Senate Votes 33-19 for Hand Recounts in Governor Race

The Georgia Senate passed legislation Saturday requiring hand recounts of the governor and U.S. Senate races before certification in every election. The measure also delays the QR code ballot deadline until 2028. The changes directly affect the May 19 Republican primary to replace term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp.

Recount Rule Alters Certification Process

Lawmakers added the hand recount requirement through a floor amendment. The full bill cleared the Senate on a 33-19 party-line vote. Every future election must now include manual tallies of the top two races prior to final certification.

The requirement applies to the 2026 governor contest and U.S. Senate race. Four leading Republican candidates are competing to succeed Kemp. Rick Jackson leads recent polls after self-funding more than $30 million. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones holds second place with Trump endorsements and nearly $3.9 million raised. Attorney General Chris Carr leads external fundraising at about $4.9 million. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger sits third in surveys with $864,000 raised plus $5 million self-funded.

The recount mandate adds time to the post-election timeline. A runoff, if needed, remains scheduled for June 16.

State Flags 15 Miles of Beaches for Bacteria

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division identified 15 miles of coastline on Tybee Island, St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island as impaired. Elevated enterococci levels exceed recreation standards under the Clean Water Act. Officials will post advisories at affected access points.

These popular beaches draw heavy summer visitors. The designations require monitoring and potential remediation steps by local governments. No swimming closures were announced, but the flags signal ongoing water quality concerns.

Radio Host Martha Zoller Dies

Conservative commentator and activist Martha Zoller, who had announced her retirement from her radio show with final broadcast scheduled for June 26, 2026, died unexpectedly on June 22, 2026, in Gainesville, GA, after a stress-related heart attack. Zoller spent decades shaping Georgia Republican discourse through broadcasting and political involvement.

Her death removes a prominent voice from the state's conservative media landscape. Colleagues and listeners noted her influence on party debates and candidate recruitment over many election cycles.

The Senate bill now moves to the House for consideration. Beach advisories take effect immediately with signage.