Kelvin King speaks to why he’s running for U.S. Senate
News, State & National April 16, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga – Businessman and self-starter Kelvin King took issue with those who called his candidacy for U.S. Senate a Republican strategy.
“I’m not a strategy. I’ve been a Republican for a long time, and I saw an opportunity. I saw a need in our Party to win back this sear and I think I can do it.” King remarked, “I’m not a tool of the Republican Party. No one in the Republican Party said ‘Hey Kelvin, I think you can win because your Black. I think that’s offensive. ”
He does believe he’s the best chance for Republican voters to take back a Senate seat in 2022. Senator Raphael Warnock (D) is up for reelection after winning the January runoff against Kelly Loeffler. Traditionally, Senators serve six years, but the race was for the remaining time in retired Senator Johnny Isakson’s term.
King considers himself a statesman who’s ready to represent Georgia in Washington D.C. if given the opportunity.
King’s a Georgia native who was born in Macon and grew up in Cobb County. He received an appointment to the Air Force Academy and served in the Air Force. Upon returning to Georgia, he began his own construction company out of his home, and now it’s a multimillion-dollar company.
He admitted he didn’t follow politics growing up but tended to vote Democrat until college when he began reading a lot of black history books and other materials. His first Republican vote was for George Bush. Self determination and less government are two ideas that King strongly believes in.
“As long as we have freedom and liberty that means we have the opportunity to succeed or fail on our own,” he stated.
As for cancel culture, King commented that it ultimately hurts innocent bystanders – those not directly involved. He cited MLB’s decision to move the All-Star Game from Cobb County. It resulted in millions lost for local businesses. King added that companies and media need to gather more accurate information before making final decisions. Cancel culture doesn’t unite America; it divides the country on a personal level.
Vernon Jones launches campaign for governor
Featured News, Featured Stories, News, State & National April 16, 2021
ATLANTA – Former State Representative Vernon Jones announced his intentions to run for Georgia Governor on Friday, April 16 at Liberty Park next to the Georgia State Capitol.
“This is the beginning of a movement whose time has come,” Jones opened. “For those of you who feel the incumbent Governor didn’t fight for you, a new day has dawned.”
Focused on looking past differences of North and South Georgia, race, or class, Jones pledged to bring opportunities for everyone.
He promised election integrity, school choice, support for law enforcement, driving crime out of Atlanta, comprehensive economic plan, natural resource preservation, and creating one Georgia.
Jones a vocal critic of Governor Brian Kemp recently became a Republican, perhaps just to primary Kemp. Previously, Jones denounced the Democrat Party but stated he had no plans of changing Parties. He’s a strong Trump supporter as well.
“Even sitting on the back of the truck won’t change it,” Jones remarked about Kemp’s attempts to rehabilitate his image among some Republicans.
By signing SB 202, Kemp’s appeared to win back some support from disillusioned Republican voters. It’s unclear to what extent in rural Georgia.
Jones added SB 202 didn’t address the issue of changing the election system, but he didn’t elaborate on the needed changes.
Trump’s continued to criticize Georgia elected officials including Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger for not supporting his efforts to overturn 2020 election results. The former President promised to haunt these individuals during their 2022 reelection efforts.
So far, he’s made good on his promise, Representative Jody Hice (R-10) announced his intentions to run for Secretary of State and within hours Trump endorsed him. Trump’s floated ideas about those who should run for governor and senator in Georgia.
“Our country and our army are going to be inclusive regardless of race, gender, or orientation. We are building an army. The establishment and outlets are going to come after me. Matter of fact, they already are and you know why? It’s because they know the governor can’t beat Stacey Abrams and they know Stacey Abrams can’t beat Vernon Jones,” the former representative commented while using Trump’s attack the media and fiery rhetoric tactics.
Jones has recently spent several weekends in Mar-a-Lago and told the crowd that he sends his regards.
Jones will have for his time as a Democrat to Republican voters even though he used to describe himself as a “conservative Democrat.”
At his campaign launch, Jones said, “I didn’t leave the Democrat Party, the Democrat Party left me.” He continued to talk about his faith-based, hard work, and less government driven values.
He stated that Democrats have two crows “Joe and Jim,” and they have “hijacked” the Civil Rights Movement for political gain and money. Stacey Abrams in his book is “the wicked witch of the south.”
Earlier this week, he asked that Georgian’s show him the same courtesy that they did to former Governors Sonny Perdue and Nathan Deal who also switched Parties. The last Democrat governor in Georgia was Roy Barnes in 1999.
Perdue opts out of 2022 Senate race
Featured News, Featured Stories, News, Politics, State & National February 23, 2021
ATLANTA, Ga – After taking the first step and filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, former Senator David Perdue (R – Ga) announced this morning that he would not seek a Senate seat in 2022.
Perdue would have faced off against Senator Raphael Warnock (D – Ga), who beat Kelly Loeffler in the January runoff. Senator Jon Ossoff won Perdue’s seat in the same runoff.
In a statement, the former Georgia senator called his decision a “personal, not political one” and expressed confidence in the Republican Party defeating the Democrats in 2022. He added that Georgia “is not a blue state.”
He also put pressure on the General Assembly to close any election law loopholes, so every legal vote counts.
See the full statement below:
“Dear Friends,
After much prayer and reflection, Bonnie and I have decided that we will not enter the race for the United States Senate in Georgia in 2022. This is a personal decision, not a political one. I am confident that whoever wins the Republican Primary next year will defeat the Democrat candidate in the General election for this seat, and I will do everything I can to make that happen. As we saw in my race in November, Georgia is not a blue state. The more Georgians that vote, the better Republicans do. These two current liberal US Senators do not represent the values of a majority of Georgians.
I am hopeful that the Georgia General Assembly, along with our statewide elected officials, will correct the inequities in our state laws and election rules so that, in the future, every legal voter will be treated equally, and illegal votes will not be included. I will do everything I can to be helpful in this effort.
It has been the honor of my life to have represented the people of Georgia in the United States Senate.
Bonnie and I want to thank my fantastic staff and everybody in the state and around the country for all the help they have given us. May God continue to bless Georgia and the United States of America.God Bless,
David and Bonnie Perdue”
With Perdue officially bowing out, it opens the Republican field to potential newcomers. Trump’s promised to participate in Georgia’s primaries after the 2020 election. He’s unhappy with Governor Brian Kemp (R – Ga) for not overturning the results.
Doug Collins still evaluating his 2022 options
BKP Politics, News February 17, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga – Former Congressman Doug Collins didn’t rule out a potential governor or U.S. Senate run in 2022. He confirmed he’s weighing his options and would make a decision in the future.
“I’m concerned about conservatism right now,” Collins expressed. “If that means I need to be on the ballot, I’ll be on the ballot.”
There’s a divide in the Republican party between Trump supporters and those trying to pull away from the embattled former President, especially after January 6.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R – Kentucky) appeared to try to appease both sides by voting to acquit Trump and then condemn his actions in a follow-up speech.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Collins stated that McConnell’s always been about “McConnell and the Senate,” not the America First agenda set forth by Trump. On Tuesday, February 16, Trump responded to McConnell’s speech. In it, he called the minority leader a “dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack” and forewarned Republican candidates that they “will not win again” following McConnell.
“I’m very disheartened, and I think it was disingenuous of McConnell to make [the statement] after the fact. In my mind, it’s hard to say, well, it was unconstitutional, so I just voted to acquit, but then give a scathing speech and op-ed where basically, he said, ‘I hope he gets charged in court. You don’t do that.’” Collins remarked about McConnell’s actions.
The former Congressman commented how he’s talked to people all over the country who are tired of “the work as usual” and want honesty.
“We’ve got to get all Republicans on the same page,” Collins stated. “There has to be a fix here. The President laid out a great vision. We saw a lot of stuff, and now they can’t be well, we don’t like some of what he did, so we’re going to turn and try to do it differently. That’s going to be a hard row.”
President Trump asked Doug Collins if he wanted to run for Governor during one of his rallies for David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. Trump’s made it clear he intends to find someone to primary Kemp after the Governor refused to overturn the election.
Earlier this week, former Senator David Perdue (R – Ga) filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission for a potential 2022 Senate run against Senator Raphael Warnock (D – Ga).
Voter Confidence
Approximately 100,000 voters in the Ninth and Fourteenth Districts stayed home during the January 5 runoff. Many of those voters lost faith in the system.
Doug Collins with President Trump
“You let somebody else talk you out of doing what this Constitution gives you the right to do,” Collins expressed to those who stayed home. He added if those people voted, David Perdue at least would have kept his seat.
On January 5, the top vote earner was Senator Raphael Warnock (R-Ga), the second Republican Public Service Commissioner Bubble McDonald, and Senator Jon Ossoff (R-Ga) came third. Republicans turned out, but the Republican stronghold districts stayed home.
“You can’t tell me that Republicans, if they had just shown up that we couldn’t at least get David over the line,” Collins emphasized. “If you did not vote on [January 5] because you let somebody else talk you out of it, I can’t help you.”
He understood that people feel disgruntled after the General Election, but they need to focus and get their heads back in the game.
However, Collins believes that Georgia Republicans need Trump to win in the state. The party needs to find candidates who can win and effectively get the message out.
“We’ll have an advantage because Joe Biden is frankly so bad, and the House and Senate have shown their true colors. We’re going to have plenty to run against, but if we have people who won’t vote, it’s going to be a problem,” the former Congressman stated.
Collins ended the interview by telling listeners to look out for information soon about his future apart from running for office.