Former state House Democratic leader eyes attorney general race

• Though not a household name statewide, Trammell was enough of a political threat that national Republicans spent $1 million in 2020 to boot him from office.

Driving the news: Trammell, who lives in Luthersville, filed paperwork Tuesday to begin the exploratory process and start raising money for a campaign.

Catch up quick: Trammell took office in 2015 and was one of the last white rural Democrats elected to the Georgia General Assembly. Two years later, his colleagues chose him to serve as House minority leader.

• After several close elections, he was defeated in 2020 by first-time candidate and veteran David Jenkins, whose campaign was boosted by the Washington, D.C.-based Republican State Leadership Committee.

What he's saying: Trammell told Axios that he's running now "to protect Georgians. That's the job."

• "At a time when Georgians are feeling the pressure of an erratic economy, subject to more sophisticated and complex frauds and scams, and feeling the erosion of their rights, Georgians need assurance that they have somebody fighting to protect them at all times."

The other side: Republicans running for the GOP's nomination include state Sen. Bill Cowsert of Athens and Sen. Brian Strickland of McDonough.