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26 minutes ago
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Senator Jason Esteves wants to be the next Democratic governor, and win Savannah's vote
Georgia Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate and Senator Jason Esteves arrived at Hotel Indigo at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2 for an open meet-and-greet with a modest crowd of about 30 people. 'Democrats can win in Georgia,' said a lively Esteves to the room, which reciprocated with murmurs of approval. 'Democrats will win in Georgia.' In a state led by sitting Republican Governor Brian Kemp that swung back to red in the 2024 presidential election, in a country with a Republican-majority House and Senate, it's an optimistic battle cry on behalf of the Democratic Party. And 41-year-old Esteves himself is a relatively fresh face among two potential other Democratic candidates, including two-time state Representative Derrick Jackson and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. But his strategy seems to be keeping his messaging simple, in a universal promise that may appeal to both sides of the aisle. 'We win by going across this state, not just in blue cities and blue counties, but red towns and red counties too,' he said. 'By talking to people about how we are going to keep and grow the money in their pocket.' Big promises for small businesses Esteves wears hats that may position him well to a variety of voters. He is a lawyer, business owner of an urgent care and two breakfast restaurants and a former middle school social science public school teacher. Still, his political stint has been a relatively recent endeavor as the state Democratic Party treasurer since 2019, and the District 35 Senator since 2023, representing Douglas and parts of Fulton County. Still, Esteves was confident enough to throw in the first Democratic chip for governor in April. And it appears that the new kid can also throw some punches. 'We deserve to have a governor that is going to invest as much in our small businesses as our governor today invests in a company like Hyundai,' said Esteves. Earlier in the day, Esteves spoke at a Black Business Expo panel in downtown Savannah. Whether the subject remained fresh on his mind, or he did intend to focus on it, small businesses owners were a cornerstone of his informal talk. 'He speaks the language,' said Brandon Campbell owner of B. Campbell, a custom suit company in Savannah since 2023. 'He doesn't just support mine, but any small business.' 'We don't get the back-end help or push the major companies get,' said Tajuan Brantley, owner of TB Fitness in Savannah for the past eight years. But listening to Esteves convinces Brantley that help will come. All paths lead to a fight in Washington Still, it's not just small business owners that Esteves hopes to win over. In response to a question about how to appeal to red counties, he boiled it down to three fairly lofty goals. 'When they meet me, and they see that I'm laser-focused on economic issues, laser focused on building a world-class healthcare system, a world-class education system, a lot of these folks have issues with that too,' he responded. 'We need a governor that's going to address the issues that have been plaguing Georgia for decades, long before Donald Trump was our president." Still, this doesn't mean he doesn't have a bone to pick with the current administration, and one of those bones is worth $119 million. Included in his promise to grow Georgians' pockets is seeing through the millions of dollars in federal aid for afflicted residents after Hurricane Helene that have still not been distributed nearly a year later—a frustration he expressed in an interview with Atlanta Journal Constitution podcast "Politically Georgia" in May. When asked how he might get back some of that federal money, 'we have to not be afraid to call out Washington, D.C. for what they're doing in Georgia,' Esteves said. The current "Republican governor is not saying a thing... I'm going to make sure that we have a governor that's going to fight the administration.' What Esteves wants for Savannah On Sunday, Aug. 3, Esteves will visit two local Savannah churches and attend another meet-and-greet at 4 p.m. at the The 5 Spot Sandfly at 7360 Skidaway Rd. If elected governor, Esteves' plans to ensure Savannah's residents can continue to live where they work. 'The coast has experienced significant growth, and it has beared the burden of keeping up with that growth,' said Esteves. Alleviating that burden means providing enough jobs that keep kids out of trouble, building infrastructure that can withstand flooding and climate change impacts, and providing affordable housing amid rapid development, he added. As for a nearby major developer's parking lot, he said he detests seeing license plates belonging nearly every other state but Georgia. 'We need a governor that's going to enforce the agreements that we have with Hyundai,' said Esteves, including those that promised hiring local contractors. 'Right now we have a governor that's putting business first instead of the people of the state.' The Georgia gubernatorial race will take place Nov. 3, 2026. The primary election for Governor of Georgia will take place on May 19, 2026. Jillian Magtoto covers climate change and the environment in coastal Georgia. You can reach her at jmagtoto@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Democratic gubernatorial vandidate Senator Jason Esteves visits Savannah Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
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Question of the Week: Will Florida's Democratic party return to relevance?
It's hard to believe Florida was once a Democratic stronghold that dominated the state's politics for about a century. Now after years of Republican dominance, one-third of the state has no functioning Democratic party and Republicans boast 1.3 million more registered voters. The last Democrat elected to a statewide position was Nikki Fried, who in 2018 was elected Commissioner of Agriculture. You have to go back even further to find the last Democrat to reside in the governor's mansion. That would be Kenneth Hood Mackay who served for a year after Democratic Chiles died in 1998 while still in office. 2018 was actually a decent year for Democrats who forced three recounts that year in statewide elections. But there has been little since then for the statewide party to get excited about. This week, as reported by James Call of the Tallahassee Democrat, two consultants and a local Democratic Party chair offered the beleaguered party insight and advice on how Democrats can start winning elections again, during a Capital Tiger Bay luncheon July 28 in Tallahassee. They gave Republicans credit for having the foresight to put together a long-term plan in the late 1990s. Beth Matuga of Hard Ask Consulting said Democrats need to start planning the same way. 'Republicans enacted a 25-year plan and it worked,' Matuga said. 'So, we should realistically be considering a 25-year plan to rebuild, not a 24-month plan.' Among the strategic messages shared were making sure the Democratic party not only reach out and speak to their base but to also listen. The same two-pronged approach is needed for getting voters to not only register as Democrats but to support and vote for their candidates, the consultants advised. Fried, who remains the state party chair, said it was also important for party leaders to reach out and talk to people who are not Democrats. She also said that economics always trumps politics: "Property insurance, auto insurance, everyday cost of living. These are policy issues that transcend partisan politics." 25 years seems like an awfully long time. Can it happen sooner? That brings us to the Question of the Week. Will Florida's Democratic party return to relevance in the next decade? Why or why not? You can simply cast your votes on the ballots above. You can scan the QR code that is on the print edition page or go to Please leave a comment telling us why you voted the way you did. In order for your comment or email to be published on our website and in next week's print edition, you must include your first and last name. You can also shoot me an email with "Democrats" in the subject line. I look forward to reading your responses. Last Sunday I asked: Do you agree with the county commission proposal to loosen the restrictions regarding backyard chickens? Results: Yes: 63.34 Percent No: 36.66 Percent Here's what you had to say: Chickens should be raised on a farm designed for them. -- Allen Halber The rising prices of eggs may make raising your own chickens seem appealing, but I have absolutely no interest in doing so because I am fully aware of what it entails. Chickens demand daily care — feeding, watering, and constant coop cleaning. They are undeniably messy creatures, and their droppings attract pests like rodents. Trust me, you definitely don't want to walk barefoot where chickens roam; they lay more than just eggs. Plus you can kiss your grass goodbye unless you have them penned up because they love to scratch in the dirt. Additionally, we must remain vigilant against predators such as hawks, owls, raccoons, and even domestic animals that have an eye for chickens, just like my husband does—only they don't require any cooking. I sincerely hope my neighbors don't decide to get the permitted six chickens. Not only would I have to deal with an influx of predators, but let's not overlook the foul smell and the potential diseases that come with them. So yes, I firmly oppose the idea of allowing wannabe chicken farmers within city limits—especially in my neighborhood. -- Marcie Sizemore Ramirez I have 4 beautiful hens in my backyard and they bring great charm and beautiful eggs to my Cocoa Beach home. I always bring their food into my florida room at night, to keep the predators away. Lessening the restrictions in communities is only a win for Brevard! -- Lisa Catledge My complaint is about neighbors in upscale unincorporated areas (I'm in Indialantic), and they do have roosters from some of the eggs hatching unnoticed. Part of the issue. I think minimum of 1-2 acres would be better. -- Ed Palmer There were chickens and a goose across our back fence when we lived in Melbourne Village, and I liked the homey feeling they gave the neighborhood. I liked hearing the rooster crow but realized that it might have disturbed some sleepers. I smiled whenever I heard a hen "cackle" when she laid an egg: "Look what I did!" she was proclaiming. I also liked being able to buy fresh eggs from the owner, but that's not on the table in this issue. I think it's good for people to be reminded where our food comes from. It's not created out of thin air. It's grown, somehow, somewhere. -- Margaret Broussard I think everyone should be allowed to have chickens i would have to say that my chicken i am on a limit of 6 where I live and I only have 4 but they are so much more than just egg providers and if given love and attention as they are growing they can be as loving as a dog or cat. They have unique individual personalities and can ve man's best friend. Im sure not everyone will be on my team here but if u dont agree thats opinions are like buttholes everyone has one yet no need to act as tho you are one.... anyway it is just my opinion as long as they are properly cared for and the cage cleaned out and the poop disposed of somehow then there isnt an issue I live in a field and have had chickens for 2 years never had a snake in my yard or a rat not ever . So they dont always invite pests if cared for properly. -- Julie James I think all citizens should have the right to live in a more self sustaining way no matter where they live. -- Abigail Page I believe they should allow us to keep chickens, more than 6 to be honest! We all need to learn how to be self-motivated to grow your own food. There is too much government control, too many lazy people depending on a system set up to make the rich richer. We need to go back farming. We can still relax on our garden area we set up and sip whiskey all we want. You enjoy something someone else provides, why not enjoy something you can provide for your self with help and high prices for food God put on this earth for us. -- DeJuan Smith Kids are so disconnected from where food comes from that it's a good learning experience. My kids and grandkids love picking up eggs and knowing on sight which chickens laid which eggs. Chicken eggs from free range chickens have less cholesterol and taste SO much better than mass produced eggs. Chickens are funny and interesting and can be quite breed research. If you grow tired of them, call a feed store, unlike excess cats, someone will be happy to take them. -- Trish Lynch People living in an HOA should not be permitted to raise chickens. Outside of an HOA and in unincorporated Brevard ― such as Grant ― rules allow for a lot of animals, chickens included. -- Julin Lynn Without a large area to provide the range they need and distance from other nearby neighbors to keep the noise and smell at a distance. Properties are often built close together so how do you determine (without an ordinance) what is too close? Who's going to police this? I vote no. Unless you can provide more restrictions. Each chicken will lay one egg per day. Even with 3 chickens that's a lot of eggs 21 per week. A lot of omelets. Chicken poo does smell. They do attract raccoons and an occasional bobcat. In our area the houses are pretty close together so you can clearly here them. When the chicken farmers loose interest and they aren't as attentive as they were in the beginning…well you know. -- Jerry Saylor As a child, my family had an egg ranch with 100,000 laying hens. There is not much difference in effort required between raising one hen or six. In other words, all of the care and feeding that one has to do to produce eggs from one hen is essentially equal to raising six hens. The inherent problems are also essentially equal. The biggest problems to raising hens in an urban setting are: 1) the odors generated from their droppings, and 2) the feed which acts as a magnet for rats and other rodents. If you are to pursue it as a hobby, it can be very rewarding. If you believe you are going to save money by raising your own hens, you will soon be given a lesson in the economies of scale. You will discover that purchasing eggs is generally far more economical. -- Ted Hunt If this were not so funny it would be pathetic. I have some experience in this. It is nigh impossible to figure out a baby chicken's sex. So, you order your 6-chicks ― ask for hens and … whoops one of those chicks ends up being a rooster. But until the waddle and comb develop you think they are all female. Now comes the challenge. What do you do with the noise? Hens are really noisy but a rooster!! Yikes, in my neighbor's yard? Did you want to meet your local racoon or fox or bobcat ― just raise chickens! Unless you have lots of acreage this is a bad idea. BTW, if you've ever been to Key West you know these hens actually can fly into trees! I hope my subdivision has a by-law concerning chickens! -- Laura Petruska Great decision. Everybody should have chickens. They produce, are fun to be around, eat scraps, can be trained, give kids some worthwhile are a win-win-- Robert "Bob" Socks Contact Torres at jtorres@ You can follow him on X @johnalbertorres Multimedia editor Rob Landers contributed to this report. Support local journalism and become a subscriber. Visit This article originally appeared on Florida Today: This week's Question of the Week concerns Florida's Democratic party Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Race to replace Mitch McConnell heats up on stage: 3 takeaways from Fancy Farm 2025
FANCY FARM, Ky. — The three high-profile Republicans gunning for longtime U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's seat gathered under one roof this weekend alongside the man they're running to replace. Yeah, there were some fireworks. The annual Fancy Farm political picnic was absent of Democrats in 2025, save for John "Drew" Williams, an enthusiastic West Kentucky native running a longshot bid to unseat U.S. Rep. James Comer, who had plenty of buzz of his own. But it wasn't absent of drama. After months of potshots before and after they'd officially entered the race, U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Lexington businessman Nate Morris finally had a chance to trade barbs in person, with a raucous crowd cheering and jeering and McConnell joining them on stage. It was, to sum it up, Fancy Farm. Here's a quick look at some of the highlights. Morris vs. McConnell — and everyone else McConnell, a Fancy Farm staple for more than 40 years, stayed above the fray on stage at the picnic. With protesters chanting "ceasefire now," he stuck to his script of ripping former President Joe Biden and Democrats and promoting his ties to President Donald Trump, who he's clashed with at times over the past decade. But he was more pointed earlier in the day at the Graves County Republican Breakfast. While speaking to audience members, McConnell — whose planned attendance at the weekend event was not announced ahead of time — noted one candidate running to replace him has said they don't want to be like him, a clear reference to Morris. "I'm wondering how you'd want to be different from the longest-serving Senate leader in U.S. history?" McConnell said. Morris, who did not join Barr and Cameron in standing and applauding when speakers praised the senator throughout the day, had plenty to say in response. McConnell "helped push lawfare against President Trump," he said after arriving at the event, "blamed January 6 on President Trump' and "wrote blank checks for Ukraine." "That's how I'm going to be different," he said. More: Who had the best zingers? Here's a round up from Fancy Farm Both Cameron and Barr criticized Morris for continuing to sit while McConnell was being recognized, though they took care to draw a line in the sand between their beliefs and those of the incumbent senator. But they weren't shy about coming after each other once they had the mic. Cameron said Barr "wants you to think he's America First, but it's hard to believe him when he voted with Nancy Pelosi 1,200 times." And Morris "wants you to think he's tough, but when he was asked about his donation in the primary to Nikki Haley over Donald Trump, rather than own up to it, his first thought was to throw his wife under the bus." In a recent interview with Spectrum TV, Morris said a contribution to Haley's 2024 primary campaign against Trump came after he "got stuck with the bill for a dinner that my wife attended" where Haley spoke. "Nate, that's not tough talk, that's a night in the doghouse," Cameron told the crowd. Morris founded the waste management company Rubicon and has used his background as a "trash man" in his campaign, joking that it's time to take out the trash in Washington, D.C. and running an ad that shows him throwing away a McConnell cardboard cutout. He arrived at Fancy Farm in a garbage truck branded with his campaign logo, surrounded by supporters wearing orange vests. More: Senate candidate Nate Morris says he's 'going to trash McConnell's legacy' at Fancy Farm But Barr flipped that image in his speech. Morris, he said, "calls himself the trash man, but dumpster fire is more like it," as he once voiced some understanding for racial justice protesters in a 2020 letter to employees and did not rush workers back to in-person work in April 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. "It's been a tough couple of years for Nate," Barr joked. "His company collapsed, Nikki Haley lost the primary, Brooks Brothers stopped making his favorite COVID mask and now Trump is phasing out the penny. How in the world is anyone going to be able to buy Rubicon stock?" And as he roasted Gov. Andy Beshear, Barr threw in a shot at the governor's opponent in the 2023 gubernatorial campaign, conveniently on stage with him — "You know, I'd say anyone could beat (Beshear), but I wouldn't want to offend Daniel Cameron." Morris took it a step further. He took aim at McConnell as "a senior citizen who freezes on national television during his press conferences," equating him with Biden in age and demeanor, and said his presence alongside Barr and Cameron felt like "bring your boys to work day." Barr is "a fully owned subsidiary of Mitch McConnell," he added, and Cameron "managed to choke like a dog and lose the general election to Andy Beshear and our commonwealth in a state that Trump won by 30 points." Morris took by far the most boos from the crowd, a far cry from the warm reception he received at his campaign's opening rally alongside conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. McConnell spoke early in the event and had left the stage by the time the three Senate candidates spoke. But Morris had a vocal set of supporters as well, including state Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, who donned an orange vest like the rest of his backers. He's friends with Cameron and Barr too, Hodgson said, but he's "always supported candidates that are outsiders. Disrupters break up the status quo." One Democrat speaks up Beshear was nowhere to be seen, due to a "scheduling conflict" that was the butt of plenty of jokes. Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman made an appearance at the Democrats' annual bean supper dinner the night before the Aug. 2 picnic but did not speak or attend the event the following day. And state Rep. Pamela Stevenson, a Louisville Democrat who's currently the frontrunner for the party's nomination for Senate, didn't show either. Instead, it was Williams — a 32-year-old dock builder who's proud to tell you he's helped revitalize his hometown of Benton's annual Tater Day celebration — left to take the stage alone. Some credit is due. The boos and the sea of "Comer for Congress" signs he faced didn't stop him. He told The Courier Journal he's in the race to "bring people back to the table, make sure that people are heard and their voices and concerns are heard." "These spaces need us here and need our voices, and we're never going to get that unless we show up and we're in," Williams said. Still, you could tell he was outnumbered. Comer shook his hand before they both spoke but later joked he didn't know his opponent's name and presented him with a mock endorsement from President Joe Biden "signed by the autopen" as a show of good sportsmanship because "we know Andy Beshear won't endorse him ... and I'm pretty confident that no national leaders will come campaign for him." In 2025, Fancy Farm is a Republican show. State Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, noted that hasn't always been the case in his 14 years in office and more that two decades of attending the event. "This year was probably the most stark contrast we've seen," Meredith said after the speeches. "When I first started coming 21 years ago, the very first time I was here, it was probably two-thirds Democrat and a third Republican. Republicans have just had electoral success, they've had success in changing party registrations in this part of the state, and it's like after years of dominance, the Democrats have decided because they're not dominant anymore (then) it's irrelevant." Comer, Coleman and the governor's race He's not on the ballot yet. But Comer is already getting plenty of buzz ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial race, where a term-limited Beshear will not be on the ballot and Republicans have a strong chance to take back the governor's mansion. Agriculture Commissioner Johnathan Shell openly told the crowd "Governor Comer" has a nice ring to it. And the congressman, who's running for reelection in 2026, did the opposite of shutting down speculation. "The governor's race is two years away. I don't think it's any secret I'm very interested in that," he told reporters after speeches ended. "... I'm getting a lot of encouragement from people all over Kentucky, so it's something that we're looking very seriously at, but it's going to be another year before that decision." He has an idea of who he may face in the general election if he enters the race and advances through the primary — Coleman, Beshear's lieutenant governor. She has not said what she plans to do after her time in her current role ends. Rocky Adkins, a former candidate and special advisor to Beshear, has also been mentioned as a potential candidate. But Comer said he doesn't believe voters in Louisville and Lexington will line up to back Adkins due to his previous support for some anti-abortion legislation and other stances more in line with conservative voters. "Right now, Jackie Coleman's the overwhelming favorite to be the Democrat nominee for governor," Comer predicted. Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@ This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Fancy Farm takeaways: Mitch McConnell, James Comer, other highlights
