🗳️ It’s Primary Election Day for two Public Service Commission seats

Today is the last day to vote in the primaries for the Public Service Commission Districts 2 and 3 seats. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check your voter registration and polling location using the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page. 

According to the Secretary of State’s Office, 23,277 voters have cast a ballot in the Republican primary, and 50,906 voters have cast a ballot in the Democratic primary. Total turnout remains extremely low, at just 1% statewide. 

For PSC District 2, Republican primary voters will choose between incumbent Tim Echols and challenger Lee Muns. The winner will face Democrat Alicia Johnson in November, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for District 2. 

For PSC District 3, Democratic primary voters will choose between three challengers: Peter Hubbard, Robert Jones, and Keisha Waites. The winner will face the Republican incumbent for District 3 Fitz Johnson, who is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

NOTE: Daniel Blackman, the fourth Democratic candidate for PSC District 3, has been disqualified.  Even if Blackman’s name appears on Democratic primary ballots, votes for him will not count. Read about that here. 

Get informed! Check out Atlanta Civic Circle’s past coverage of the Public Service Commission election: 

And here’s more from newsrooms we trust:

We’re also covering Atlantans’ resurgent appetite for protest and spoke to a “No Kings” protester about why she’s voting in today’s PSC primary. Scroll down to read her voter profile.

Atlantans take to the streets

Over 6,000 Atlantans gathered in Liberty Plaza behind the Georgia Capitol on Saturday as part of the nationwide “No Kings” protest against President Donald Trump’s military parade the same day. Officially timed to mark the Army’s 250th birthday, it also happened to be Trump’s 79th birthday. 

The outbreak of protests in Los Angeles last week in response to Trump’s heavy-handed immigration raids added fervor to the weekend’s activism. There have been separate protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) both before and since Saturday’s action — with more to come. Here’s our full report.

While the “No Kings” protests across metro Atlanta on June 14 were peaceful, the DeKalb County Police Department responded harshly to an anti-ICE protest on Chamblee Tucker Road that attracted hundreds of people. Police liberally used tear gas to push protestors out of the road — and, then, off the sidewalk. 

At the anti-ICE protest on June 14, DeKalb police said they arrested “at least” eight people, though DeKalb booking records show 17 individuals charged with “unlawful assembly” on Saturday evening. Among them, a journalist, Mario Guevara, who was arrested while he was live-streaming the protest and police response.

In footage of the moments leading up to his arrest, Guevara can be seen standing on the sidewalk filming a line of police officers in riot gear, as they slowly advanced on the retreating remnants of the crowd. Without any apparent warning, an officer suddenly grabs him, prompting Guevara to say: “Officer, officer — I’m a member of the media, officer.” The independent Spanish-language journalist has 800,000 followers on Facebook.

Guevara was expected to be released on Monday on a signature bond. Instead, ICE placed a detainer on him, his attorney told Atlanta Civic Circle.  

Read our full report on Guevera’s arrest.

On Sunday night, a few dozen masked activists who gathered in front of the ICE Field Office in downtown Atlanta, drew a police presence that nearly outnumbered them. Chanting and holding signs, the activists projected “ABOLISH ICE” onto the side of a building, before eventually disbanding without incident.

📷: Colt Harwell, a U.S. Air Force Veteran, said the ‘No Kings’ rally in Atlanta was his first protest experience. Credit: Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon

Atlanta municipal elections forum

The Committee for a Better Atlanta will host a candidate forum today for contenders in the city of Atlanta municipal elections in November. The event is open to the media, but not the general public. Expect a report from Atlanta Civic Circle later this week. 

According to the organizers, confirmed candidates include contenders for open Atlanta City Council seats in Districts 2, 7, and 11, and for council president. Incumbents will also attend — some of whom are, so far, running unopposed — from At-Large Posts 2 and 3, plus Districts 1, 4, 6, and 9.

PSC VOTER PROFILE

Stephanie Peace

Name: Stephanie Peace

County: Cobb 

Occupation: Veterinary Technician

Political Affiliation: Democrat

Do you plan on voting in the June 17 primary for the two open seats on the Public Service Commission? 

Yes, on the day of the primary [in person]. 

Who will you be voting for?

I will be voting for Alicia Johnson [District 2] and Peter Hubbard [District 3].

What’s one thing you wish your representatives understood about your life?

The escalating cost of living, healthcare, and the widening wealth disparity in the United States have led to the diversion of resources from the lower socioeconomic classes to provide tax relief to the affluent elite. 

This practice undermines the fundamental principles of democracy and the equitable distribution of wealth.

What brought you out to the “No Kings” rally?

The tyranny and fascism — to stop Donald Trump from crashing the economy with his military parade. I think we need to get rid of Trump. We’re going in the wrong direction.

📷: Pollworker Stephanie Peace (right) joined her friend Jamaal Fountain at the “No Kings” rally in downtown Atlanta on Saturday, June 14. Photo: Katie Guenthner

Today’s Democracy Digest newsletter was written by Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon and Katie Guenthner. It was edited by Meredith Hobbs. As always, thank you for reading. Have tips, corrections, or questions? Just reply to this email.

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