Analyzing the “Affordability Jumpstart” and “Structural Integrity” platforms for Georgia’s 250th year.
Geoff Duncan (D)
- Originally From: Cumming, Georgia
- Georgia Residency: Lifelong
- Years in Politics: 14 years (Elected to State House in 2012; Lt. Governor 2019–2023)
- Career: Former Professional Baseball Player; CEO of healthcare tech company; Former Republican Lieutenant Governor.
- Platform: Prioritizes a day-one “Affordability Crisis” executive order, full Medicaid expansion, and a $1.7 billion “Jumpstart Fund” for housing and childcare.
- Known For: His historic party switch from Republican to Democrat in August 2025; his vocal rejection of 2020 election interference; and his “GOP 2.0” philosophy turned Democratic coalition-building.
The A.T.L. Agenda (Bureau Analysis)
ART (Bipartisan Literacy & Cybersecurity) Duncan’s “Art” pillar is built on Mechanical Logic. He advocates for a “Cybersecurity Pipeline” in technical colleges, treating digital defense as the primary creative trade of the 2020s. His education plan supports a bipartisan “Literacy Guarantee” that funds 500 new reading specialists statewide, focusing on third-grade proficiency as the ultimate metric of a functioning society.
TRADE (Waterless Cooling & Data Sovereignty) His “Trade” agenda focuses on High-Tech Regulation. Duncan proposes strict “Waterless Cooling” mandates for new data centers to protect Georgia’s local water tables. He advocates for a “Small Biz Tax Holiday”—eliminating state filing fees for the first two years of any Georgia-based startup—to incentivize the “trade-class” to move from gig work to business ownership.
LIFESTYLE (The Jumpstart Fund & Reproductive Healthcare) Duncan’s “Lifestyle” anchor is the $1.7 billion Affordability Investment. He proposes utilizing state surplus funds to create a “Childcare Scholarship” for middle-income families. His platform includes a total reversal of current state abortion restrictions, framing reproductive access as a fundamental “lifestyle freedom” essential for a modern workforce.
12. Brad Raffensperger (R)
- Originally From: Johns Creek, Georgia (Born in Miami)
- Georgia Residency: 40+ years
- Years in Politics: 14 years (City Council; State House; Secretary of State since 2019)
- Career: CEO and Founder of Tendon Systems, LLC (Structural Engineering & Construction).
- Platform: Campaigns on “Integrity & Infrastructure,” prioritizing zero-base budgeting, occupational license reform, and “jobs-first” economic development.
- Known For: His refusal to “find” votes during the 2020 election cycle; his engineering-based approach to government efficiency; and his record of purging non-citizens from voter rolls.
The A.T.L. Agenda (Bureau Analysis)
ART (Structural Engineering & Vocational Truth) Raffensperger’s “Art” pillar is Applied Mathematics. Drawing on his career as an engineer, he proposes integrating structural design and CAD (Computer-Aided Design) into high school vocational tracks. He advocates for “Historical Accuracy” in civic education, emphasizing the mechanical functions of the Constitution and the rule of law as the blueprints of the American experiment.
TRADE (License Portability & Corporate Efficiency) The “Trade” agenda for Raffensperger is Bureaucratic Deconstruction. He proposes a “Day One” universal recognition of occupational licenses for veterans and military spouses to fill trade gaps. His platform includes a “Business Speed-Pass,” utilizing AI to automate corporate registration and licensing, aiming to make Georgia the fastest state in the nation to open a physical trade storefront.
LIFESTYLE (Public Safety & School Hardening) Raffensperger’s “Lifestyle” anchor is Environmental Security. He proposes a state-funded “School Hardening” grant to install engineering-grade security infrastructure in every K-12 building. His safety platform focuses on “Election Integrity” as a lifestyle baseline, ensuring that “one person, one vote” remains the trusted foundation for every Georgian’s community participation.