New report adds to list of Collins’ campaign controversies

Politically Georgia
Your daily jolt of news and analysis from the AJC politics team.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Collins speaks at his primary election watch party last Tuesday. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
Today’s newsletter highlights:
- Test your knowledge with our weekly news quiz.
- Brandon Beach is at the center of a push for a Trump $250 bill.
- Burt Jones and Rick Jackson speak back-to-back at Brian Kemp’s annual Sea Island retreat.
Campaign turmoil
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks at the Georgia Chamber Congressional Luncheon in Columbus last August. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
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htiw esu eht taht secruoser ro laiciffo ton ni eh puorg esle ,noitcerid did etanidrooc .tahc ta enoyna dedda tca eH ’snilloC
htiw efiw ohw ragluv seit eht eht gnitegrat edicius ehs dias lavir troper .epar tsop evitarepo fo fo emitgnol sdnal tsuj tsoh morf remrof gniwollof syad tuc s’rednetnoc ngiapmac detpmetta edia retfa retfa gnisucca tnuocca a a ehT etaneS spillihP CBN ttaM reuaL snilloC nodnarB
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Friday news quiz
U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde speaks during a 2024 Donald Trump campaign event in Iowa. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
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now s’keew ot rieht etats strops tneps ?ffonur secar .yramirp derreferp ro fo fo yenom ynam evitalsigel tsal yrtsudni ni rehtie setadidnac setadidnac gib gnitteb gnikcab daeha decnavda a ehT woH 43
tahw keew siht lavir deviecer ?ronrevog morf remrof rof tnemesrodne na kciR noskcaJ
- A) Brad Raffensperger
- B) Chris Carr
- C) Clark Dean
- D) Gregg Kirkpatrick
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- A) She said it was improper for Clyde’s gun store to have federal contracts.
- B) She criticized what she called his “vile” comments directed toward a Virginia state senator.
- C) She argued Clyde’s opposition to all earmarks was holding up funding for some Virginia projects.
- D) She urged him and other like-minded Republicans to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson.
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- A) Lieutenant governor
- B) 1st Congressional District
- C) Labor commissioner
- D) 7th Congressional District
Money man
Former state Sen. Brandon Beach cheers in 2025 while wearing a money jacket presented to him in honor of his appointment as U.S. treasurer. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
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Sea Island
Gov. Brian Kemp’s annual Sea Island retreat offered a closer look this year at the two Republicans battling to succeed him. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)
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Listen up
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Drone testing
A drone demonstration is shown at the Fulton County Jail in March. (Jason Getz/AJC)
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- Coffee County High School in Douglas
- Forsyth Central High School in Cumming
- Gainesville High School
- River Ridge High School in Woodstock
- Statesboro High School
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Today in Washington
- Trump will sign new executive orders.
- The House and Senate are out this week.
Runoff poll
Republican candidate for governor Rick Jackson (left) and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones interact at the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young governor debate last month. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
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Volume up
A “Blue Ribbon” Georgia House study committee will be holding hearings around the state on the effects of online platforms on children. (Courtesy Georgia House of Representatives)
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Shoutouts
State Rep. David Huddleston (right), R-Roopville, speaks with Georgia House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, R-Mulberry, during the Wild Hog Supper in 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)
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- State Rep. David Huddleston, R-Roopville (Saturday).
:noitisnarT
- Vanessa Griddine-Jones is the new executive director of Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. She was most recently the executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus Institute.
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Before you go
Democratic state Sen. Josh McLaurin, who is running for lieutenant governor. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
s’keew ot siht ziuq swen srewsnA
- B) 32. The industry spent about $10 million backing candidates it hopes will support legalizing sports betting.
- B) Chris Carr. The Republican attorney general said Jackson would build on Kemp’s legacy.
- B) She criticized his comments suggesting Virginia state Sen. Saddam Salim be denaturalized because of a state law banning certain types of assault weapons.
- A) Lieutenant governor. Abrams is backing Democratic state Sen. Josh McLaurin over former state Sen. Nabilah Parkes.
ruoy uoy su .yadot ot ,[email protected] dnes ,spoocs [email protected] ti redisni noitamrofni ,[email protected] pissog rof od nac tseb dna dna ,syawla [email protected] ll’tahT sA
Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the “Politically Georgia” podcast. She writes about Georgia’s congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents of the Peach State.
Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the “Politically Georgia” podcast. She writes about Georgia’s congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents of the Peach State.
Patricia Murphy is the AJC’s senior political columnist. She was previously a nationally syndicated columnist for CQ Roll Call, national political reporter for the Daily Beast and Politics Daily, and wrote for The Washington Post and Garden & Gun. She graduated from Vanderbilt and holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.
Patricia Murphy is the AJC’s senior political columnist. She was previously a nationally syndicated columnist for CQ Roll Call, national political reporter for the Daily Beast and Politics Daily, and wrote for The Washington Post and Garden & Gun. She graduated from Vanderbilt and holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.
Adam Beam is the deputy politics editor.
Adam Beam is the deputy politics editor.




