Originally posted by MCO Group on December 19, 2025 

01. Gov. Kemp Appoints David Burge as Incoming DOR Commissioner

Governor Kemp has appointed David Burge as the incoming Commissioner of the Department of Revenue (DOR). Burge will succeed current commissioner Frank O'Connell, who was confirmed by the Georgia House and Senate Judiciary Committees as the state's first Tax Court Chief Judge. David is currently a partner at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP in Atlanta, where he focuses on real estate transactions. 

02. Justice Dept. Sues Georgia Over Voter Registration Lists

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division filed federal lawsuits Thursday against Georgia, the District of Columbia, Illinois and Wisconsin for failing to produce complete voter registration lists upon request. The action brings the nationwide total to 22 such lawsuits.

03. State Senators Question Fani Willis Over Trump Prosecution

The Republican-dominated state Senate in January 2024 created the Special Committee on Investigations to examine allegations of misconduct against Fani Willis concerning her case seeking criminal convictions for efforts to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia. The committee is supposed to be examining whether changes to state law are needed to bar future misconduct and doesn’t have the power to sanction or prosecute Willis. 

04. State Republicans Claim Group Running Anti-Burt Jones Ads is Illegal 

The Georgia Republican Party has filed a state ethics complaint against Delaware-based Georgians for Integrity, which is running ads against gubernatorial candidate Burt Jones, claiming the group is operating as an independent committee but failing to follow its rules. Per state law, committees, which are groups that spend money on activities to affect elections, have to register and file mandatory disclosure reports. Georgians for Integrity, however, has “thumbed its nose” at the requirements, the complaint claims.

05. Dr. Jaha Howard wins State Senate District 35 special election runoff

Dr. Jaha Howard has won the runoff in Georgia's Senate District 35 special election with 3,229 votes, or 51.9%, defeating longtime state Rep. Roger Bruce, who finished with 48.1% and 2,993 votes. The open seat was created after former state Sen. Jason Esteves launched a campaign for governor.