Ups, Downs and In-betweens
Ossoff Opponent: Gov. Brian Kemp has announced he will not run for the U.S. Senate in 2026 against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, a move that disappointed Republican leaders who saw him as the strongest contender and had urged him to run. Political analysts speculate that Kemp is keeping his options open for a 2028 run for the White House. Shortly after Kemp’s announcement, U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (District 1) announced he will enter the race. Insurance Commissioner John King was the second Republican to enter the race, a few days later. Other Republicans are also considering a run for the nomination.
In Memoriam: Longtime state representative Susan Holmes passed away on April 30 at the age of 82. Before being elected to the House in 2010, she was the first woman to serve as mayor in her hometown of Monticello in Jasper County. A Republican, she served six terms in the General Assembly.
Another former state legislator, Ben Harbin, died in early May at the age of 61. First elected to the Georgia House in 1994, the Republican legislator represented the 122nd District until 2015.
More Appointments: The Georgia Student Finance Commission board has approved Chris Green as its next president following the retirement of longtime leader Lynne Riley. He most recently served as the senior vice president of external affairs at the GSFC, the state’s higher education finance agency responsible for administering scholarship, grant and student loan programs as well as providing outreach and education services statewide.
Effective May 1, Angelique McClendon is the new commissioner for the Georgia Department of Driver Services. She previously served as general counsel and assistant deputy commissioner of legal and regulatory affairs for the department.
Photo credit: Gerd Altmann
Tuition Rates Stabilize: After a 2.5% increase last year, the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents has committed to keeping in-state tuition rates the same for the 2025-2026 academic year. Out-of-state tuition will rise by 2%, while out-of-country tuition will increase by 3%. It’s the seventh time in 10 years that the Board of Regents has kept overall tuition costs flat for state residents.
The only exceptions are for the University of North Georgia and Albany State University, which are beginning a three-year plan to bring undergraduate tuition into alignment with the rest of the USG institutions.
According to national data from the College Board, Georgia has the third lowest average undergraduate tuition rates compared to its public peers throughout the South and ranks as the sixth lowest compared to peers across the nation.
Consolidation: The USG Board of Regents has approved the consolidation of East Georgia State College and Georgia Southern University, bringing the university system’s total institutions to 25. It’s the first step in a typically yearlong process. The new institution will allow East Georgia State to retain its identity while becoming part of Georgia Southern, and it will be led by GSU President Kyle Marrero.
New Party Head: Charlie Bailey is the new chair of Georgia’s Democratic Party.He was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2022 and ran for attorney general in 2018, but lost to Republicans both times. He takes over from U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams (District 5) who announced she was stepping down in March. Just days prior, party leaders had voted to change the chairmanship from a voluntary position to a full-time job, which prevented Williams from remaining in the role due to federal ethics rules.
Leadership Changes: Several universities throughout Georgia recently welcomed new presidents, including Robert Scott, the new president at Albany State University, and Jermaine Whirl, who is leading Savannah State University after leaving Augusta Technical College. In May, TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier named Heather Pence as the new president of Chattahoochee Technical College. And retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Terrence McKenrick begins his role as the 22nd president of Georgia Military College on July 1.
Bárbara Rivera Holmes. Photo credit: contributed
Making History: Kemp has appointed Bárbara Rivera Holmes as the new commissioner of the Department of Labor, making her Georgia’s first Latina constitutional officer. She will serve the remainder of the term through 2026 of former Commissioner Bruce Thompson, who died in late 2024.
The former award-winning journalist most recently served as the president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce since 2015 and was CEO of the Albany Area Chamber Foundation. She was previously a member of the Georgia Board of Regents and co-chair of the Georgia Innovates Task Force. Kemp also appointed Rivera Holmes to the Georgia Rural Development Council earlier this year.
