By Ross Williams | Deputy Editor
Today's lead story comes to you thanks to a partnership with The Current GA, and it's a doozy. The number of Georgians enrolled in the Affordable Care Act has dropped by more than a third since January of last year. The loss could mean hundreds of thousands left without coverage and billions of dollars in losses for the state's health care industry.
In other news, a judge cleared former Public Service Commissioner Fitz Johnson to remain on the ballot despite concerns that he lives primarily outside the district he's trying to represent -- and Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is out of her job at the U.S. Labor Department.
There's a lot more news in today's newsletter.
The state’s health sector was expected to lose more than $3.5 billion this year as a result of the expiring subsidies, as uninsured patients forgo care or show up in emergency rooms but can’t pay. Getty Images.
HEALTH CARE
By Ariel Hart
More than half a million Georgians have dropped health insurance coverage amid stiff premium price hikes for federally subsidized Affordable Care Act plans, according to data obtained by The Current GA and the Georgia Recorder.
The 37% enrollment drop – from 1.5 million Georgians in January 2025 to 950,000 as of April 17, 2026 — dwarfs any previous decline in the state since the launch of so-called Obamacare health insurance plans in 2014.
An administrative judge concluded that Republican Public Service Commission candidate Fitz Johnson’s “intent” was to maintain his legal domicile in Atlanta to keep eligibility to run for office in District 3, allowing him to stay on the May and November ballots. Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder
ELECTIONS
By Alander Rocha
A Georgia administrative law judge ruled Friday that Republican Public Service Commission candidate Fitz Johnson can remain on the May 19 and November 3 ballots despite concerns that he primarily lives outside of the district.
The decision by Judge Kimberly Schroer from the Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings concludes that while Johnson spends the vast majority of his time at a $1.3 million estate in Cobb County, his legal “domicile” remains a smaller residence in PSC District 3, which includes the counties of Fulton, Clayton, DeKalb and Rockdale.
Gov. Brian Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp listen as Derek Dooley delivers a stump speech at a barbecue restaurant in Canton on April 20, 2026. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
SENATE RACE
By Ross Williams
Gov. Brian Kemp toured metro Atlanta Monday to stump for his preferred candidate in Georgia’s U.S. Senate race, former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley.
Dooley entered the race in August with Kemp’s backing after Kemp declined to throw his hat in the ring to take on Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Dooley’s in a three-way race with two Republican congressmen, Buddy Carter and Mike Collins.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, at the time a member of the U.S. House from Oregon, speaks to reporters on Oct. 9, 2024. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
DC BUREAU
By Ariana Figueroa
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer will step down from her post, the Trump administration announced Monday, following multiple reports alleging work misconduct including misuse of funds and more.
Cans used for Lost Boy cider in Alexandria, Virginia, cost the small business more because of increased aluminum tariffs. Tristan Wright, founder and president of Lost Boy, stands near his production line on Feb. 6, 2026. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)
DC BUREAU
By Ashley Murray
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection tariff refund system went live Monday, marking what small business advocates call a “complex” first step for entrepreneurs to recoup $166 billion in import taxes accrued under President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs, which the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in February.
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