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Georgia GOP U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter enters 2026 Senate race after Kemp bows out

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5 days ago

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georgiarecorder.com – Stanley Dunlap – 2025-05-09 02:00:00


Georgia Republican Congressman Buddy Carter announced his 2026 Senate run to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, positioning himself as a strong MAGA supporter after Gov. Brian Kemp declined to run. Carter highlights Ossoff’s opposition to Trump-era policies, aiming to rally Trump supporters in a competitive Republican primary also featuring Reps. Mike Collins and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Democrats emphasize Carter’s alignment with controversial Trump policies as a liability. Political analysts view the race as a key indicator of Georgia’s evolving political landscape, with the Republican nominee needing broad appeal to compete effectively against Ossoff in the general election.

by Stanley Dunlap, Georgia Recorder
May 9, 2025

Georgia Republican Congressman Buddy Carter announced Thursday that he’ll run for Senate in 2026, entering into what’s sure to be a crowded field of Republican candidates looking to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.

Carter, who’s serving his sixth term as congressman representing a coastal Georgia district, launched his campaign  with an ad declaring himself an ardent backer of the MAGA agenda to “put America first.”

The Pooler Republican is entering the race days after presumptive GOP favorite Gov. Brian Kemp announced he was declining to run for the U.S. Senate in 2026.

“Last November, Georgia spoke, but Jon Ossoff doesn’t care,” the Carter campaign ad says. “He fought against President Trump securing our border, and voted for men in girls sports. Jon Ossoff is on the wrong side. Trump has a warrior in Buddy Carter.”

Ossoff’s U.S. Senate campaign manager Ellen Foster said their campaign was unfazed by Carter’s announcement.

“Sen. Ossoff will defeat any challenger,” she said in a statement. “While the GOP primary field scrambles to outmaneuver each other and audition for Donald Trump’s support, Senator Ossoff’s campaign is already building the most effective and unstoppable turnout effort in Georgia’s history.”

Since 2015, Carter has represented Georgia’s 1st Congressional District, which includes Savannah. Carter serves on the House Budget, Energy and Commerce committees in Congress. He previously served in the Georgia Legislature for a decade.

Carter becomes the first established Republican candidate to publicly declare for the Senate race. Among the other candidates who have indicated interest are Reps. Mike Collins of Jackson and Insurance Commissioner John King.

Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, another stalwart Trump ally, was considered a possible candidate, but she announced on social media Friday that she does not plan to run.

Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Charlie Bailey said Carter’s alignment with Trump’s policies puts him at a disadvantage.

“Buddy Carter jumping out of the gate as a self-described ‘MAGA warrior’ only means that over the next eighteen months he will have to own Donald Trump’s tariffs that are increasing costs for Georgia businesses and families, Medicaid cuts, anti-abortion extremism, devastating budget cuts hitting seniors, veterans, and kids, and so much more,” Bailey said in a statement.

“Georgia Republicans are clearly heading towards a messy, chaotic, and disastrous primary,” he said.

Emory University political science professor Andra Gillespie said Carter’s announcement is part of a strategic plan to gain name recognition in a contest that is expected to be highly competitive with no clear front runner.

Gillespie said Carter will look to appeal to Trump supporters without polarizing a segment of voters who like another potential candidate.

The Senate election will show where Georgia’s shifting political parties stand after the pandemic-affected 2020 election and the 2022 midterm election in which Republicans regained some control, Gillespie said.

“If we look at 2022 in the other statewide races, it looked like Georgia was coming back to equilibrium with Republicans winning, albeit by single digit margin, even though in many instances it was healthy single digit margins,” Gillespie said. “But when (U.S. Sen.) Raphael Warnock won over Herschel Walker, it reinforced the idea that Georgia has become competitive enough that if the Republican candidate is really problematic Democrats have a shot at winning.”

“The 2024 presidential election also reflected what is probably still the norm of Georgia in that the state probably still leans Republican,” Gillespie added. “Even understanding that those national conditions might be a little bit more favorable for Democrats this year, Georgia still looks like it’s leaning Republican.”

Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia, anticipates that whichever Republican Senate candidate emerges from the primary in 2026 will close some of the gap in polling against Ossoff.

He said the harder part is becoming as popular as Kemp in state politics.

“What Kemp’s term as governor has shown is that people approve of the job he’s done, and therefore he attracts large numbers of independents and even some Democrats,” Bullock said. “So it doesn’t mean that other Republicans couldn’t do that, but they’ve got to work a lot harder to get there.”

So far, the Democratic Party is making the Senate race a referendum on Trump, Bullock said.

“How much of a vulnerability that proves to be in a general election will in part depend upon what the state of the economy is,” he said.

Georgia Recorder reporter Ross Williams contributed to this report. 

This post was updated at 9 a.m. on May 10 after Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene announced she will not run for Senate in 2026.

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Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.

The post Georgia GOP U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter enters 2026 Senate race after Kemp bows out appeared first on georgiarecorder.com


Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Right

The content reflects a Center-Right bias, largely due to its focus on Georgia Republican Congressman Buddy Carter’s candidacy for the 2026 Senate race and his strong support for former President Trump’s MAGA agenda. The language used by Carter and his campaign ad aligns with conservative values, emphasizing Trump’s policies and framing Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff as opposing popular Republican stances. The piece includes statements from both Republican and Democratic figures, presenting a mix of perspectives, but it primarily emphasizes the Republican viewpoint, particularly the alignment with Trump’s agenda. The article does not overtly favor one side but leans toward presenting a right-leaning candidate’s perspective on the race, along with some critiques from Democratic figures. The coverage reflects the competitive nature of the race without diving deeply into specific policy critiques from either party. Overall, the tone is more favorable to Republican perspectives while offering a balanced overview of the candidates involved.

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U.S. and China hit the pause button on trade war for 90 days, as talks continue

Published

5 hours ago

on

May 13, 2025

By

georgiarecorder.com – Ashley Murray – 2025-05-12 11:24:00


The U.S. and China agreed to reduce tariffs for 90 days, easing tensions in their trade war. Starting Wednesday, U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods will drop to 10%, down from 145%. However, tariffs on certain products, including fentanyl-related chemicals and small packages, will remain. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized productive talks on the fentanyl crisis. While businesses express uncertainty, some analysts argue that the deal doesn’t resolve deeper issues, as the trade restrictions remain high compared to previous levels. The White House framed the agreement as a step toward addressing the U.S.-China trade imbalance.

U.S. and China hit the pause button on trade war for 90 days, as talks continue

by Ashley Murray, Georgia Recorder
May 12, 2025

The United States and China agreed Monday to lower steep tit-for-tat tariffs for 90 days, temporarily cooling a trade war but still leaving a cloud of uncertainty over businesses in the world’s two largest economies.

American and Chinese officials announced the pause will go into effect Wednesday, following talks in Geneva, Switzerland, as negotiations on a final deal continue. U.S. markets rallied following the announcement.

U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods will drop to a universal 10% baseline, down from the 145% President Donald Trump imposed last month. Trump’s previous 20% emergency tariffs announced in February on all products because of illicit fentanyl chemicals from China will remain in place, as will protective tariffs on goods still in place from the president’s first term. New duties on small packages sent to the U.S. from China, valued at less than $800, will also remain.

Fentanyl discussion

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that he and Chinese counterparts “had a very robust and highly detailed discussion” on preventing fentanyl and the chemicals to make the synthetic opioid from entering the U.S.

“The upside surprise for me from this weekend was the level of Chinese engagement on the fentanyl crisis in the United States. They brought the deputy minister for public safety,” Bessent said.

Bessent told reporters that overall negotiations were “always respectful.”

“We had the two largest economies in the world. We were firm — and we moved forward … We came with a list of problems that we were trying to solve and I think we did a good job on that,” Bessent said.

The White House touted the 90-day pause as a “landmark deal” in a Monday press release.

China has agreed to lower its tariffs on U.S. goods to 10%, down from 125%, according to a joint statement.

Tariffs are taxes on goods coming across the border. Companies and small businesses that import items from China must pay them to the U.S. government to receive their purchases.

Business reaction unclear

“I see the president’s approach to this as him putting a knife in your back and then pulling it out an inch and calling it a win,” said Alex Duarte, senior economist at the Tax Foundation, a think tank that advocates for lower taxation.

“Depending on the good, the rate could be close to 55%, so the tariffs on China are still pretty high. It’s hard to say how businesses are supposed to react to this because there’s so much uncertainty and the president behaves very erratically,” Duarte told States Newsroom Monday.

States Newsroom spoke to several business owners who were extremely nervous ahead of Trump’s April 2 “liberation day” tariffs. That announcement sent markets plummeting.

Marcus Noland, executive vice president and director of studies at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said in an interview Monday the situation has “gone from OK to apocalyptic to bad.”

“It’s clearly preferable to a tariff that would have essentially ended trade between the two countries, but it’s still significantly more restrictive than where we started the year,” Noland said.

The White House released a statement Monday saying the administration will continue “working toward a rebalancing” of a trade deficit with China. In 2024, the U.S. purchased $295.4 billion more in goods from China than China purchased from the U.S.

“Today’s agreement works toward addressing these imbalances to deliver real, lasting benefits to American workers, farmers, and businesses,” according to the White House press release.

Last updated 1:51 p.m., May. 12, 2025

Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.

The post U.S. and China hit the pause button on trade war for 90 days, as talks continue appeared first on georgiarecorder.com


Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

The content presents a balanced view of the trade negotiations between the United States and China, highlighting both positive developments and ongoing challenges. It includes direct statements and reactions from government officials across the political spectrum as well as perspectives from economists and business owners. The article refrains from strongly favoring or criticizing any particular political figure or policy, providing a neutral overview focused on factual reporting and varied viewpoints.

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Russia-Ukraine update, Pope Leo, Trump in Mideast

Published

13 hours ago

on

May 13, 2025

By

www.youtube.com – FOX 5 Atlanta – 2025-05-13 12:17:34

SUMMARY: Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine could start Thursday in Turkey, with President Putin proposing direct negotiations despite violating a ceasefire. Russia launched 100 decoy drones yesterday as the war nears its third year. President Trump offered to attend the talks. Pope Leo, the first American pontiff, has been actively engaging with journalists and Jewish communities while focusing on the Ukraine war. In the Middle East, Trump and Saudi Crown Prince signed an economic partnership, including military cooperation. Trump’s upcoming deals with Qatar and the UAE raise concerns over conflicts of interest, particularly regarding a luxury jet gift.

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Midday roundup of headlines including Ukraine putting pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend potential peace talks in Turkey with President Trump; Pope Leo hits the ground running, meeting with journalists; and President Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to sign a strategic economic partnership.

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EPA tells scientists to apply for new jobs within the agency

Published

18 hours ago

on

May 13, 2025

By

www.wsav.com – Rachel Frazin – 2025-05-13 07:19:00

SUMMARY: Political leaders at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have informed scientists to apply for new positions, with the implication that those who do not may face termination. The agency is undergoing a reorganization, with 505 positions across various offices opening up. Some worry that the loss of expertise could harm independent science and public health protection. The EPA stated that all employees had the opportunity to apply, and the restructuring is part of a broader effort to improve operations. Concerns about the closure of the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the impact on scientific work have surfaced amid the changes.

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The post EPA tells scientists to apply for new jobs within the agency appeared first on www.wsav.com

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