2022 was an iconic year for Georgia politics. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp defeated his primary challenge and rematch with Democrat Stacey Abrams to win his second term. Georgia was once again in the public eye in the US Senate runoff, with Democrat Raphael Warnock reelected in his one of the country’s most high-profile elections.
Congress has passed a flurry of major bills, including new laws on guns, mental health and schools. Georgia’s roughly six-week abortion ban has also gone into effect, new redistricting maps have been implemented, and a special grand jury in Fulton County has begun investigating Donald his former Trump presidency.
All these developments animate what will happen in 2023. Here’s what the WABE political team has in mind for the new year.
1. Power player
The ruling party will remain the same, but the Georgia legislature will be steered by a new Republican leader. Rep. John Burns will succeed the late David Ralston, who died suddenly in November, as the powerful Speaker of the House of Representatives. For years he has guided the room with a steady hand. In the state Senate across the Capitol, Republican Bart Jones takes the lead as Georgia’s new lieutenant governor.
Meanwhile, Kemp is no longer in the first term as he is up for re-election. How will his priorities and approach change in his second term as leader?
Congress could take up bills on electric cars, gambling, mental health, elections, abortion and taxes. We’ll have a better sense of what’s on the docket after the session begins on January 9.
2. Impact of the 2022 election
Days after the US Senate runoff ballot in December, Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger called on Congress to end the general election runoff.
Georgia is one of two states with a runoff vote in a general election left over from an era of segregation. If Congress is held accountable, it could eliminate Georgia’s 50% voting standard entirely, lower it, or adopt ranked choice voting.
Alternatively, state Rep. Jasmine Clark pre-sent a bill to extend the run-off period from four to six weeks, lengthening the period for early voting and easing long lines.
And after the midterm elections finally ended in December’s Senate runoff ballot, if you thought Georgia was finishing the elections for a while, you’d be wrong!
Elections for the Georgia Public Service Commission, which regulates how much Georgians pay for electricity and how it is generated, were scheduled to take place on a November ballot. They were put on hold by a voting rights lawsuit that is going through court.
Once that’s done, expect another ballot for the statewide candidate, perhaps next year.
3. Presidential politics
Democrats are working to add Georgia to their primary election calendar with a primary in 2024. And the RNC doesn’t seem to want Georgia to move that date into an early window.
Either way, the start of the next presidential election will begin to seep into Georgia’s politics. Atlanta is a finalist for the Democratic National Convention. Georgia’s strong position as a political battlefield will surely continue to attract national candidates to the state, especially given the recent victories of Kemp and Warnock.
During the midterm elections, a parade of Republican White House candidates ran through Georgia to support the campaigns for the Senate and Governor. How these two figures will influence the politics of the United States is an open question.
The new year will continue to test Georgia’s position in shaping national politics.
4. It’s the economy
One of Congress’ greatest lifts and most important annual responsibilities is passing state budgets. Last year, Kemp and Georgia legislators used the state’s budget overrun to roll out tax refunds, pay teachers and state employees a lump sum, and cut income taxes.
Kemp suggests further tax measures may be in the pipeline, including another income tax refund and an extension of the homestead tax exemption. Democrats continue to criticize Kemp for not using some of this money to fully expand Medicaid.
Sustained inflation appears to have eased somewhat, but some economists predict a recession is imminent. How insulated is Georgia’s economy from it? How will the global economy affect Georgia’s fiscal policy in 2023?
5. Special Grand Jury
A special grand jury in Fulton County is investigating an attempt by then-President Donald Trump and his supporters to overturn the results of an election in Georgia.
A grand jury, led by district attorney Fanny Willis, could be impeached by May, but is expected to finish sooner. Create a report. At that point, Willis could ask to convene a grand jury to bring charges.
So even if the bulk of the special grand jury’s work takes place in 2022, the road through the judicial system could be even longer, extending into 2023 and beyond.
In summary, you might think that 2023 could bring Georgia’s politics to a halt. But as WABE’s political team knows, Georgia politics is never boring.
Rahul Bali and Susanna Capelouto contributed to this report.
This is part of WABE’s Stories to Watch in 2023 series. Click here to see the stories WABE’s reporters spotlight on arts and culture, criminal justice, education, the environment, health, housing, immigration and more.
