Voters across Northwest Georgia can begin casting ballots today in a special election to fill the vacant Georgia State Senate District 53 seat following the resignation of Colton Moore, who stepped down to run for U.S. Congress after the vacancy created by former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation.
The Chattooga County Republican Party has officially announced qualifying dates for local Republican candidates seeking elected office in 2026.
Qualifying will begin Monday, March 2, 2026, and conclude at noon on Friday, March 6, 2026. Hours will run Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
Qualifying will take place at 136 Highway 48 in Summerville (Law Offices, PC). Candidates must submit qualifying fees by cashier’s check or money order made payable to the “Chattooga County Republican Party” in the amount specified for the office being sought.
The notice was signed by Meredith Rosson, Chairwoman of the Chattooga County Republican Party.
Prospective candidates are encouraged to contact party leadership ahead of the qualifying deadline for additional details.
A campaign meet-and-greet for Clay Fuller is set for Monday, February 16, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Jefferson’s, 10096 Commerce St., Summerville, with organizers saying no RSVP is needed and the public is invited to stop by and talk with the candidate.
A bill aimed at expanding access to HIV prevention medication has cleared the Georgia House, moving the state one step closer to allowing pharmacists to play a larger role in preventing new HIV infections.
A major income tax cut plan approved by the Georgia Senate is being praised by supporters as “relief” for taxpayers — but critics on the left say the measure could end up harming the very people it claims to help: low-income residents and the lower working class.
A group of mostly Republican Georgia state senators is moving quickly to advance legislation that would reduce the state’s personal income tax, marking the first step in a long-term plan to eliminate the tax entirely by 2032.
Georgia lawmakers are advancing a bill that would allow pharmacists to prescribe and administer hormonal contraception, potentially making birth control more accessible across the state without a doctor’s visit.
The Georgia House has approved legislation aimed at expanding how landowners and wildlife control operators can trap and hunt feral hogs—an invasive species blamed for widespread damage to crops, pastures, wildlife habitat, and property across the state. Supporters say the measure is designed to remove red tape and help reduce hog populations that reproduce quickly and are difficult to control.
The Georgia House of Representatives completed a busy fourth week of the 2026 legislative session as lawmakers passed House Bill 973, the House’s version of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The budget, which passed with bipartisan support, is built on a revised $42.3 billion revenue estimate and includes $4.5 billion in surplus and new funding to support priorities through June 30, 2026.
Key investments in the amended budget include property tax relief through the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant program, education funding for K–12 schools and higher education, and pay supplements for teachers, school staff, and early learning educators. The House also approved funding for HOPE and the new need-based DREAMS Scholarship, along with investments in school safety, mental health services, and workforce readiness initiatives.
The budget further prioritizes public safety, healthcare, and infrastructure, with funding for prison security upgrades, behavioral health facilities, rural healthcare access, and major transportation projects, including road resurfacing and rural bridge repairs. Lawmakers also heard the annual State of the Judiciary Address from Chief Justice Nels S.D. Peterson during the week.
In addition to the budget, the House passed several bills addressing issues such as newborn safety, feral hog control, rural eye care access, veterans’ burial eligibility, and early literacy initiatives. With the amended budget now moving to the Senate, the House will soon begin work on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget as the session continues.
See the complete legislative report below:
Blake Elsberry, a candidate for Georgia State Senate District 53 and former Chattooga County Sole Commissioner, has released a public response addressing questions surrounding his past involvement with Zentell Communications.
