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Tag: Ken Yasger

  • Duncan, Raffensperger add names to the Governor’s race 

    Former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan (above, right) spoke to customers inside The Black Coffee Co. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. Duncan announced his intentions to run for governor in 2026. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan and current Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger have joined the long list of Democrats and Republicans running for the state’s top spot. 

    Duncan will run for governor as a Democrat after years of being a highly vocal and supportive Republican. On Wednesday morning, he dropped by The Black Coffee Company, a small business on Jonesboro Road on the city’s southwest side, to discuss the importance of supporting small businesses. Upon his arrival, Duncan, wearing a blue striped polo, matching khakis, and sneakers, was greeted by one of the shop’s co-owners and proceeded to walk in and talk shop with him and other small business owners. 

    After learning the backstory of how The Black Coffee Company got started, Duncan said the business, which now has multiple locations, including in the Atlanta University Center, had an amazing story.

    “To go from a dream to a business, that’s an amazing story,” Duncan said. “I think the customers that are in here feed off of this story.”

    The Black Coffee Company is a popular spot for small business owners and work-from-home folks, and on Wednesday, the shop was packed with people tapping on laptops and sipping coffee and tea.

    It could not have been a better time or place for a candidate looking to switch political allegiances to show his face. To do it at a Black-owned business feels more strategic than anything else. Duncan ordered a small plain black coffee and complimented the mural on the wall near the entrance. Among the famous faces in the mural are Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff and one of Duncan’s Democratic primary candidates, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.   

    Duncan (above) took questions from the media after visiting with the owners of The Black Coffee Company on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    In a statement to the media announcing his candidacy, Duncan said in part:  

    “As Georgia’s first Democratic governor in 28 years, I will stand up to Trump and his yes men in our state while bringing down the costs of childcare, health care, and housing so every Georgia family is in the best position possible. That’s what Georgia deserves,” Duncan said in a statement announcing his campaign that was sent to The Atlanta Voice.

    A falling out with the MAGA set led Duncan, 50, to change his political tune. On the Democratic ticket, he will join Georgia State Senator Jason Esteves, Georgia State Representative Derrick Jackson, former DeKalb County CEO and Georgia Labor Secretary Michael Thurmond, and Olu Brown. The latter, a preacher and educator, has no previous political experience.

    The four men of color on the list each participated in a gubernatorial forum in Warner Robins last month. Republican candidate Ken Yasger, a former United States Marine who has been vocal about his struggles with alcohol abuse, was also in attendance. Like Brown, Yasger is a political neophyte. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is also campaigning to lead the Democratic ticket next year. Bottoms was not in Warner Robins on August 20, but neither were the Republican gubernatorial candidates, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, and Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones. Current Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has publicly endorsed registered Republican Derek Dooley.

    Duncan is not new to campaigning in front of Democratic voters. During former United States President Kamala Harris’s historic presidential campaign, Duncan made multiple public endorsements and appearances for her campaign.

    “Georgians deserve leaders with the courage to take on Donald Trump and do what’s right,” said Duncan in that statement.

    Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (above, center) made an appearance in Clayton County on Monday, August 18, 2025. On Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, he announced his intentions to run for Georgia governor. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Raffensperger might not make too many public appearances at Black-owned small businesses, after all, he is not switching parties, and remains a staunch Republican. The Secretary of State was, however, a small business owner and spoke about the importance of making small business dreams a reality during a visit to Clayton County and the Riverdale Towne Center last month. Clayton County has a majority Democratic voting block, and Raffensperger might have been tipping his hand when he visited there to discuss small business ownership with the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce. 

    In a statement to the media announcing his candidacy, Raffensperger said in part:  

    “Hardworking Georgians are struggling to put food on the table. Parents worry about their kids being indoctrinated in the classroom. Too many families live in fear of gangs, cartels, and violent criminals,” said Raffensperger.

    “Our future is in peril, yet cowardly politicians cave to well-funded special interests and political elites—sacrificing the well-being of our families to advance their own agenda.”

    Donnell Suggs

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  • Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan joins Democratic race for Georgia governor

    Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (far left) says he isn’t afraid to “take on Trump.” The former Republican is running for governor as a Democrat. Photo by Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice

    Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan has added his name to the long list of Democrats running for the state’s top spot. Duncan will run for governor as a Democrat after years of being a highly vocal and supportive Republican.

    “As Georgia’s first Democratic governor in 28 years, I will stand up to Trump and his yes men in our state while bringing down the costs of childcare, health care, and housing so every Georgia family is in the best position possible. That’s what Georgia deserves,” Duncan said in a statement announcing his campaign that was sent to The Atlanta Voice.

    Five of the eight men and women campaigning to become Georgia’s next governor were on stage in Warner Robins on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    A falling out with the MAGA set led Duncan, 50, to change his political tune. On the Democratic ticket, he will join Georgia State Senator Jason Esteves, Georgia State Representative Derrick Jackson, former DeKalb County CEO and Georgia Labor Secretary Michael Thurmond, and Olu Brown. The latter, a preacher and educator, has no previous political experience.

    The four men of color on the list each participated in a gubernatorial forum in Warner Robins last month. Republican candidate Ken Yasger, a former United States Marine who has been vocal about his struggles with alcohol abuse, was also in attendance. Like Brown, Yasger is a political neophyte. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is also campaigning to lead the Democratic ticket next year. Bottoms was not in Warner Robins on August 20, but neither were the Republican gubernatorial candidates, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, and Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones. Current Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has publicly endorsed registered Republican Derek Dooley.

    Duncan is not new to campaigning in front of Democratic voters. During former United States President Kamala Harris’s historic presidential campaign, Duncan made multiple public endorsements and appearances for her campaign.


    Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Donnell began his career covering sports and news in Atlanta nearly two decades ago. Since then he has written for Atlanta Business Chronicle, The Southern Cross…
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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Church and State: Gubernatorial meet & greet takes place in Houston County

    Georgia gubernatorial candidate Olu Brown (far left) was first to speak with the crowd during the Georgia NAACP “Meet & Greet” in Warner Robins on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    WARNER ROBINS, GA. What was being labeled as a “meet & greet” took place inside the New Beginnings Center on the campus of First Baptist Church. The Georgia branch of the NAACP hosted the event on Wednesday night. The room, which looked more like a gymnasium, was quickly full of active voters, interested locals, and a good example of the voting demographics in Houston County. Black men and women of all ages mixed and mingled with white men and women. 

    Houston County is the 14th largest county in the state, according to the United States Census. But if anyone is going to win the election, they will need support from medium-sized counties like Houston to do it. 

    Former Atlanta Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Keisha lance Bottoms (above) was not in attendance in Warner Robins on Wednesday night. Instead, she sent a video. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The flyer for the event displayed the headshots of all eight candidates for the state’s highest office. Only five of them were sitting on the stage when the event started at 6 p.m.

    Jason Esteves arrived first and could be seen working the room, shaking hands with people and taking selfies with others. A state representative in a land far, far away from Warner Robins, Esteves had already hit the ground running, campaigning in Coastal Georgia weeks before the event in Houston County.

    During his speech, Esteves made sure to let the crowd know that he was a middle school teacher and appreciated the service educators provide. 

    “By the way, that job is still the toughest job I have ever had,” Esteves said. 

    Esteves called out fellow candidates Burt Jones and Chris Carr, and former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, saying they are politicians who cared more about party politics than people.

    “As governor, I will make sure I stand up to the chaos that’s going on in Washington, D.C.,” Esteves said.

    He was referring to the Trump administration, but there is also chaos on the streets of D.C. because of the federal police presence brought on by the President.

    The event took place at First Baptist Church in Warner Robins and was well attended. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The line of the night was delivered by State Representative Derrick Jackson, who said if you ever wondered what it was like to fight for civil rights, you now have your opportunity under the Trump administration. Many in the room applauded the retired United States Navy veteran following that comment.

    Former Georgia Labor Commissioner and DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond was second to last to speak, but might have made the most impact on Wednesday night. 

    “Roll it,” said Thurmond as his campaign video played in the background. 

    Thurmond and retired 14-year United States Marine and Republican candidate Ken Yasger were the only candidates to give their speeches from the floor and not behind the podium. 

    It has been 26 years since a Democratic candidate was elected Governor in Georgia. The majority of the men in that room tonight are vying to become the next one to walk the halls of the Governor’s Mansion. Thurmond, the only man in the room to win multiple statewide elections, held court and serve on Wednesday night.

    Thurmond asked the teachers, cooks, and bus drivers in the room to stand up and receive applause. He said those were the people who needed to be put first by politicians. 

    “White collar, blue collar, no collar. It’s not the collar, but the green in the dollar,” Thurmond said. 

    Thurmond was loudly applauded several times during his speech. 

    “Work is dignity. Honest work. Honest pay,” he said.

    Another candidate. Another video. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Yasger, 36, was the only white man on stage. That helped him stand out, but so did his personal story. Yasger said he wants to give people a reason to be proud again, “no matter who’s in the White House,” he said.

    Yasger admitted that he suffered from alcohol abuse and is currently a year and a half sober. He said he nearly ended his campaign two weeks ago because of a lack of media attention and fundraising. Yasger acknowledged he has raised $8,000 so far and has donated $5,000 of it to local charities.

    “That American flag will outlive all of these politicians,” Yasger said. 

    Georgia Attorney General Chris Car, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones were not in attendance, but sent videos in their stead.

    Donnell Suggs

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