State Sen. Jason Esteves launches bid for Georgia governor
Georgia State Sen. Jason Esteves announced Monday that he's running for governor.
Why it matters: Esteves, who represents parts of Atlanta, south Fulton and Cobb counties, is the first Democrat to formally enter the race to fill the seat, which will be open since Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited.
What they're saying: Esteves said in a press release that voters "pay the price" when "extreme politicians in Georgia push Trump's reckless agenda and rig the system for special interests."
"Now more than ever, we need to tackle the high cost of living, improve access to health care, protect women's reproductive freedom, lower housing costs, and invest in schools across the state," he said.
Catch up quick: Esteves was first elected to the state Senate in 2022. Before that, he served as chair of the Atlanta Board of Education.
He and his wife, Ariel, have two children and own restaurants in Columbus and Macon and several small businesses around Georgia.
Context: Esteves' announcement comes weeks after U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Georgia) suspended her exploratory campaign committee for governor due to family medical issues.
The big picture: Other high-profile Democrats are also considering running for governor, including former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Michael Thurmond and Stacey Abrams, who twice ran unsuccessfully against Brian Kemp for the office.
On the Republican side, Attorney General Chris Carr has already staked out a position, and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger are said to be weighing a run.
State of play: Ongoing uncertainty in Washington, D.C., over inflation, tariffs, foreign affairs and domestic policies could trickle down and benefit Democrats banking on a boost in the 2026 midterm elections.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Mayor Adams expected to hold re-election campaign kickoff event Thursday: ‘Major announcement'
Mayor Eric Adams is expected to hold a re-election campaign kickoff event Thursday, two days after the city's Democratic mayoral primaries close. Hizzoner will make a 'major announcement about the future of his re-election campaign' at the event, according to sources from his campaign. The announcement will be held on the steps of City Hall at noon and will include 'hundreds' of supporters, sources said. Mayor Eric Adams is holding an event for a 'major announcement' about his re-election bid on Thursday William Farrington Adams, 64, will be running for re-election as an independent following a tumultuous year in office, which saw him accused of corruption before the historic case was dropped by the Trump administration. He blamed the long duration of the 'bogus' case for tanking any hopes of campaigning for the primary and still insists he is a Democrat, but has been indicating a split from the party for several months. The city's Democratic primary will close Tuesday, with former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Democratic socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani battling out for the nomination amidst a large field of contenders. Adams is running on the line 'safe streets, affordable city,' arguing that those are the two areas New Yorkers are most concerned about. 'Those are the issues that are important to New Yorkers,' Adams told 1010Wins in April. 'They want a safe city. They want an affordable city. And I want them to know that is what I produced for them.' An Adams aide also may have violated city laws while publicizing the Thursday event after they blasted out a message promoting it from their government email, the Daily News reported. Local law prohibits city employees from using municipal resources for 'political activity,' the city's Conflicts of Interest Board states. The aide later told the Daily News they 'accidentally' sent the message from the wrong email account while multitasking.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Who's running to replace Sen. Geraldine Thompson? Meet the candidates in Florida's district 15 race
The Brief Four Democrats are vying to fill the late Sen. Geraldine Thompson's seat in a special primary election Tuesday, including Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis, her brother, former Sen. Randolph Bracy, former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, and attorney Coretta Anthony-Smith. The race has drawn attention due to the Bracy siblings running against each other, with their mother endorsing her daughter. The winner will face Republican Willie Montague in the Sept. 2 general election. ORLANDO, Fla. - The death of State Senator Geraldine Thompson earlier this year left a notable vacancy in Central Florida politics, prompting a crowded field of candidates eager to fill her seat in the Florida Legislature. What we know A Democratic special election will be held on Tuesday with four candidates in the race: Representative LaVon Bracy Davis (Sister of Randolph Bracy) Former state Senator Randolph Bracy (Brother of LaVon Bracy Davis) Former firebrand congressman Alan Grayson Personal injury attorney Coretta Anthony-Smith This race comes with a sibling face-off between Representative LaVon Bracy Davis and former state Senator Randolph Bracy. The sibling's mother, civil rights icon LaVon Bracy, has endorsed her daughter over her son. Candidates will have to appeal to a diverse electorate spanning Orange County's urban core to its western suburbs, a region Thompson was known for fiercely advocating on behalf of. The Democratic primary will take place on Tuesday, June 24, with the special general election set for Tuesday, September 2. Dig deeper Thompson, a longtime lawmaker and champion for education, civil rights, and West Orlando communities, died in January, just weeks before the start of the 2025 legislative session. "Senator Geraldine Thompson was so much more than a dedicated public servant and visionary leader. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose love, wisdom, and compassion shaped their lives and the lives of so many in their community and across the state," her family said in a statement following her passing. "Senator Geraldine Thompson was a true trailblazer in Florida politics. A lifelong public servant and a fighter for civil rights, her impact on Florida stretched far beyond the average elected official," the Florida Democratic Party said in a statement following her passing. Her passing marked the end of a decades-long career in public service that began in the Florida House and culminated with her return to the Senate in 2020. What's next Polls in Senate District 15 will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the Democratic primary. The winner will advance to the Sept. 2 general election to face Republican Willie Montague, who secured his party's nomination unopposed. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the News Service of Florida.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Senate parliamentarian rejects GOP's attempt to limit courts' contempt powers
The Senate parliamentarian has ruled against a controversial provision in the Senate Republicans' megabill that would have made it significantly more difficult for courts to enforce contempt findings against the Trump administration. The parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, ruled that limiting courts' ability to hold Trump officials in contempt violated the Senate's rules governing what can be passed with a simple-majority vote on the budget reconciliation fast track. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) hailed the parliamentarian's decision as a major victory. 'Senate Republicans tried to write Donald Trump's contempt for the courts into law — gutting judicial enforcement, defying the Constitution and bulldozing the very rule of law that forms our democracy,' Schumer said in a statement responding to the development. 'But Senate Democrats stopped them cold. We successfully fought for rule of law and struck out this reckless and downright un-American provision,' he said. The provision, tucked into the thousand-page bill House Republicans passed in May, would have required anyone suing the federal government to pay a bond before a court would be allowed to use its contempt power to enforce injunctions and other rulings. Courts have already ruled more than 190 times against the Trump administration since January. The controversial language received little notice when it came to the floor, and Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) later caused an uproar at a town hall meeting when he admitted he didn't know the provision was in the legislation when he voted for it. 'If enacted, this would have been one of the most brazen power grabs we've seen in American history — an attempt to let a future President Trump ignore court orders with impunity, putting him above the law,' Schumer said Sunday afternoon. 'Donald Trump is not above the law. And thanks to Senate Democrats — including the tireless work of Senator Durbin and the Judiciary Democrats — the courts can still hold him and any president accountable,' Schumer said, referring to Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
