Black voters have long scolded Democrats and Republicans for taking their votes for granted or ignoring them entirely.

• But in Georgia, nearly all candidates running for U.S. Senate and governor are trying to court Black voters ahead of the election Nov. 3.

Why it matters: Democrats are banking on the surge of Democratic voter turnout in the May 19 primary to lead to a victory while Republicans are hoping to peel away just enough Black voters — who consistently vote Democratic — to push them over the victory line.

The latest: There's a much more coordinated effort to court Black voters this year, said Andra Gillespie, a political science professor at Emory University.

• She told Axios the state Democratic Party's recent decision to open 30 field offices shows "they are trying to do their best to make sure that they have the type of infrastructure in place so they can touch as many voters as possible" before Nov. 3.

What they're saying: Historically, Gillespie said, Democratic candidates have relied on the 30-30 rule proffered by Charles Bullock, a University of Georgia political scientist and author of "The Changing Political South."

• In other words, Democratic candidates must earn 30% of white voter support and Black voters have to turn out at a percentage that's proportional to their statewide population.

Flashback: The discussion around Black voter support was thrust back into the spotlight when Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson last month shared a series of photos of him meeting and greeting people at Black-owned businesses.

The intrigue: Fred Hicks, a political strategist and consultant who is not involved in Bottoms or Jackson's campaign, said Jackson's team has a Black voter outreach director who's put him in spaces where he can talk about his rough childhood and his success as a businessman.

Zoom in: Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who has the advantage of being an incumbent, has maintained strong communication and outreach with Black voters after he and fellow Sen. Raphael Warnock campaigned together to win their seats in 2021, Hicks said.

• Jackson's opponent, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, "embraces her Blackness" in a way other candidates have not, Hicks told Axios.
• Bottoms also has focused on attracting rural voters, especially those living in counties that make up Georgia's so-called Black Belt, where she performed well enough to avoid a primary runoff.

What we're watching: Ossoff challenger and U.S. Rep. Mike Collins has "not yet at this point made any real effort or outreach to African American voters," Hicks told Axios.

• Collins, who is embroiled in controversy over his son-in-law's social media posts promoting white nationalist views, over the last week has posted video clips of Black voters explaining why they support him.

Share this story

Every morning, we're focused on bringing you the stories that help you better understand your city and the community around you.

State of play: Strong local journalism takes a dedicated team and readers who believe in its value. Member support helps us continue delivering clear, trustworthy reporting where it matters most.

💭 Become a member. You'll help support independent local journalism and keep our newsroom focused on serving your community.

Thank you for reading and supporting local journalism.

August is one of the year's best months for skywatching. From shooting stars to a nearly eclipsed full Moon, here's what's worth watching in the weeks ahead.

Why it matters: Recent smoky skies are a reminder not to take clear nights for granted.

☄️ Catch the Perseids. The annual meteor shower peaks overnight on Aug. 12–13, when dozens of meteors an hour could streak across the sky.

• This year's peak coincides with a dark new Moon, especially favorable for viewing. The best time to watch is from midnight to dawn.

✨ Spot brilliant Venus. Look low in the western sky 30 to 60 minutes after sunset Aug. 14-16. Find the brightest "star" in the evening sky. That's Venus!

🌕 Don't miss the lunar eclipse. A deep partial lunar eclipse will darken nearly all of the full Sturgeon Moon on Aug. 27.

• The eclipse will already be underway when the Moon rises over Seattle just before 8pm, reaching its maximum about an hour later.

Pro tips: Give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust to the dark, put your phone away and scan the whole sky — meteors can appear anywhere.

22%

— The increase in Georgia medical cannabis cardholders since July 1, when the state expanded its program to allow vape products and cover more qualifying conditions, the Georgia Recorder reports.

• The surge has created a backlog at the Georgia Department of Public Health, which vets applications and manages the patient registry. Processing times have quadrupled, from about one week to four weeks, the outlet reports.

😐 A DeKalb County content creator accused of pretending to be a health inspector says his videos were meant as entertainment. (WSB-TV)

• A DeKalb health department spokesperson said the creator, who goes by Boku Blackk, undermines the “credibility of legitimate" health inspectors with such "stunts."

🏡 The McIntosh County Commission voted 3-1 to bring back zoning rules that would limit the size of houses in the historic Hogg Hummock neighborhood on Sapelo Island. (The Current)

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr., visited the CDC on Friday to mark the one-year anniversary of the attack on the Clifton Road campus and shooting death of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, who responded to the scene. (AJC)

⚖️ Colin Gray, the father of the convicted Apalachee High School mass shooter, is seeking a new trial. (11 Alive)