Georgia Trend Daily – Nov. 5, 2025

Nov. 5, 2025 WABE

Democrats flip two Georgia Public Service Commission seats

Patrick Saunders and Emily Jones report that Georgia voters on Tuesday ensured that Democrats will serve on the Georgia Public Service Commission for the first time in nearly two decades. Democrat Alicia Johnson ousted Republican incumbent Tim Echols for the District 2 seat on the PSC, while Democrat Peter Hubbard did the same against Fitz Johnson in District 3.

Nov. 5, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Cultivating Leaders Across Georgia

Rachel Wallenstein reports, Georgia boasts a whopping 159 counties, more than any other state except Texas, which is almost five times larger. Each county has been shaped, in some way, by the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia.

Nov. 5, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Despite losses, Rivian’s Q3 could jump-start EV maker’s Georgia future

Zachary Hansen reports, electric-vehicle maker Rivian had a busy third quarter, one that could prove pivotal for the startup and its promised Georgia projects. From July to September, the California-based automaker held a ceremonial groundbreaking for its $5 billion Georgia factory and signed a lease for an East Coast headquarters along the Beltline in Atlanta.

Nov. 5, 2025 Augusta Chronicle

How much is climate change costing Augusta and beyond? See this breakdown.

Erica Van Buren reports, from 1980 to 2024, Georgia experienced 134 weather and climate disasters. That includes 17 drought events, four flooding events, three freeze events, 68 severe storm events, 27 tropical cyclone events, three wildfire events, and 12 winter storm events, according to NOAA.

Nov. 5, 2025 WABE

Decatur gets Georgia’s first ‘Bird City’ certification

Molly Samuel reports that Decatur is Georgia’s first certified “Bird City.” The designation, similar to the “Tree City” and “Bee City” labels, which have been around longer in Georgia, signifies the city is doing education and outreach and working to protect or improve habitat for birds.

Nov. 5, 2025 Athens Banner-Herald

Why is Georgia bad to the homeless? New study reveals these key areas where the state fails

Miguel Legoas reports that last week, SmileHub released its rankings for the best and worst states for homeless people. Georgia did not come out of this study looking well, ranking 2nd worst in the nation.

Nov. 5, 2025 Savannah Morning News

Georgia Power faces public scrutiny over grid expansion to support data centers

Jillian Magtoto reports, on Oct. 21, Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) Attorney Bob Sherrier cross-examined Georgia Power on the utility company’s plans to fuel expansion for major data centers, slated to consume 90% of new power generated over the next six years. “Will (Georgia Power) decide now in this proceeding that the costs to acquire and run these resources will not be borne by existing non-data center customers?” asked Sherrier to the panel of four Georgia Power witnesses.

Nov. 5, 2025 Albany Herald

Terrell County considers 911 consolidation with Early County

Lucille Lannigan reports that Terrell County leaders are in talks with Early County about a potential consolidation of the county’s 911 system. Terrell County Chairman Wilbur Gamble brought up the potential change during the Oct. 7 County Commission meeting, and he said some updates might be provided during Tuesday’s meeting.

Nov. 5, 2025 Capitol Beat News

Low-income families that rely on federal government for food still face uncertainty

Ty Tagami reports that people in Georgia who rely on the federal government for food may or may not start receiving money Wednesday, amid head-spinning pronouncements from Washington. An estimated 1.4 million Georgians receive subsidies for groceries through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which the administration of President Donald Trump sought to freeze during the ongoing government shutdown.

Nov. 5, 2025 Georgia Recorder

Drawn to the polls by local issues, Atlanta voters influence statewide Georgia utility races

Alander Rocha reports that voters at a south Atlanta polling place cited local issues like infrastructure and City Council accountability as top concerns Tuesday. Two statewide races for the Georgia Public Service Commission were often an afterthought.

Nov. 5, 2025 Saporta Report

Andre Dickens wins second term as Atlanta mayor in landslide vote

Delaney Tarr reports, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens slid into an easy win on Nov. 4, securing his second term in office through 2030. Major outlets called the race in his favor with over 86 percent of the vote during early Fulton County reporting.

Nov. 5, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal

Tumlin appears poised for narrow victory in Marietta mayor’s race

Isabelle Manders reports, incumbent Mayor Steve “Thunder” Tumlin appears poised to win a narrow victory over systems engineer Sam Foster, as of midnight. With 100% of the city’s precincts reporting, Tumlin had 6,531, or 51% of the vote, to Foster’s 6,273 votes, or 49%

Nov. 5, 2025 Gainesville Times

Gainesville Mayor-elect Zack Thompson: ‘I’m honored to serve’

Staff reports that Gainesville Mayor-elect Zack Thompson, who was the lone qualifier for mayor earlier this year, said in a statement Tuesday he was honored to serve the city. “Tonight is not about me, it’s about Gainesville and the incredible people who make this city what it is,” Thompson said in a statement.

Nov. 5, 2025 Newnan Times-Herald

Shepherd says focus beyond downtown led to mayoral win

Clay Neely reports that Mayor-elect James Shepherd scored a decisive victory Tuesday, securing 44 percent of the vote in a three-way race that unseated long-time incumbent Keith Brady and signaled a shift in Newnan’s political landscape. Shepherd attributed his victory Tuesday to a focused strategy that prioritized direct voter contact and outreach across the entire city instead of concentrating on the traditional downtown core.

Nov. 5, 2025 Rough Draft – Atlanta

Sandy Springs mayoral race headed to a runoff

Bob Pepalis reports that Rusty Paul and Dontaye Carter will meet in a December runoff to be Mayor of Sandy Springs. The 9,165 votes incumbent Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul received has given him a significant lead in a four-way race, but it appears it won’t keep him out of a runoff.

Nov. 5, 2025 Macon Telegraph

Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda Patrick talks about big win in reelection bid

Becky Purser reports that first-term incumbent LaRhonda Patrick easily won a second term as Warner Robins mayor Tuesday, getting nearly 80% of the votes cast to defeat challenger Fabian Velazquez in his first bid for office. The vote was 9,518 for Patrick and 2,495 votes for Velazquez, with Patrick garnering the victory with 79.23% of votes cast, according to unofficial vote totals from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.

Nov. 5, 2025 Bainbridge Post-Searchlight

Election results are in: Washington beats Reynolds

Ethan Benn and Leo Torres report, Bainbridge Councilwoman Sylvia Washington has defeated incumbent Mayor Edward Reynolds, becoming the first Black female to be elected mayor in the city’s history. Election results show Washington received 1,355 votes (53.81%) to Reynolds’ 1,163 votes (46.19%).

Nov. 5, 2025 The Current

Brunswick mayor wins re-election in a landslide

Jabari Gibbs reports that Cosby Johnson has comfortably won re-election in the Brunswick mayor race, competing against former commissioner Vincent Williams. Final results from precincts show that the 40-year-old lobbyist got over 70% of the 1441 votes cast.

Nov. 5, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

‘Landslide’ PSC sweep jolts Georgia Democrats ahead of 2026 midterms

Greg Bluestein reports, it’s a low-profile race that many Georgians might not know much about.  But the dual victories of Peter Hubbard and Alicia Johnson over Republican incumbents Tim Echols and Fitz Johnson for seats on the state’s Public Service Commission on Tuesday mark a genuine Democratic breakthrough.