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Herschel Walker and Raphael Warnock Tied in Senate Runoff Poll

Matt OHern
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Herschel Walker and Raphael Warnock Tied in Senate Runoff Poll

According to a recent poll by COMPETE Digital, Georgia’s U.S. Senate Runoff Election remains in statistical dead heat, with incumbent Democrat Raphael Warnock (D) and his challenge, Republican candidate Herschel Walker, each getting 50 percent of likely voters’ support. The survey polled 939 likely Georgia voters and had a margin of error of 3.1%.

With Republican hopes of a red wave in the 2022 Mid-Term Election dashed, Georgia’s runoff result won’t swing Senate control, but the outcome could keep certain bills in limbo on close votes if one or two Democrats known as swing voters, such as West Virginia’s Democratic Senator Joe Manchin or Arizona’s Kristen Sinema, who may side with Republicans against an effort to abolish the filibuster. (To learn more about the filibuster, listen to this voter-friendly explanation of the filibuster from Georgia political talk show host Ben Burnett.)

Should Herschel Walker unseat Warnock. Democrats will have at least a tie-breaking vote with Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaker. Should Warnock emerge again as the victor of a close runoff election, Democrats would gain a two-vote lead, and Harris’ vote wouldn’t be necessary.

WARNOCK ENJOYS SLIGHT ADVANTAGE WITH INDEPENDENTS

The survey showed Warnock leading among independent voters, gaining 52% of support, while Walker led among supporters of Libertarian Chase Oliver, gaining 67% of support, but Oliver’s vote share only counted for 2.1% of all votes. Georgia voters don’t register by party, but it’s fair to say that at least 25% of them would be considered independent if they were forced to self identify.

Turnout in runoff elections is generally lower than in general elections, making “get out the vote” efforts to return original supporters to vote essential, per former Georgia State Senate President pro tempore Eric Johnson.

WALKER PORTRAYED AS MENTALLY UNFIT IN NEW AD

Warnock’s campaign took a page out of the Republican playbook against Biden. Earlier this week, Warnock’s campaign released a new ad titled, “Embarrassing”, showing lowlights of Walker’s speeches, including several verbal gaffes and incoherent quotes. Warnock’s attempt to portray Walker as mentally unfit for office mimics messaging that has been used against Biden dating back to the start of his 2020 candidacy. Footage in the ad showcases Walker speaking about vampire movies, pregnant cows and how “our good air decided to float over to China’s bad air.”

The ad’s transcript reads:

“I’m Raphael Warnock and I approve this message. You ever watch a stupid movie late at night? You’re going to get better. Don’t get better. But you keep watching it. Anyway. I was watching this movie watching this movie called Fright Night Free Tonight and some kind of a night, but it’s about vampires, vampires, some people, what the hell is he talking about? A real wild wolf can kill a vampire. Did you know that? I never knew that? So I don’t want to be a vampire anymore. I want to be a werewolf. You’re serious about this, right? So I’ve been telling this little story about this bull out in the field. Six cars, three of them are pregnant. There’s no substance, there’s nothing. So you know, you got something going on. It makes me want to laugh and then it makes me think we’re in trouble. I was decided to china. So when china gets out there, no one’s watching this and being like, oh man, that guy’s got it together. It is embarrassing. Let’s call it what it is. It is embarrassing.”

New Book on Ron DeSantis Set to Release in February

Matt OHern
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New Book on Ron DeSantis Set to Release in February

With a landslide re-election victory in his rearview mirror, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is back in the national spotlight thanks to news about an upcoming book. HarperCollins Publishers’s Broadside Books is publishing DeSantis’ memoir, titled: “The Courage to Be Free”, which is scheduled for release on, Feb. 28, 2023.

Below is a description of the book, provided by HarperCollins: No American leader has accomplished more for his state than Governor Ron DeSantis. Now, he reveals how he did it.

He played baseball for Yale, graduated with honors from Harvard Law School, and served in Iraq and in the halls of Congress. But in all these places, Ron DeSantis learned the same lesson: He didn’t want to be part of the leftist elite.

His heart was always for the people of Florida, one of the most diverse and culturally rich states in the union. Since becoming governor of the sunshine state, he has fought —and won—battle after battle, defeating not just opposition from the political left, but a barrage of hostile media coverage proclaiming the end of the world.

When he implemented evidence-based and freedom-focused COVID-19 policies, the press launched a smear campaign against him, yet Florida’s economy thrived, its education system outperformed the nation, and its COVID mortality rate for seniors was lower than that in 38 states. When he enacted policies to keep leftist political concepts like critical race theory and woke gender ideology out of Florida’s classrooms, the media demagogued his actions, but parents across Florida rallied to his cause. Dishonest attacks from the media don’t deter him. In fact, DeSantis keeps racking up wins for Floridians.

A firsthand account from the blue-collar boy who grew up to take on Disney and Dr. Fauci, The Courage to Be Free delivers something no other politician’s memoir has before: stories of victory. This book is a winning blueprint for patriots across the country. And it is a rallying cry for every American who wishes to preserve our liberties.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Announces Senior Staff

Press Release
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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Announces Senior Staff

Below is a release from the office of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp:

Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced the following senior staff appointees for his second term:

▪ Current Chief of Staff Trey Kilpatrick, Executive Counsel David Dove, and Office of Planning and Budget Director and Chief Financial Officer Kelly Farr will remain in their positions.

▪ Deputy Chief of Staff Bert Brantley will depart the Governor’s Office to become President and CEO of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, effective February 1. Current Chief Operating Officer (COO) Lauren Curry will continue her service to the state by stepping into the Deputy Chief of Staff role, overseeing state agency operations and Governor’s Office communications.

▪ Brad Bohannon will continue in his role as Director of Government Affairs and Policy and will take on additional external affairs responsibilities.

▪ Current Deputy COO and Deputy Executive Counsel Kristyn Long will serve as Chief Operating Officer.

“My administration greatly appreciates the sound advice we have received these past several years with a team that has excelled in the face of unprecedented times,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “I will continue to benefit from their knowledge and dedication in my next term. I especially want to thank Bert Brantley for his thoughtful counsel and leadership throughout some of the greatest challenges our state has ever faced. For three administrations, he has devoted his time, talent, and energy to the people of Georgia. As both a colleague and a friend, I appreciate all of his contributions and I know he will continue to make us proud as he brings even more jobs and opportunity to the coastal region. We are looking forward to the continued service of Trey, David, Kelly, Lauren, Brad, and Kristyn as they continue to help us keep Georgia the best state to live, work, and raise a family.”

Trey Kilpatrick serves as Chief of Staff for the Governor’s Office. He joined Governor Kemp’s administration in 2020 after 10 years serving U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson in various roles, including deputy chief of staff, senior advisor, political director, state director and campaign manager. Prior to his time with Isakson, Kilpatrick was a vice president for Morgan Keegan & Co., Inc., an Atlanta-based investment firm.

Kilpatrick earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and resides in Atlanta with his wife and three children.

David Dove serves as Executive Counsel for the Governor’s Office. He previously served as Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel for then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Dove has also worked as an attorney at Robbins Alloy Belinfante Littlefield in Atlanta.

Originally from Athens, Dove remains active on campus at the University of Georgia where he earned his undergraduate and juris doctorate degrees. He and his family now live in Marietta, where he served as chairman of the city’s Ethics Committee from 2017-2019. He also represents the State of Georgia as a commissioner on the Uniform Law Commission.

Patrick “Kelly” Farr serves as Director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget and Chief Financial Officer. He has significant expertise in business development from his work at Lucent Technologies and Capgemini. In these prior roles, Farr worked extensively with various state agencies to implement technological advances and improve constituent service. Farr also previously served as Deputy Secretary of State for the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office where he was responsible for budget management and oversight of daily operations.

Farr holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Augusta University. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Cumming with their two children.

Lauren Curry currently serves as Chief Operating Officer in the Office of Governor Brian Kemp and will step into the Deputy Chief of Staff role. She previously served as Director of Government Affairs and Policy for Governor Kemp.

Prior to joining the Governor’s Office, Curry served as Deputy Director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Chief of Staff for the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Special Projects Director at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and press aide to Governor Sonny Perdue.

Curry earned a bachelor’s degree in Government and Business Economics from Wofford College and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Georgia.

Brad Bohannon is the Director of Government Affairs and Policy in the Office of Governor Brian Kemp. He previously served as Vice President of Government Affairs at the Georgia Lottery. Prior to his service in state government, he was Chief of Staff to former Congressman Lynn Westmoreland. He also previously served in Government Relations with Georgia EMC.

Bohannon earned a degree in Consumer Economics from the University of Georgia and resides in Newnan with his wife and two children.

Kristyn Long currently serves as Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Executive Counsel in the Office of Governor Brian Kemp and will become Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining the Governor’s staff in February 2020, she worked in private practice, focusing on civil litigation, probate litigation, and estate planning.

Long holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. She and her husband reside in Ball Ground.

Mississippi Senator Wicker Hails Greater Broadband Access

Matt OHern
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Mississippi Senator Wicker Hails Greater Broadband Access

Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker released a statement about the FCC’s new maps paving the way for more broadband coverage in rural areas. His full statement is below.

“Few things have changed our world like the internet. Today, millions of Americans use the web to find jobs, get an education, manage their savings, read the news, and stay in touch with family and friends. Unfortunately, too many Mississippians do not enjoy these benefits because they lack access to a broadband connection. This disparity exists because federal broadband investment has gone mainly to cities, leaving many rural areas behind. Since coming to Congress, I have fought consistently to change this trend and bring faster broadband to our unserved and underserved communities, and I have used my leadership role on the Senate Commerce Committee to advance this goal. Recently, one of my top legislative priorities came to fruition, paving the way for better internet access across Mississippi.

On November 18, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released new and improved broadband maps showing where broadband is available and at what speeds. These maps were greatly needed after years of flawed reporting. In 2018, for example, the FCC claimed that Mississippi enjoyed 98 percent mobile broadband coverage – an absurd claim to anyone who has lived or traveled in rural Mississippi. This flawed data made it harder for us to receive federal the broadband investments we needed. To fix this problem, I authored the Broadband DATA Act, which requires the FCC to create more accurate maps and to update them regularly. Congress passed the bill into law in 2020, resulting in the newly released maps. Because of this pivotal law, Mississippi is now in a much stronger position to attract broadband investment.

FCC Needs to Hear From Mississippians

The FCC’s new maps are a big step forward, but they are still far from perfect. According to some reports, whole communities are still missing from the maps. It is crucial that we make every effort to fix these errors by providing feedback to the FCC. The good news is that any resident can now easily challenge the maps if they believe their broadband coverage is being misreported. If a challenge is successful, the FCC will be required to fix the map.

Getting these maps right is critical because they will determine where future broadband efforts are focused. For example, when the FCC awards broadband dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, it will allocate them based on what the maps look like in June 2023. This short time horizon makes it urgent that we file challenges as soon as possible. I encourage all Mississippians to check their home or business address on the FCC maps website. Simply go to broadbandmap.fcc.gov, then type in the address and see if the reported coverage is accurate. Residents can submit a challenge by clicking “Location Challenge” if the location is missing or “Availability Challenge” if the coverage information is incorrect.

Broadband Money Coming to Mississippi

As a negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I helped secure a minimum of $100 million in broadband funding for Mississippi. In addition to these funds, Mississippi will continue to benefit from targeted investments from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and the USDA’s Reconnect program, which recently awarded $30 million to seven rural counties in Mississippi. This investment will bring high-speed internet to an estimated 11,000 people, 100 businesses, and 367 farms. As long as rural areas continue to be underserved, I will keep using every tool at my disposal to bring broadband to every corner of Mississippi.

Trump Calls McConnell ‘Loser’ Following Criticism for Hosting Nick Fuentes, Kanye West

Matt OHern
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Trump Calls McConnell ‘Loser’ Following Criticism for Hosting Nick Fuentes, Kanye West

During an interview this morning on Fox News, former President Donald Trump took the opportunity to swing back at Kentucky Senator and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

“Mitch is a loser for our nation and for the Republican Party who would not have been re-elected in Kentucky without my endorsement, which he begged me for because he was going down”, Trump said. Trump went on to add:

“His well-financed opponent had $93 million ready to spend when I drove him from two points down to 21 points up in a matter of days.”

Trump’s scathing commentary came in response to McConnell joining a growing list of Republicans condemning Trump’s decision to host a dinner at Mar-a-lago with a white supremacist named Nick Fuentes. In response to the dinner between Trump and Fuentes, McConnell said there is no room in the Republican Party for antisemitism or white supremacy. And anyone meeting with people advocating that point of view, in my judgment, are highly unlikely to ever be elected president of the United States.

Other notable quotes from Trump’s interview on Fox News included denial of any foreknowledge of Fuentes background. “I had no idea what his views were, and they weren’t expressed at the table in our very quick dinner, or it wouldn’t have been accepted.”

Trump also defended his support of Israel. “Nobody has to prove or be defensive of me and Israel,” he added. “They have acknowledged that I’m the best friend and president to Israel.”

United State’s diplomatic relationships with Israel underwent a remarkable transition during Trump’s first year in office. In December of 2017, Trump announced that the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and ordered the planning of the relocation of Israel’s U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It should also be noted that Trump and his administration, including former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, were staunch supporters of Israel throughout every conflict with Palestine.

Moore Capito Announces Candidacy for West Virginia Governor

Matt OHern
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Moore Capito Announces Candidacy for West Virginia Governor

Republican Moore Capito announced he is running in West Virginia’s 2024 Gubernatorial Election. Capito is the the son of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and grandson of former Gov. Arch Moore. West Virginia Metro News reported Capito’s campaign announcement.

Sitting Gov. Jim Justice, a fellow Republican, can’t run for a third term due to the state’s term limits.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves Ends Jackson Water Crisis State of Emergency

Matt OHern
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Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves Ends Jackson Water Crisis State of Emergency

Earlier today, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeve’s office published a statement announcing the end of the State of Emergency for the city of Jackson’s water crisis. The full statement is below.

JACKSON, Miss. – Governor Reeves issued an Executive Order officially ending the August 30, 2022, State of Emergency surrounding the City of Jackson and surrounding areas of Hinds County that receive water from the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant effective 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22, 2022.
 
In late August, with a nearly month-long boil water alert in place, and the two primary raw water pumps at O.B. Curtis previously removed for repairs and out of commission, the total collapse of the City’s water system was imminent. Governor Reeves declared a State of Emergency in response to this situation.
 
As the Executive Order notes, “in less than 72 hours after the emergency was declared, water pressure was returned to the City of Jackson, and in less than 15 days the boil water alert was lifted.”
 
Following the state’s intervention in the crisis, the Environmental Protection Agency has now determined that the water from both the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant and the J.H. Fewell water Treatment Plant safe to drink.
 
Furthermore, the Jackson City Council has unanimously approved an agreement with the federal government regarding appointing a third-party administrator to operate the city’s water system.
 
“I’m incredibly thankful to the folks at the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Mississippi State Department of Health, and the Mississippi National Guard who worked tirelessly to restore clean water to the residents of Jackson and respond to this emergency situation. They have made countless repairs, brought in new equipment, and done heroic work,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “The only remaining imminent challenge is the city’s refusal to hire routine maintenance staff, and that cannot constitute a state emergency. We need new leadership at the helm so that this crisis of incompetence cannot continue.
 
“It is also clear that the federal government is working to ensure that Jackson political leadership does not have the authority to mismanage the water system any further. That process needs to be completed, and it needs to be completed quickly. As the justification for an emergency under state statute no longer exists and in order for that momentum to continue, we need to stick with our deadline to end our State of Emergency and our operating of the city’s water system for them. I am hopeful that the federal government’s efforts to take control away from incompetent hands will wrap up swiftly.”
 
The Executive Order can be read in full here.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Slams Trump for Meeting with White Supremacist

Matt OHern
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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Slams Trump for Meeting with White Supremacist

A story in today’s Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp criticized former President Donald Trump’s dinner party with Nick Fuentes.

“Racism, antisemitism and denial of the Holocaust have no place in the Republican Party and are completely un-American.” nation’s most prominent white nationalist figure,” said Kemp.

WHO IS NICK FUENTES?

Nick Fuentes is a political commentator who gained a national online following, with an audience that primarily consisted of white supremacists and holocaust deniers who shared his views.  Fuentes celebrated the Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan, has collaborated with Neo-Nazi leaders and also attended a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va. In YouTube removed Fuentes’ channel in 2020, citing violations of their hate speech policy. Fuentes self-identifies as a member of the involuntary celibate and as Catholic integralist, however he has no official ties to any catholic leadership nor is he supported or endorsed by any Catholic church. In 2017, Fuentes said hat “a tidal wave of white identity is coming,” he has cast doubt on whether the Holocaust took place, and he has said that the era of Jim Crow segregation and racial terrorism against Black people in America was “better for them.”

UPDATE: Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy Joins Kemp in Condemning Trump’s Meeting with Fuentes.

Earlier today, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) tweeted his disapproval and condemnation of Trump’s meeting with Fuentes. The Tweet reads:

“President Trump hosting racist antisemites for dinner encourages other racist antisemites. These attitudes are immoral and should not be entertained. This is not the Republican Party.”

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