Alander Rocha
@alander.bsky.social
I write about Georgia policy and politics for @georgiarecorder.com / Tulane, UGA alum / dogcatdad / Got a tip? arocha@georgiarecorder.com or alander.01 on Signal
Georgia’s medical cannabis program experienced an unprecedented surge of new registered patients over the past month after the law changed significantly to ease access. New from @alander.bsky.social. #gapol
Enrollment jumps after lawmakers ease access to Georgia’s medical cannabis program • Georgia Recorder
The patient registry grew more than 22% in just over a month, with over 8,200 new patients enrolling after a new law changed the program significantly.
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A major natural gas expansion at Georgia Power’s Plant Bowen will hurt air quality in the Atlanta region, which is already struggling with ozone pollution, according to environmental groups challenging a state air permit for the project. New from @alander.bsky.social.
Georgia Power breaks ground on natural gas expansion at Plant Bowen despite air pollution concerns • Georgia Recorder
Officials praised the expansion as a step toward energy reliability and a stronger economy, but advocates worry air pollution could increase in Atlanta.
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Georgia state agencies told to freeze spending and draft contingency plans, reports @alander.bsky.social.
Georgia state agencies told to freeze spending and draft contingency plans • Georgia Recorder
Gov. Brian Kemp’s office has instructed state agencies to keep spending level as they prepare budget proposals ahead of next year’s legislative session.
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Marcye Scott, the daughter of the late Congressman David Scott, fell short of winning a special election to finish her father’s term in office and will face former Gwinnett County School Board chair Everton Blair in a runoff next month. New from @alander.bsky.social. #gapol
Special election to fill late Georgia congressman’s seat advances to an August runoff • Georgia Recorder
The two Democrats will face off on Aug. 25 and that winner will serve a few months before the next term begins in January.
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Low-income Georgians living with HIV would not be counted as “medically frail” under a state proposal still under consideration and would therefore have to satisfy work requirements to qualify for Medicaid coverage. Story from @alander.bsky.social. #gapol
Advocates puzzled after HIV is left off of Georgia’s ‘medically frail’ list for Medicaid work rules • Georgia Recorder
State officials did not include HIV to a list of conditions that exempts low-income Georgians from work requirements for Medicaid coverage.
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An organization that represents the data center industry is trying to get Georgians to think of the electricity-hungry facilities more favorably. New from @alander.bsky.social.
Pro-data center group launches in Georgia to try to win over critics • Georgia Recorder
A new data center industry group is embarking on a Georgia-focused publicity campaign to improve public opinion of data centers in the state.
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Warnock: New federal housing law designed to ‘stop the spread’ of corporate-owned homes | Via @alander.bsky.social #gapol
Warnock: New federal housing law designed to ‘stop the spread’ of corporate-owned homes • Georgia Recorder
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock in Atlanta touted a new federal law that went into effect over the weekend that is aimed at making homeownership more attainable.
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Voters in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District are voting in a special election to fill the remainder of late Congressman David Scott’s term, whose seat was vacant after he died in late April. New from @alander.bsky.social #gapol
Late Georgia congressman’s daughter among those competing to finish his term • Georgia Recorder
Voters in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District are voting in a special election to fill the remainder of late Congressman David Scott’s term, whose seat was vacant after he died in late April. Three ...
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The Georgia Public Service Commission approved an investigation into whether Georgia Power’s industrial customers who are heavy energy consumers, like data centers, are shifting some costs to residential customers. New from @alander.bsky.social.
Georgia utility regulators greenlight probe into data center costs • Georgia Recorder
The probe will focus on a pricing structure used by data centers that commission staff said could drive monthly cost for customers by up to 11% by 2028.
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New from @maggie-lee.bsky.social with The Current: In May, as Georgians rallied at the polls and community meetings against power- and water-guzzling data centers, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp met with representatives of OpenAI about the AI industry-leading company’s business plans for the state.
Kemp holds meeting with OpenAI and Georgia Power in Atlanta • Georgia Recorder
In May, as Georgians rallied at the polls and community meetings against power- and water-guzzling data centers, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp met with representatives of OpenAI about the AI industry-lea...
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New state law expected to increase patient access to Georgia’s medical cannabis program, reports @alander.bsky.social. #gapol
New state law expected to increase patient access to Georgia’s medical cannabis program • Georgia Recorder
The new law eases barriers that advocates and physicians said hindered access to medical cannabis and hampered interest for those who may benefit.
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A showdown between nurses and those representing physicians boiled over in a Georgia House Health committee hearing over a medical board’s guidance that nurses warned could lead to shuttered clinics and diminished healthcare access in rural parts of Georgia. New from @alander.bsky.social #gapol
Nurses warn that new interpretation of Georgia law will mean less care for rural communities • Georgia Recorder
Nurses are concerned a medical board’s guidance could lead to shuttered clinics and diminished healthcare access in rural parts of Georgia.
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Georgia Republicans on Monday blocked a Democratic attempt to push for what would have been the first vote to override a veto from Gov. Brian Kemp, reports @alander.bsky.social. #gapol
GOP lawmakers save Kemp from rare threat of a veto override • Georgia Recorder
Republicans blocked an attempt to override a veto from Gov. Brian Kemp on a bill that passed unanimously out of both chambers earlier this year.
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Georgia Republican lawmakers drop plans to redistrict, citing pending legal cases #gapol
Georgia Republican lawmakers drop plans to redistrict, citing pending legal cases • Georgia Recorder
Georgia Republicans abruptly changed course on redistricting Wednesday, retreating from their plans to redraw congressional and state district lines for the 2028 election less than an hour before lawm...
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Georgia Republicans abruptly changed course on redistricting Wednesday, retreating from their plans to redraw congressional and state district lines for the 2028 election less than an hour before lawmakers gaveled in for the special session. @georgiarecorder.com
Georgia Republican lawmakers drop plans to redistrict, citing pending legal cases
Georgia Republicans abruptly changed course on redistricting Wednesday, retreating from their plans to redraw congressional and state district lines for the 2028 election less than an hour before…
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Georgia Republicans have chosen Congressman Mike Collins to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in November, reports @journalistross.bsky.social #gapol
Collins wins fight to face Ossoff in November • Georgia Recorder
Georgia Republicans have chosen Congressman Mike Collins to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
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Wealthy businessman Rick Jackson wins GOP nomination to run against Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms in November. In a speech, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones blamed his loss on being outspent by Jackson. Jackson spent over $100 million during just a few months of campaigning.
Georgia Recorder@georgiarecorder.com · 2mo agoJackson defeats Trump-backed Jones to win GOP race for Georgia governor after costly primary battle, reports @alander.bsky.social #gapol
Congressman Mike Collins wins the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, the AP called, and will face Sen. Jon Ossoff in November. Collins, who got a last minute endorsement from Trump, beat former TN football coach Derek Dooley, who is backed by Gov. Brian Kemp and ran as a political outsider.
One GA runoff is for the GOP nod for a seat on the Public Service Commission. These races have really exploded over the past year. Check out this remarkable passage from a recent @georgiarecorder.com piece by @alander.bsky.social: georgiarecorder.com/2026/06/08/g...
![Nancy Lubeck, a Twiggs County resident who called herself a lifelong Republican, said she voted last year for Peter Hubbard and Alicia Johnson, the two Democrats who flipped seats on the then all-Republican PSC, because she said she wants to see things done differently at the commission. She said she voted in the GOP primary last month but will likely vote for the Democratic candidates again in November.
Lubeck, who is fighting a proposed data center down the street from her home from being built, said she is concerned that despite a recent promise to marginally lower energy bills, the commission’s approval of a massive energy infrastructure buildout to largely serve data centers could end up raising bills in the future. For that reason, she said she will continue to vote for Democrats this November, hoping for a change of direction for the powerful utility commission.
“We are still going to vote Democrat for the Public Service Commission, [and] most likely Republican for everything else,” Lubeck said in an interview. “We’re still mad about them giving all those increases to Georgia Power, and we just feel that all those people need to be changed out and need to be led by another party, so maybe they’ll do something different to help us.”
Republicans now have a 3-2 majority on the commission, but Democrats are hoping to flip control of the panel this fall.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:alqdxbp33ceoyly2o46nvcrc/bafkreierqgooadnfenyaf3e6jdcqhknztoy6t6x5w52bdyvps4wx6sl2uu)
In other races, the AP has called both the Democratic and Republican races for Secretary of State. Republican voters picked state Rep. Tim Fleming over election denier Vernon Jones. And on the Democratic side, voters picked Penny Brown Reynolds over Dana Barrett.
Congressman Mike Collins, who is running in the Republican runoff for U.S. Senate, makes a quick appearance to meet supporters at his election night watch party. He is facing Kemp-backed Derek Dooley, and the winner will face Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
A whole line of Georgia state representatives has queued near Rick Jackson’s election night stage. So far, five have addressed the crowd, including Rep. Leesa Hagan, Rep. David Jenkins and Rep. Vance Smith.
The room is filling up and results are rolling in — with 24% of the vote in, Jackson is leading by 18 points.
It's too early to draw any conclusions but interesting that Rick Jackson is leading in the early vote from the few counties that have started reporting those numbers. Gov. Brian Kemp made a last minute endorsement for Burt Jones, so that may change once election day votes are reported. Stay tuned!
Rick Jackson has arrived. It’s lively scene at the Westin Perimeter North, and only 10 minutes until the polls close. Jackson is making the rounds in a private reception. Non-VIPs are being escorted to the main ballroom.
In Sandy Springs, just north of Atlanta, gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson’s election night soirée is already buzzing. Stay tuned for more as the night continues.
Polls are closed and results are starting to trickle in! I'm at the watch party for Congressman Mike Collins where supporters are starting to show up.
Checking in from Jackson, Butts County where Lt. Gov. Burt Jones & Congressman Mike Collins will be holding their election night watch party. Their opponents, Rick Jackson & Derek Dooley, respectively, will be in north Atlanta, and @georgiarecorder.com intern Ellie Fivas will have the dispatches.
Today is election day in Washington, DC, Georgia, Alabama, and Oklahoma! Want to keep up with the coverage? Follow these local newsrooms and reporters for the very latest:
Polls are open in Georgia 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for several statewide primary runoff elections for both Republicans and Democrats. If you have not made a decision yet, check out the @georgiarecorder.com voter guide below. georgiarecorder.com/voter-guides...
Voter Guide: 2026 runoffs • Georgia
From Georgia Recorder | Integrity. Fairness. Independence.
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