Political Breakfast with Denis O’Hayer

It's back to school time! And today's lesson is: Don't get yourself indicted on corruption charges. We saw that happen to a sitting member of Congress in Washington, D.C.--and to a former top aide in the Reed administration in Atlanta. We'll look at the local implications from both of those events. Meanwhile, Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp are launching their general election battle; we'll check out their strategies. And, a stunning story from Pro Publica alleges some Mar-a-Lago friends of President Trump have outsized--and secret--influence in the Veterans Administration. That poses a challenge for Georgia GOP Senator Johnny Isakson, who chairs the Veterans Affairs Committee. In this episode, WABE Political Contributor Denis O'Hayer talks with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, former national southern regional director of the Obama 2012 campaign, and Chuck Clay, a former Georgia state senator, and former chairman of the state GOP. He is now with the law firm Hall, Booth, Smith.

After a brief summer hiatus, we’re back! And what a few weeks it’s been. The primary runoffs have come and gone and November’s general election contests are finally shaping up; the federal corruption investigation into Atlanta City Hall has expanded; the Trump Administration's trade fights continue to make waves in Georgia. All that and more on this week's menu. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and Georgia Republican Party chair Chuck Clay join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation.

Summer has officially started, but the political news hasn’t slowed down one bit! The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to opine on Georgia’s fight over water and rivers with Florida as Justice Anthony Kennedy announces his retirement; with less than a month until the primary runoffs, we check in on the races; and we’ll consider what a surprise primary result in New York could mean for Georgia. All that and more on this week's menu. Former Atlanta City Council President, Democrat Cathy Woolard (@CathyWoolard) and former U.S. Congressman, Republican Lynn Westmoreland (@Westmoreland_GA) join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation. Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).

What's been the fallout from the secret recording of Lieutenant Governor Cagle, one of two candidates left in the Republican primary runoff for governor? A look at that question a week after the tape's release; Democrats deal with runoffs of their own in the suburbs north of Atlanta; Cobb County tries to resolve a $30 million budget shortfall; and Atlanta could help host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. All that and more on this week's menu. Cobb County Democratic Pary Chair Michael Owens and former Georgia Republican Party chair Chuck Clay join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation. Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).

Who will come out on top in the Republican gubernatorial primary? A look at that race with still weeks to go before the runoff; Democrats look for some party unity for their unified ticket; Fulton County homeowners cope with a property tax spike; all that and more on this week's menu. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and former Georgia Republican Party chair Chuck Clay join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation. Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).

With just days to go before next week’s primary elections, we’ll look at how the race for Georgia governor is shaping up; the fallout from former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed's decision to withhold information about a federal subpoena from city council and the public; a major credit rating agency has weighed in on what could happen if voters decide to create the new city of Eagle's Landing from the city of Stockbridge. All of that and more on this week's menu. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and former U.S. Congressman, Republican Lynn Westmoreland (@Westmoreland_GA) join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation. Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).

With just a few weeks to go before the May 22nd primary elections, we’ll look at how the races are shaping up; Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms addresses the state of the city after a tough first 100 days in office; and time is running out for Governor Nathan Deal to make decisions on which bills to sign or veto. All of that and more on this week's menu. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and former U.S. Congressman, Republican Lynn Westmoreland (@Westmoreland_GA) join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation. Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).

UPDATE: In the time since this interview was recorded, Marc Urbach announced he'd ended his campaign. This is it! The final interview in our series of conversations with all the major party candidates running in contested races for Georgia governor in the May 22nd primary elections. Republican Marc Urbach is an historical writer and speaker who lives in Dunwoody. He’s a former public school teacher in Gwinnett County and ran for president in 2016 as a write-in candidate. Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews. Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).

We're just under a month away from the May 22nd primary elections! This bonus episode of Political Breakfast continues our series of interviews with all the major party candidates for Georgia governor running in those elections. Republican Hunter Hill is a former state senator and was elected to represent a district in Fulton and Cobb counties in 2012. He resigned to run for governor last year and currently heads a leadership development company. Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews. Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).

November's midterm elections are months away, but the primary elections are right around the corner. This bonus episode of Political Breakfast continues our series of interviews with all the major party candidates for Georgia governor running in the May 22nd primaries. Republican Clay Tippens a former Navy SEAL and tech company executive. Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews. Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).

There are a lot of candidates vying to win their party's nomination to run for Georgia governor. This bonus episode of Political Breakfast continues our series of interviews with all the major party candidates in competitive races for that office in the May 22nd primaries. Republican Michael Williams is a certified public accountant and has represented a district in Forsyth County in the state senate for the past four years. Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews. Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).

There's just over a month left until the May 22nd primary elections. This bonus episode of Political Breakfast continues our series of interviews with all the major party candidates for Georgia governor in those elections. Republican Casey Cagle was elected as lieutenant governor in 2006. Prior to that he was a state senator from the Gainesville area for 12 years. Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews. Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is shaking up her cabinet as she closes out her first 100 days in office; Governor Nathan Deal considers a bill that could change how new cities are created; what will Georgia's next governor do about Medicaid expansion? All of that and more on this week's menu. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and Republican strategist Brian Robinson (@LordTinsdale) join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation. Taped in front of a live audience at the Georgia Tech School of Public Policy. Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).

Now, it's time for the Republicans! This bonus episode of Political Breakfast continues our series of interviews with all the major party candidates for Georgia governor running in the May 22nd primaries. Republican Brian Kemp has been Georgia’s Secretary of State for the past eight years. Prior to that he served four years in the state senate representing a district in the Athens area. Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews. Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).

It's primary time! On May 22nd, Georgians will go to the polls to pick the candidates running for governor. This bonus episode of Political Breakfast continues our series of interviews with all the major party candidates. Democrat Stacey Evans is a former state representative from Cobb County, first elected in 2010. She is an attorney who has done much of her work in business litigation. Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews. Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).