By Jill Nolin | Editor
“Having these rallies and telling his supporters ‘Vote for Republicans as though I’m still on the ballot, imagine that I’m going to be on the ballot,’ that’s a double-edged sword. It’s a double-edged sword because there’s no bigger motivator for Democrats to go vote for the Democrat than to imagine that Trump is on the ballot.” - David Clementson, University of Georgia political communications professor.
President Donald Trump touts his economic record in a speech in Rome, Georgia, in early 2026. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
2026 ELECTION
By Ross Williams, Ignacio Perez and Alander Rocha
President Donald Trump is set to visit Dalton in northwest Georgia Friday to stump for Republican candidates as early voting is underway for the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Trump visited Dalton in early 2021 at the end of his first term to drum up support for then-Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in a runoff following the 2020 election that Trump lost. Perdue and Loeffler went on to lose the runoff to Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff after Trump claimed without evidence that the election system was rigged. Some Georgia Republicans at the time blamed those claims for driving down Republican turnout and helping Warnock and Ossoff clinch victory.
Trump’s next visit to Dalton is expected to include appearances from U.S. Senate candidate Mike Collins and gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson. Whether it will help or hurt them in November remains an open question.
Candidates for lieutenant governor, Greg Dolezal (left) and Josh McLaurin, participate in the Atlanta Press Club debate at Georgia Public Broadcasting’s studios. Pool photo via J Glenn Photography
2026 ELECTION
By Maya Homan
With early voting already underway across the state, the race to be Georgia’s next lieutenant governor is becoming increasingly contentious as the two candidates strive to appeal to undecided voters — and explain why their opponent is the wrong choice.
Both men are members of the state Senate with reputations for being outspoken and unafraid to advocate for their beliefs on the Senate floor. But that’s where the similarities end.
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff speaks with reporters after casting his ballot at the Bessie Branham Recreation Center on the first day of early voting. Maya Homan/Georgia Recorder
2026 ELECTION
By Ross Williams
Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff’s campaign reported raising $33 million from July through September, entering the final stretch of his re-election campaign against Republican Congressman Mike Collins with $26 million on hand.
“Senator Ossoff is known for building juggernaut political operations and his re-election campaign continues to build unstoppable momentum, including boosting Democrats up and down the ballot in Georgia, heading into Election Day,” said campaign manager Ellen Foster in a statement Thursday.
The campaign has reported transferring more than $3.6 million to other Democratic candidates, including former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is running for governor. Ossoff is set to share a campaign stage with Bottoms Saturday and has shouted her out on each of his debate appearances.
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