Georgia Republicans, we have a problem. We lost two statewide Public Service Commission races in November and they weren’t close. Last night, we lost a state House race (HD 121) we should’ve won. Now we’ve got a state House runoff in House District 23 that’s a must-win, and I plan to do my part for Bill Fincher.
So what’s the problem here?
Our donors aren’t motivated. Everyone behind the scenes knows it, even if hardly anyone is willing to say it publicly. We’re heading into 2026 at real risk of being outraised and outspent by Democrats up and down the ballot. We have to flip the script here.
But what’s more alarming and important is that our voters aren’t motivated either. I’m not a pundit, but I can do math.
More than 5.2 million Georgians voted last year. President Trump won, our Republican U.S. House members won, and we kept state House and Senate majorities. Last month, only around 1.5 million Georgians voted and we got our asses kicked.
Then there’s HD 121. More than 31,000 Georgians voted in its last election and the Republican won by more than 7,000 votes. Fewer than 12,000 voted in last night’s election and the Democrat won by around 200 votes.
“But John, these elections are happening around Thanksgiving and Christmas.”
“But John, it’s an ‘off-year.’”
“But John, things’ll be different when it’s an election year.”
Excuses and assumptions get us nowhere, and if I’ve learned one thing during my short time in politics it’s this: there’s no such thing as an “off-year.”
So what’s our way forward? I don’t have all the answers, but here are a few thoughts:
-Of course we need to talk about why liberal policies are bad. They are bad! Higher taxes, crushing regulations, more money in the pockets of big insurance companies, soft-on-crime crap, the list goes on and on. That agenda is destroying blue states and has sent healthcare costs spiraling. We need to talk about why.
-But it’s not enough to say “I’m a Republican. My opponent is a socialist. Vote for me.”
Voters deserve and expect more. We have to put forward a clear agenda for how we’re going to lower prices, help working people keep more of what they earn, and keep Georgia moving in the right direction.
Ex: I constantly talk about fraud, abuse, and frivolous lawsuits because all three directly impact insurance costs in Georgia. It’s not a red meat issue; it’s a kitchen table reality.
The cost of insurance is too damn high here and the Insurance Commissioner’s office doesn’t have the power to simply reject rate increases. But what I can do is lock up fraudsters, hammer bad actors who abuse the system, and use that work to forcefully pressure insurance companies to lower rates. It’s a grueling process, but we’re starting to see results: State Farm recently lowered auto rates and I’m expecting more providers to follow.
I’m not stopping there. I’m planning a push to cap the excess profits auto insurance companies are reaping on the backs of families. Other states have done so and their rates are falling. Why don’t we do the same in Georgia?
When Republicans show up, we win in Georgia. But they won’t show up if they don’t think we’re meeting them where they are. And where they are right now is worried about making ends meet. Let’s meet them where they are now, not after Labor Day next year when it may already be too late.
