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Georgia election results: GOP gubernatorial primary heads to runoff

The winner of the runoff will face Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Politics

Georgia&#x27;s Republican gubernatorial primary is headed to a runoff next month after no candidate secured a majority of the vote.<ul><li>The winner of the runoff will face Keisha Lance Bottoms, who clinched the Democratic nomination with 57% of the vote. </li></ul>Why it matters: Incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited, so Georgia voters will elect a new governor this year.

Georgia primary results: Supreme Court, lieutenant governor

Candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, lieutenant governor and more must get voters back to the polls

Here&#x27;s what happened in Tuesday&#x27;s down-ballot races:🧑‍⚖️ Judicial races: Former Democratic state Sen. Jen Jordan&#x27;s and plaintiff attorney Miracle Rankin&#x27;s efforts to oust Republican-backed Georgia Supreme Court Justices Charlie Bethel and Sarah Warren failed.<ul><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump election interference case" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/26/georgia-drops-trump-election-prosecution" data-vars-content-id="c26131f2-8e29-4899-8496-07243b7d5fd9" data-vars-headline="Georgia primary results: Supreme Court, lieutenant governor" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/26/georgia-drops-trump-election-prosecution" target="_self">Trump election interference case</a> prosecutor Will Wooten also lost his bid to unseat Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Trenton Brown. Brown was part of the appellate panel that disqualified Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.</li></ul>

Falling Water Park could be Atlanta's next fishing hole

Plans call for trails, boardwalks and fishing access near Campbellton Road and Therrell High.

Things to Do

An effort to turn a hidden forest and pond on the outer edge of southwest Atlanta into a new park is gaining momentum.Why it matters: The proposed Falling Water Park connects the community to 26.3 acres of deep woods and water a short walk from Campbellton Road.

Weekend events: Atlanta Jazz Festival, MomoCon, Brew at the Zoo

Memorial Day weekend will be packed with things to do around Atlanta.

It&#x27;s Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta, and there&#x27;s something to do for every cosplayer, beer lover and jazz fan in your life.Here are some events to add to your plans: 🧝 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="MomoCon" data-vars-click-url="https://www.momocon.com/" data-vars-content-id="29901d5d-d8a8-4df2-9e1c-ff1bff962852" data-vars-headline="Weekend events: Atlanta Jazz Festival, MomoCon, Brew at the Zoo" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.momocon.com/" target="_blank">MomoCon</a> is back for its 21st year at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Georgia primary voters choose nominees in high-stakes 2026 races

More than 1 million voters cast early ballots before Tuesday's statewide primary contests.

Georgia voters head to the polls Tuesday in high-stakes primaries for statewide offices, legislative seats and unusually contentious judicial races.Why it matters: Georgia&#x27;s primaries are an early test of voter enthusiasm in one of the country&#x27;s top battleground states and set the stage for a potential overhaul of state government.

DAs will challenge bill that makes their offices nonpartisan

House Bill 369 makes certain countywide races nonpartisan in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

Two metro Atlanta district attorneys say they&#x27;ll take legal action against a controversial law that makes certain countywide positions nonpartisan.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="House Bill 369" data-vars-click-url="https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/247976" data-vars-content-id="5d5fda67-c536-4cbc-a1ed-71cb979cc142" data-vars-headline="DAs will challenge bill that makes their offices nonpartisan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/247976" target="_blank">House Bill 369</a>, which was passed by the Republican-led General Assembly, only affects voters in Democratic-leaning Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

Kemp calls special session to redraw Georgia congressional maps

New maps could break up majority-Black districts in Congress and the state General Assembly.

Georgia lawmakers will convene a special session next month to consider redrawing state House, state Senate and congressional district boundaries and determine how voters will cast ballots later this year.Why it matters: New maps could break up majority-Black congressional districts and dilute Black- and other minority-majority districts in the General Assembly.

Politic-ATL: Dickens introduces $994.7 million budget for 2027

The Atlanta City Council's budget hearings began Tuesday and will continue through May 21.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens on Monday unveiled the proposed $994.7 million <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="budget" data-vars-click-url="https://www.atlantaga.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/68452/639132436038930000" data-vars-content-id="3db8628b-6d28-45a2-9eaa-4d81ba2f74a1" data-vars-headline="Politic-ATL: Dickens introduces $994.7 million budget for 2027" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.atlantaga.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/68452/639132436038930000" target="_blank">budget</a> for fiscal year 2027, which the administration said focuses on affordable housing, public safety and youth engagement efforts.Why it matters: The general fund budget outlines how the city will spend tax dollars on staffing, operations and projects across Atlanta&#x27;s 12 City Council districts.

Atlanta leaders to probe what went wrong during 404 Day events

The review comes weeks after 16-year-old Tianah Robinson was killed in a shooting at Piedmont Park on April 4.

Atlanta leaders will look into what could have been done differently during 404 Day festivities after a teenager was fatally shot <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="at Piedmont Park" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/04/07/atlanta-youth-violence-prevention-third-spaces-recreation-centers-spring-break" data-vars-content-id="722a9bcb-4a49-4129-b436-86477987782f" data-vars-headline="Atlanta leaders to probe what went wrong during 404 Day events" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/04/07/atlanta-youth-violence-prevention-third-spaces-recreation-centers-spring-break" target="_self">at Piedmont Park</a>. Driving the news: The City Council&#x27;s Public Safety/Legal Administration Committee approved a resolution for an &quot;emergency, cross-departmental study&quot; and to establish an advisory committee made up of local stakeholders.

Early voting begins across Georgia

Low-turnout primaries could shape Georgia's top offices and major policy decisions statewide.

Early voting starts Monday for wide-open races to lead some of Georgia&#x27;s most powerful offices — plus low-profile contests that could have an outsized impact.Why it matters: Voters are picking state leaders who will decide important issues that affect their everyday lives, from energy bills to criminal justice.

Atlanta Press Club to host 2026 primary election debates

Axios Atlanta's Kristal Dixon and Georgia Recorder reporter Ross William will serve as panelists who will question Democratic and Republican candidates running for the 11th Congressional District seat.

The Atlanta Press Club will kick off three days of debates on Sunday for candidates running in the May 19 primary.Why it matters: It&#x27;s a way to learn more about a candidate&#x27;s position on issues affecting you and your neighbors.

Georgia U.S. Rep. David Scott dies after decades in politics

Scott served nearly 25 years in Congress and decades in Georgia politics.

News

Democratic U.S. Rep. David Scott of Georgia has died at age 80 after more than five decades in public office, his staff announced Wednesday.Driving the news: Scott served in Congress for more than two decades and had qualified to run for his 13th consecutive term representing the south metro Atlanta district.<ul><li>His health was a growing concern for colleagues in recent years, and he was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ousted from his leadership role" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/16/angie-craig-david-scott-steering-agriculture-democrats" data-vars-content-id="4cbe02aa-a1f7-47db-b3e8-469c7710ab1e" data-vars-headline="Georgia U.S. Rep. David Scott dies after decades in politics" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/16/angie-craig-david-scott-steering-agriculture-democrats" target="_self">ousted from his leadership role</a> on the House Agriculture Committee after the 2024 election. He was the committee&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first Black chairman" data-vars-click-url="https://davidscott.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399460" data-vars-content-id="4cbe02aa-a1f7-47db-b3e8-469c7710ab1e" data-vars-headline="Georgia U.S. Rep. David Scott dies after decades in politics" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://davidscott.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399460" target="_blank">first Black chairman</a>.</li></ul>

Politics 🇺🇸

Georgia primary results: Supreme Court, lieutenant governor

Georgia election results: GOP gubernatorial primary heads to runoff

Georgia primary voters choose nominees in high-stakes 2026 races

DAs will challenge bill that makes their offices nonpartisan

Kemp calls special session to redraw Georgia congressional maps