On this live edition of Political Breakfast, we cover how two-time Democratic nominee for governor Stacey Abrams announced that she is not running for office in 2026.

Abrams said in a statement that instead she'll continue her work fighting against what's happening in Washington, as "since January 2025, we have watched our nation descend into authoritarianism.”

There's already a crowded field on the Democratic side, including familiar names like former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam react. 

Plus, a quick look ahead at some priorities for Georgia's 2026 legislative session, which starts on Monday.

On this live edition of Political Breakfast, we cover how two-time Democratic nominee for governor Stacey Abrams announced that she is not running for office in 2026.
Abrams said in a statement that instead she'll continue her work fighting against what's happening in Washington, as "since January 2025, we have watched our nation descend into authoritarianism.&rdquo;
There's already a crowded field on the Democratic side, including familiar names like former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam react.&nbsp;
Plus, a quick look ahead at some priorities for Georgia's 2026 legislative session, which starts on Monday.

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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Stacey Abrams will NOT run for Governor in 2026, Legislative session priorities

On this edition of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam, to talk about the latest candidate to jump into Georgia's gubernatorial race. 

It's already a crowded race on both sides. Now billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, founder and CEO of Alpharetta-based Jackson Healthcare, has made a million-dollar splash. 

But will Jackson's spending power be able to compete with high-profile names in the Republican primary, including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who has the endorsement of President Donald Trump, as well as Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger?

On this edition of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam, to talk about the latest candidate to jump into Georgia's gubernatorial race.&nbsp;
It's already a crowded race on both sides. Now billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, founder and CEO of Alpharetta-based Jackson Healthcare, has made a million-dollar splash.&nbsp;
But will Jackson's spending power be able to compete with high-profile names in the Republican primary, including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who has the endorsement of President Donald Trump, as well as Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger?

Billionaire businessman joins Georgia Governor's race

On this week's Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson, along with prominent lawmakers like Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, traveled to Sea Island for a state Department of Natural Resources fundraiser. 

However, the talk of the benefit was the recent FBI raid in Fulton County, and the seizure of 2020 election records. 

Republicans like Raffensperger are breaking their silence on the issue, urging the GOP to stop trying to "rerun" President Donald Trump's 2020 election grievances. Trump has repeatedly insisted the 2020 election was stolen, despite multiple recounts and audits confirming his loss to former President Joe Biden. 

Plus, legislation to ban phones and other electronic devices in Georgia public high schools is underway at the Gold Dome this week. 

House Bill 1009 would ban devices starting in the 2027-28 school year.

On this week's Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson, along with prominent lawmakers like Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, traveled to Sea Island for a state Department of Natural Resources fundraiser.&nbsp;
However, the talk of the benefit was the recent FBI raid in Fulton County, and the seizure of 2020 election records.&nbsp;
Republicans like Raffensperger are breaking their silence on the issue, urging the GOP to stop trying to "rerun" President Donald Trump's 2020 election grievances. Trump has repeatedly insisted the 2020 election was stolen, despite multiple recounts and audits confirming his loss to former President Joe Biden.&nbsp;
Plus, legislation to ban phones and other electronic devices in Georgia public high schools is underway at the Gold Dome this week.&nbsp;
House Bill 1009 would ban devices starting in the 2027-28 school year.

Fulton officials to strike back on Trump ordering FBI raid of elections hub, Georgia high school cell phone bans

On this week's latest edition of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam, to talk about some jarring election news. 

The FBI raided Fulton County’s election operations center Wednesday in Union City, in a search for voting records tied to the 2020 election. 

President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted the election was stolen, with a particular focus on ballots in Fulton County. That's despite multiple recounts and audits confirming his loss to former President Joe Biden. 

Georgia Democrats and Fulton elections officials are blasting the raid, where 700 boxes of 2020 election records were taken. The Democratic Party of Georgia chair Charlie Bailey called Trump's governance "increasingly manic." Georgia Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff called the raid Trump's "sore loser's crusade."

Tharon and Brian respond to the question: Is this return to Trump's political grievances from more than 5 years ago, going to damage the Republican party?

On this week's latest edition of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam, to talk about some jarring election news.&nbsp;
The FBI raided Fulton County&rsquo;s election operations center Wednesday in Union City, in a search for voting records tied to the 2020 election.&nbsp;
President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted the election was stolen, with a particular focus on ballots in Fulton County. That's despite multiple recounts and audits confirming his loss to former President Joe Biden.&nbsp;
Georgia Democrats and Fulton elections officials are blasting the raid, where 700 boxes of 2020 election records were taken. The Democratic Party of Georgia chair Charlie Bailey called Trump's governance "increasingly manic." Georgia Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff called the raid Trump's "sore loser's crusade."
Tharon and Brian respond to the question: Is this return to Trump's political grievances from more than 5 years ago, going to damage the Republican party?

Stacey Abrams will NOT run for Governor in 2026, Legislative session priorities

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