The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Political expedience
■ Walker unhappy with Trump: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker directed some anger toward former President Donald Trump during an appearance on “Love and Respect,” a show on WABE hosted by Atlanta-born rapper and entrepreneur Killer Mike. Trump had promoted Walker as a potential candidate for the Senate, but the former football star said the former president never talked to him about it directly. “He never asked,” Walker said, “so I’m mad at him because he’s taking credit but he never asked.”
■ Clyde loses appeal over mask fines: The U.S. House Ethics Committee has denied an appeal by U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Athens, who has been fined for refusing to wear a mask on the House floor earlier this year when it was still required as a hedge against COVID-19. The House sergeant at arms referred seven citations to the committee.
■ Atlanta one of four still vying for Democratic National Convention: A Democratic Party official told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Atlanta is a finalist for the party’s 2024 convention. Also in the running are Chicago, Houston and New York City.
■ Trump says Georgia primary worked out ‘great’ for him: Donald Trump recently was in Wyoming, but it was Georgia that was still on his mind. “We actually did great in Georgia,” he said at a rally, discussing a primary in which he saw his candidates for governor, secretary of state, attorney general and insurance commissioner go down by big margins. (He did back the right horses for the U.S. Senate and lieutenant governor.)
■ Abrams backs Bailey, Nguyen: Gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has endorsed Charlie Bailey for lieutenant governor and state Rep. Bee Nguyen for secretary of state in Democratic primary runoffs June 21.
■ Former rivals get behind Dawkins-Haigler: Former state Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler, running in the Democratic primary runoff for secretary of state, picked up endorsements from three candidates who fell short in last month’s primary: former Fulton County Commission Chair John Eaves, former state Sen. Floyd Griffin Jr. and former Cobb County Democratic Chair Michael Owens. Dawkins-Haigler also gained the support of state Reps. Billy Mitchell and Sandra Scott.
■ Thurmond backs Boddie for his former job: DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, a former state labor commissioner, has endorsed state Sen. William Boddie in the Democratic runoff for the same position. Gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams is also backing Boddie.
■ West gains support in congressional bid: Chris West, competing in the Republican primary runoff in the 2nd Congressional District, picked up endorsements from a pair of competitors who didn’t make it that far: Vivian Childs and Paul Whitehead. Some big names in the state GOP are also helping with West’s fundraising, including state Sen. Dean Burke and Alec Poitevint, a former state GOP chair with ties to former Gov. Sonny Perdue.
■ Evans draws support from rivals: Jake Evans’ campaign in the 6th Congressional District GOP runoff has gained the backing of Byron Gatewood and Paulette Smith, who each ran in the primary.