It’s Day 4 of qualifying for the 2026 midterm elections. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones filed to run for governor today. The deadline is noon tomorrow, so there is still plenty of time for some surprises. Follow along with our live blog.
Now, here are today’s top three political stories from the AJC.
Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC
Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC
1. Rick Jackson says he will walk away from his state contracts if elected governor.
Rick Jackson’s health care staffing company and its subsidiaries have received more than $1 billion from state contracts. Asia Simone Burns reports Jackson has promised to halt those contracts if he is elected governor.
- Background. Jackson Healthcare received a no-bid contract from Georgia during the COVID-19 pandemic to help provide nurses to Georgia hospitals. The campaign’s website says Gov. Brian Kemp called Jackson directly to ask for help.
- Campaign pledge. Jackson’s campaign says his company will not bid on any new state contracts and will “work to responsibly unwind any existing contracts.” A campaign spokesperson said it would cost Jackson “millions of dollars.”
- Roadblock? A bill in the state Legislature would make anyone who transacts business with the state ineligible to run for governor. The bill was filed by an ally of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who is one of Jackson’s rivals for the Republican nomination for governor.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
2. Lucy McBath confronts Kristi Noem over immigrant’s detention.
Rodney Taylor has been detained in Georgia by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for more than a year. Lautaro Grinspan reports U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath used a public hearing with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to ask about his case.
- Why is he detained? Taylor came to the U.S. as a child from Liberia on a medical visa. That visa has expired, but he does have a valid work permit. ICE has detained Taylor on the basis of a felony burglary conviction when he was a teenager. Taylor was pardoned in 2010.
- Poor conditions. Portions of both of Taylor’s legs have been amputated. While in ICE custody, Taylor’s attorneys say he has not been able to fully charge the prosthetics that help him walk. They also say he lacks medication to prevent chafing.
- Pushback. During a hearing on Wednesday, McBath told Noem that Taylor’s case was “truly a miscarriage of justice.” Taylor is being held at the Stewart Detention Center. Noem said she would look into the case. Today, President Donald Trump announced he was replacing Noem with Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin.
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
3. Georgia House OKs proposals aimed at improving women’s health.
State lawmakers are working to pass bills ahead of a key legislative deadline on Friday. Michelle Baruchman reports the House passed two measures on Wednesday aimed at women’s health.
- Contraception. A bill by state Rep. Beth Camp, R-Concord, would let patients on the state health plan or Medicaid get birth control pills directly from their local pharmacist. Camp says some people don’t have reliable transportation to a doctor.
- Paid leave. A bill by state Rep. Sandy Donatucci, R-Buford, would let state employees take nine weeks of paid parental leave instead of six. The Legislature previously increased available leave time to six weeks in 2024.
- What’s next? Both bills must pass the state Senate before they can be sent to Gov. Brian Kemp, who would decide whether to sign them into law.
Looking ahead
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