Jeff Amy, Author at The Rapid City Post

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins speaks at a Senate campaign event on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Jackson, Ga. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

Mike Collins argues he can unite Georgia GOP in challenge to Democratic US Sen. Jon Ossoff

August 20, 2025

Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins is seeking to unite President Donald Trump’s base with traditional business conservatives in his bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2026. Collins has endorsements from many Republican state lawmakers, although GOP Gov. Brian Kemp is backing newcomer Derek Dooley. Fellow congressman Buddy Carter is also seeking the Republican nomination. Ossoff is a key Republican target in 2026 because he’s the only Democratic incumbent seeking reelection in a state Trump won in 2024. But the Republicans lining up behind Collins may show that Kemp may finally be waning into lame-duck status late in his second term.

A top Republican in the Georgia governor’s race is suing his rival over campaign financing

August 7, 2025

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is suing Lt. Gov. Burt Jones over how Jones is financing his campaign as both Republicans run for governor in 2026. Carr claims Jones’ ability to use a special leadership committee gives him an unfair advantage by allowing unlimited fundraising. Carr says that because he has to follow campaign contribution limits, Jones’ use of the leadership committee violates Carr’s rights to free speech and equal protection. The Thursday lawsuit was filed in federal court in Atlanta. It seeks to stop Jones from raising or spending money from his leadership committee before the May primary. Jones’ campaign dismisses Carr’s complaints.

FILE - Missouri offensive coordinator Derek Dooley calls out instructions during an NCAA college football practice, Aug. 12, 2019, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

Former Tennessee coach Derek Dooley announces 2026 Senate bid in Georgia

August 4, 2025

Former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley has announced his 2026 Republican bid for the U.S. Senate in Georgia. He is running against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff. Dooley is backed by Gov. Brian Kemp and on Monday joined a GOP field that includes U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins. Kemp turned to Dooley after deciding not to run himself. Dooley has never held elective office and plans to run as a political outsider. He aims to bring “Georgia common sense” and work with President Donald Trump. Dooley’s candidacy has already faced criticism for his lack of conservative credentials.

FILE - Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, R-Ga., presides over a House Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Feb. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr., File)

Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene won’t run for governor in 2026

July 29, 2025

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says she won’t run for governor in Georgia. The staunch ally of President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that she isn’t running with a long social media post saying she is turned off by Georgia’s “good ole boy” system and alleging that it is endangering Republican control of the state. Greene chose earlier not to run for Senate under pressure from Republicans who feared she would hand a second term to Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff. Greene had been saying she was considering running for governor. She appeared at the Georgia Republican Party convention in Dalton in June wearing a “Make Georgia Great Again” hat and discussing state issues.

FILE - Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., center,, is joined from left by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., as they talk to reporters about the Laken Riley Act, a bill to detain unauthorized immigrants who have been accused of certain crimes, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Georgia Republican Mike Collins joins field seeking to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2026

July 28, 2025

Georgia Republican Mike Collins is joining the GOP field to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2026. The second-term congressman made the announcement Monday. He’s the newest major Republican to enter the race in the key battleground state. Already running in the GOP primary is U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, while former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley is expected to announce soon. State Insurance Commissioner John King dropped out. Collins styles himself as a “MAGA workhorse” and strong supporter of Donald Trump. He has a combative social media presence that has drawn publicity and criticism. Ossoff won his seat in 2021 and is campaigning for a second term.

FILE - Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones speaks at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Georgia Ethics Commission won’t investigate source of Republican Burt Jones’ $10M loan

July 22, 2025

Georgia’s State Ethics Commission is declining to investigate Lt. Gov. Burt Jones over a $10 million loan to a campaign committee. The commission wrote in a Monday letter to a lawyer for Attorney General Chris Carr’s campaign that the complaint didn’t allege a legal violation. Carr and Jones are both running for the 2026 Republican nomination for governor. Carr questions the source of the funds. He says Jones’ earlier financial disclosures don’t show enough cash. Carr’s separate request on whether it’s legal for Jones to make loans to his leadership committee remains pending. Carr argues loans can be made only to a candidate committee, not to a separate leadership committee.

A Georgia Republican governor candidate questions legality of rival’s $10M campaign loan

July 17, 2025

A Republican candidate for Georgia governor accuses his rival of illegally lending $10 million to a campaign committee. Attorney General Chris Carr’s campaign lawyer said in a Thursday letter to state ethics officials that Lt. Gov. Burt Jones violated state law by giving the money to his so-called leadership committee. That committee can raise unlimited funds. Carr is asking the state Ethics Commission to agree with his position that Georgia law only allows such loans to candidate committees, which have limits on contributions. Jones made the loans in July to boost his campaign. A spokesperson for Jones calls Carr’s claims “a weak attempt to get attention.”

Judge disqualifies Democrat Daniel Blackman from Georgia Public Service Commission primary

June 10, 2025

Votes won’t count for Democrat Daniel Blackman in the June 17 primary election for Georgia Public Service Commission. A judge ruled Tuesday that Blackman hasn’t proved that he’s lived in Fulton County for the required year before the November election. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville earlier kept Blackman on the ballot temporarily after Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger had disqualified him. But Glanville says after a hearing that Raffensperger’s ruling was correct. Blackman can appeal. If he loses, votes for him won’t be counted in the District 3 Democratic primary for the utility regulator. Democrats Peter Hubbard, Robert Jones and Keisha Waites also seek their party’s nomination.

2026 races loom at Georgia Republican convention as Trump loyalty dominates

June 7, 2025

Many Georgia Republicans are already thinking about races for governor and Senate in 2026. The state party held its yearly convention Friday and Saturday in Dalton. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’s still thinking about a run for governor and gave a speech that centered on state-level issues. Attorney General Chris Carr, a declared candidate for governor, greeted delegates but didn’t give a speech. Another likely candidate for governor is Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. He emphasized his accomplishments and support for President Donald Trump. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter and state Insurance Commissioner John King both boosted their candidacies to challenge Democratic U.S. Senate incumbent Jon Ossoff.

FILE - Tennessee Volunteers head coach Derek Dooley watches his team warm up before an NCAA college football game on Sept. 22, 2012, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)

Former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley eyes GOP Senate run against Jon Ossoff in Georgia

June 6, 2025

Former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley says he is considering running for U.S. Senate in 2026 as a Republican against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff. Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision not to run for the seat has left Georgia Republicans looking for other options to face off against Ossoff. The 56-year-old Dooley says he will decide on a bid in coming weeks. Among Republicans who have declared their candidacies are U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, Insurance Commissioner John King and activist Reagan Box. Dooley would be banking on his status as the son of legendary University Georgia coach Vince Dooley and Kemp’s long ties to the Dooley family.

FILE - A ninth grader places his cellphone into a phone holder as he enters class at Delta High School, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Delta, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, file)

Half of US states now have laws banning or regulating cellphones in schools, with more to follow

May 20, 2025

Half of U.S. states now have laws banning or regulating cellphones in schools, with more likely to follow. Florida was the first state to pass a law regulating the use of cellphones in schools in 2023, while Alaska became the 25th on Tuesday. Bills have sprinted through legislatures this year in states as varied as New York and Oklahoma, reflecting a broad consensus that phones are bad for kids. Eight other states and the District of Columbia have rules or recommendations out to local districts. There’s an increasing focus on banning phones throughout the school day. But some states with traditions of local control are mandating only that districts adopt cellphone policies

Jeff Amy.