High energy bills and data centers popping up in Black neighborhoods across Georgia may be on the minds of many voters this week as they cast ballots in two Public Service Commission races that could impact how much money millions of people pay for power for the foreseeable future. PSC Commissioners Tim Echols and Fitz […]
Chauncey Alcorn
Chauncey Alcorn is Capital B Atlanta's state and local politics reporter.
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy, Voting
Voter Engagement Groups Stepping Up as New Georgia Project Shuts Down
The recently announced shuttering of the New Georgia Project — which has mobilized hundreds of thousands of voters across the state since former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams founded the group in 2013 — was disappointing, but not surprising to Black Voters Matter co-founder Cliff Albright. “We’ve known for some time that they’ve been headed in […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy, Voting
Election 2025: What to Know Before You Head to the Polls
Voters head to the polls tomorrow for an election cycle that will decide the next mayor of Atlanta, four seats on Atlanta’s Board of Education, and two seats on the state’s impactful Public Service Commission. This fall’s contests will also decide all 15 seats on the Atlanta City Council, the next City Council president, and […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Government Shutdown Leaves Atlanta Federal Workers Feeling Like ‘Bargaining Chips’
Late mortgage payments. Car loan defaults. No child care. Dwindling savings. These are just a few of the issues that federal workers told Capital B Atlanta they will be facing as the federal government shutdown drags on. The suspension of pay and work disruption for many federal employees already has contributed to staffing shortages, longer […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy, State Politics
Palestinian American Pitches Black Voters Progressive Plan in Georgia Governor’s Race
Story Update: Democratic state Rep. Ruwa Romman announced February 25 that she was dropping out of the race for governor and would instead pursue an open Gwinnett state Senate seat. With her recently announced run for governor, state Rep. Ruwa Romman, D-Duluth, hopes to start a progressive movement in Georgia that centers on economic issues […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy
Why This Black GOP Candidate Wants to Eliminate Automatic Voter Registration
Georgia secretary of state candidate Kelvin King has an unorthodox view of what it means to protect people’s voting rights, but it’s a perspective the Republican wants other Black Georgians to consider. GOP state officials, including current Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, have maintained that illegal voting isn’t a widespread problem in Georgia, citing multiple […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy
Why Georgia’s Black Republicans Say Their Numbers Are Growing
Lithonia native Nathaniel Williams doesn’t agree with everything Charlie Kirk has said online, but the self-described Black Republican recalled feeling “astonishment and sadness” on Sept. 10 when news of the conservative activist’s assassination went viral on social media. Kirk’s Turning Point USA nonprofit has recruited throngs of young people to the conservative cause since its […]
Posted inCity Politics
Atlanta City Council Candidates Address Senior Citizen Concerns In Greenbriar
Cynthia Hildreth is tired of waiting for southwest Atlanta’s Greenbriar Mall to add additional stores. She wants her next city council member to make sure it happens sooner rather than later. “There was supposed to be some stores and activity at Greenbriar Mall, which hasn’t happened,” the 73-year-old grandmother told Capital B Atlanta. “The same […]
Posted inEducation, School Boards, State Politics
Why This GOP School Voucher Supporter is Running For State Superintendent
It’s been more than two years since a policy fight over a bill that created Georgia’s existing school voucher program severely damaged Mesha Mainor’s working relationship with state Democratic Party leaders, who vehemently oppose voucher programs, believing they pull too much money out of revenue-starved public schools. Now the former Democratic state House member, who joined the Republican Party […]
Posted inHigher Education
Spelman College to Receive $140 Million Investment Into On-Campus Housing
Housing availability at Spelman College is expected to improve in 2028 thanks in part to Fulton County’s anticipated investment in a new state-of-the-art campus dorm. On Aug. 26, the board of directors for Develop Fulton agreed to issue $140 million in federally tax-exempt bonds to Spelman for the construction of a new 670-bed residence hall, […]