Political Rewind: Kemp to sign controversial education bills; Polls see Walker close to end zone

Caption

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp reacts as he tries to ignore an answer from former Sen. David Perdue during a Republican gubernatorial debate, Sunday, April 24, 2022, in Atlanta.

Credit: Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool

The panel:

Chauncey Alcorn — Politics reporter, Capital B

Greg Bluestein — Politics reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Leo Smith — CEO, Engaged Futures

Margaret Coker — Editor in Chief, The Current

The breakdown:

1. Gov. Brian Kemp is set to sign a series of controversial education bills Thursday.

• The legislation is the result of a GOP-led effort to limit how teachers can talk about so-called "divisive topics," like history, race, and gender identity.
• Some of the bills give parents a larger role in determining what books their children can read in school. 

• A fight in Cherokee County over books allowed in schools highlights the stakes of parental involvement in the school curriculum. 

2. The NRA endorsed Kemp for governor.

• Kemp signed the controversial "constitutional carry" act passed by the Georgia legislature earlier this year. 
• The law allows legal gunowners to carry handguns without a permit. 
• Capital B's politics reporter Chauncey Alcorn noted the law could potentially harm Georgia's Black residents.

3. A new poll showed Herschel Walker with a seemingly insurmountable lead over GOP rivals. 

• The poll showed Trump-endorsed GOP Senate candidate Herschel Walker with 66% of the vote.
• His closest competitor, Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, had 7% of the vote. 
• The poll also showed Kemp may avoid a runoff against former Sen. David Perdue in the gubernatorial primary. 
  • Kemp is leading Perdue with 53% of the vote in the Republican primary election. 

Thursday on Political Rewind:

Georgia Public Broadcasting's Stephen Fowler joins our panel.