By Jill Nolin | Editor
House Democrats say they see a path to flipping the chamber this year, but the stars would have to line up nearly perfectly for them to pull off such a feat. Still, the top House Democrat told reporters Wednesday why she’s feeling optimistic.
Georgia House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley says her party will win control of the state House after November's election. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
2026 ELECTION
By Ross Williams
Georgia House Democrats say 2026 is the year they’re going to take control of the state House, ending more than two decades of Republican rule.
“We are 10 winnable seats away from a majority for the first time since 2004.” said House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley of Columbus during a press conference Wednesday. “The state House decides what happens to Georgia families on the issues that matter most: property taxes, how schools are funded, whether their votes are protected.”
Republicans say they’re not worried.
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock called for greater federal guidance around the use of automatic license plate readers. Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder
SURVEILLANCE
By Maya Homan
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock is calling for federal guardrails around the use of automatic license plate readers, citing multiple cases of law enforcement misusing the cameras to stalk and harass U.S. citizens.
Warnock, a Democrat, is teaming up with U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, an Alabama Republican, to urge the U.S. Department of Justice to issue guidance on the subject. Earlier this week, the two sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche urging the department to issue guidelines for state and local law enforcement and disclose how much federal funding has gone toward purchasing license plate readers. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In Georgia, 36% of respondents said they were burdened by the cost of food according to new data from the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality. Maya Homan/Georgia Recorder
ECONOMY
By Maya Homan
As many as 70% of Georgia residents are struggling to afford basic necessities, such as food, housing, healthcare or childcare, according to new data from the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality.
The data was released as part of the center’s national family economic well-being index, which measures the economic pressures that families are facing and how severely they are being squeezed by the cost of living. In Georgia, 36% of respondents said they were burdened by the cost of food, and 48% said they faced challenges related to healthcare costs. Forty percent of respondents said they struggled to afford multiple basic needs.
As state lawmakers prepare for next year's legislative session, our guest commentary author writes that there is an opportunity to focus on the policies that can make the greatest difference for working families. Photo by Grace Cary/Getty Images
COMMENTARY
By Warren B. Steele, United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley
Every day at United Way, we meet families who are doing everything right. They’re working, raising children, contributing to their communities and still struggling to find housing they can afford. For many, the challenge isn’t simply buying a home. It’s finding a safe, stable place to live that fits their budget and allows them to build toward the future.
That’s why housing policy matters so much. It touches nearly every aspect of a family’s well-being, from financial stability and educational outcomes to health and workforce participation.
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