by Ty Tagami | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – Another ranking Republican state senator has joined the wide open race to succeed Republican Burt Jones as lieutenant governor.
Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced his candidacy Monday. He touted his experience as a leader in crafting the state budget each year since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tillery will be campaigning in next year’s GOP primary against two former members of Senate leadership.
Sen. John F. Kennedy, R-Macon, stepped aside as president pro tempore of the Senate in June to run for lieutenant governor. The president pro tem presides over the Senate in the absence of the lieutenant governor, who is elected statewide.
Kennedy outranked Sen. Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega, who entered the race in May and vacated the role of Senate majority leader.
The three share similar views on big political topics, from immigration to transgender issues to cutting taxes. Tillery will try to separate himself from his colleagues based on his opposition to one issue: “debanking,” something that President Donald Trump also has also opposed.
Trump signed an executive order last week against federal regulators promoting “policies and practices that allow financial institutions to deny or restrict services based on political beliefs, religious beliefs” and lawful activities.
Tillery carried Senate Bill 57 to prohibit debanking during this year’s legislative session. Most Republican senators, including Kennedy, voted against it, and it did not pass.
But Gooch voted for it.
Voters may have a hard time parsing these candidates based on policy.
“I know in the end, Georgians vote for the person they trust,” said Tillery, who flew to several cities around the state to kick off his campaign in person Monday.
Other Republican candidates include Jerry Timbs II of Griffin, who ran for Henry County Commission in 2016, and Takosha Swan of Conyers, who was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to the board of the state Department of Veterans Service in 2019 after running unsuccessfully for the state House of Representatives.
Neither reported raising significant campaign funds — Swan with $1,500 and Timbs with no money as of the last campaign reporting deadline July 8.
They lag far behind the three GOP leaders — Gooch with $1 million, Kennedy with $819,000, and Tillery with $759,000.
State Sen. Josh McLaurin from Sandy Springs has raised the most among Democrats. He reported netting $118,000, far behind the Republicans but well ahead of the other Democrat, Richard N. Wright, with $20,000.
