races are on the Republican ballot, including the runoffs for U.S. Senate and Governor.&nbsp;
One race that's gotten some extra attention this week: the race for Democrat Jon Ossoff's U.S. Senate seat. President Donald Trump gave an 11th-hour endorsement of current Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins. But strategists ask: why so late? Trump posted his endorsement on Truth Social at 1 am on Sunday.&nbsp;
The runoff election pits Collins against Republican Derek Dooley, a former football coach at the University of Tennessee, who has the support of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
How will the Kemp versus Trump endorsement play-out among voters? Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam discuss.&nbsp;

Georgians race to the polls today for primary runoff election, late Trump endorsement shakes-up GOP race

On this week's Political Breakfast, we're starting off with an increasingly contentious local race ahead of the June primary runoff elections: the race for Fulton County Commission Chair. 

Longtime incumbent Robb Pitts is being challenged by former District 4 Commissioner Mo Ivory. Recent debates between the two have been fiery and full of personal attacks. 

One issue voters are bringing up is age. Pitts is now in his mid-80s. How does ageism play into these elections -- from the Fulton Commission Chair, all the way up to the Georgia governor's race? Do these attacks on age have merit?

Plus, Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is now focusing his campaign for governor on safety concerns for Atlanta MARTA riders. 

That's after President Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the feds are launching an investigation into how MARTA spends its money. The transit authority has dealt with a series of violent incidents just weeks ahead of the FIFA World Cup. 

Democratic strategist and attorney Anré Washington is here filling-in for strategist Tharon Johnson this week. Washington, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam sort through this.

On this week's Political Breakfast, we're starting off with an increasingly contentious local race ahead of the June primary runoff elections: the race for Fulton County Commission Chair.&nbsp;
Longtime incumbent Robb Pitts is being challenged by former District 4 Commissioner Mo Ivory. Recent debates between the two have been fiery and full of personal attacks.&nbsp;
One issue voters are bringing up is age. Pitts is now in his mid-80s. How does ageism play into these elections -- from the Fulton Commission Chair, all the way up to the Georgia governor's race? Do these attacks on age have merit?
Plus, Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is now focusing his campaign for governor on safety concerns for Atlanta MARTA riders.&nbsp;
That's after President Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the feds are launching an investigation into how MARTA spends its money. The transit authority has dealt with a series of violent incidents just weeks ahead of the FIFA World Cup.&nbsp;
Democratic strategist and attorney Anr&eacute; Washington is here filling-in for strategist Tharon Johnson this week. Washington, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam sort through this.

Georgia federal and state candidates prepare to qualify for major races next week

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