Betting on Georgia: why is sports wagering flooding GA House races?

Purposeful House candidate aims to flip GA 1

PLUS: We get a post-primary checkup on the Democrats' slate in Georgia from Atlanta-based strategist & Mike Collins will have a hard time beating Ossoff when he's unliked within GOP ranks Now that we're clear of the primary calendar (checks to make sure it's impossible there's any. more. run-offs) it's time to get to know some of the Democratic candidates throughout the state running for state and federal offices. Numerically, why not start in Georgia's 1st Congressional? Amanda Hollowell [https://www.amandaforga.com/] is the party's nominee; a well-known political strategist and the Chief of Campaigns at Color Of Change, the country’s largest online racial justice organization. I got to spend a lot of time learning about her, what's shaped her mindset and how her professional background and her raising a son who chimes in with his and his friends' views makes her a sharpened candidate to flip GA 1.- - - Atlanta-based political strategist/consultant Andrew Heaton popped on a call for a post-primary check-up of the Georgia Democratic Party's November slate, and to look at what the GOP counter candidacy looks like, too. One issue that may hobble Mike Collins is that he's unlikable even among prominent conservatives in the state [https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BLedaCrHL/], and the improprieties within his campaign and Congressional office [https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1153106269960316] may dog him throughout the general election cycle.

Saving the 7th: White seeks to be a 'caretaker' for GA's vacant Senate seat

PLUS: Kemp's 11th hour endorsement may test his political prowess for now and later. When Nabilah Parkes stepped away from use Georgia Senate seat to run for lieutenant governor, I believe she put personal aspiration ahead of party and constituents, which is why I can't vote for her today. That said, she couldn't have predicted the Supreme Court gutting the remnants of the Voting Rights Act to unleash another round of racial gerrymandering, but that's where we are, starting tomorrow. There's a run-off for that seat where two Democrats hope tobe on the general election ballot in November to take the office next January, but Republicans could win it today with a surge in turnout up-ballot aiding them. It's a three-alarm fire, and stepping up to try and save that Senate seat for Democrats is an unconventional candidate in Adrienne White-Carden [https://www.adrienneforgeorgia.com/]. She's a career woman, mother and wife who's worked behind the scenes on several campaigns and causes, and is now the face and name on campaign material. She joined me to discuss the moment, why it works for her and her family "just this once" and the uphill battle she and her campaign staff, volunteers and army of endorsers have had to wage in the lats week. - - - Elsewhere on the ballot, Republicans have to choose between "Daddy's (money) boy Burt" and Rick "the ick" Jackson - who now has backing from (ick!) Ted Cruz and the social media praise from Donald Trump Jr. (ick!). Meanwhile Burt netting an 11th hour endorsement from Governor Brian Kemp feels like a backhanded compliment of sorts but it and Kemp's backing of Derek Dooley in the US Senate primary seem to be early tests of Brian's political clout in the state he's governed [https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/16/georgia-brian-kemp-senate-governor-races-00962993] for two terms.

Betting on Georgia: why is sports wagering flooding GA House races?

Joining me to discuss - HD 62 candidate KaVon Arnold [https://www.kavonforgeorgia.com/], seeking to overcome not only a primary runoff opponent, but half a million in gaming PAC money, too. Also problematic is that her opponent, Ken Collier, doesn't have the kind of voting record that speaks to being a staunch (or even just present) Democrat. Anyhow, it was good to connect with KaVon; she's a great story of a hometown East Point / Tri-Cities grad who continues to re-invest in her community and school through good works. - - - The looming Iran / US / Israel "memorandum" doesn't pass the smell test, nor does warhawk Pete Hegseth's assertion that this deal is going to be so wonderul because we attacked them - preferable, I sppose, to not attacking them and just sticking to the JCPOA signed into existence by President Obama about twelve years ago before Trump withdrew us from it. But also, how significant will this deal even be? And while we're coming up with $300 billion to repair damage done in Iran, where's the money for Americans' having to endure spikes in fuel prices and the cost of goods?

Not a full 'Cup' in ATL or elsewhere yet | Nabilah may gain, but it could cost her party & constituents

World Cup hype is being met with hoteliers being less-than-impressed with bookings [https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/atlantas-world-cup-hotel-bookings-not-living-up-hype-tourism-officials-say]. Last summer, Beyonce' and baseball's All-Star game [https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/atlanta-hotels-arent-seeing-the-fifa-world-cup-booking-boom-many-expected/] seemed to outpace FIFA's marquee event, in Atlanta bookings. This isn't just an Atlanta malaise [https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c9q34pxv79eo], either. Who's to blame? A global economy stunted by war? ICE presence dampening spirits [https://www.ajc.com/sports/2026/06/with-ice-presence-some-atlanta-area-communities-wont-engage-in-world-cup/] in the Latino community? Maybe it's some combination of events, but it's hard to escape the ambivalence, writes the AJC's Ken Seguira [https://www.ajc.com/sports/2026/06/cant-help-but-feel-ambivalent-about-the-world-cup-in-atlanta/]. - - - With all the gaudiness of the UFC / Motorcross events at the White House, it's also kind of humorous that investigators are literally combing Washington Mall grass [https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2026/06/helicopter-circles-as-gloved-officers-test-grass-over-apparent-86-47-mall-message/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSY2SRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEetFK2LYYd3MAdVdP8x3cCt3nwvHEfb0x3WIg1te-9812jOH0MBnwVQYmK0VA_aem_30bbNN3QolBu8nm9Qq0Xjw] to figure out who's responsible for the appearance of the numbers 8,6, 4 and 7 in the grass. - - - High-profile GOP run-offs are giving an alarming edge to Republicans in Senate district 7 [https://georgiarecorder.com/2026/06/11/high-profile-races-boost-gop-turnout-spelling-trouble-for-democrats-in-one-georgia-senate-seat/] where the former Senator - Nabilah Parkes - exited early to make an 11th hour run for the nomination to be her party's lieutenant governor nominee. With Democrats needing every vote in a looming special session where new legislative maps will drawn and voted on. While the pivot may pay off for Parkes, it may have cost her party a Senate seat until next January, and through this pivotal special session.

Repubs on Platner lack self-awareness, but ... | Where's GA's commitment to MARTA?

Watching from afar as the Graham Platner situation continues to unfold, I'm both amused (by Kellyanne Conway and Trump's utter lack of self-awareness) and concerned that his being the Democratic nominee in Maine to unseat Susan Collins could make retaking the Senate a nailbiter. --- Meanwhile, Georgia Recorder scribe Jay Bookman joined me fresh from posting his latest op/ed: "Where is the state’s commitment to helping Atlanta’s public transit system succeed?" [https://georgiarecorder.com/2026/06/11/bookman-where-is-the-states-commitment-to-helping-atlantas-public-transit-system-succeed/] Valid question, indeed.