Political Rewind: What Georgia politicians are taking from Kansas' abortion vote; Walker on debates

Caption

Abortion-rights supporters hold signs related to a bill that could open the door to legislation limiting or banning abortions in the state during a rally Friday at the Kansas Statehouse following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Credit: Photo by Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

The panel: 

Andra Gillespie, @AndraGillespie, professor of political science and director, James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference, Emory University

Charles Bullock, professor of political science, University of Georgia

Greg Bluestein, @bluestein, political reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rick Dent, vice president, Matrix Communications

The breakdown: 

1. Kansas votes to keep abortion rights in its constitution.

• The Associated Press reports the referendum on Tuesday's ballot was the first test of voter sentiment after The Supreme Court's ruling on Dobbs in June.
• In a recent AJC poll, 42% of likely voters said they’re more likely to vote for a candidate who wants to protect abortion rights. About 26% said they’re motivated to vote for candidates who want to limit access to the procedure.
•  Stacey Abrams is out with a 30-second TV spot that criticizes the anti-abortion law that took effect last month.

2. Stacy Abrams' campaign on still on the defensive about defunding police.

• Abrams has released a second ad pushing back against Gov. Brian Kemp's claims that she's anti-police.

3. Herschel Walker still dances around debates. 

• On Fox News last night, Walker declared he would debate incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock in October. 
  • But the Oct. 14 debate he's referencing is not one of the three debates Warnock has already agreed to. 
    • Warnock has already accepted invitations from WTOC in Savannah, Mercer University in Macon and the Atlanta Press Club. 

4. What can we learn from the August primaries?

• Former President Donald Trump's influence came up big in Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona.
• In Michigan, Trump got a win with his candidate, John Gibbs, ousting Peter Meijer, one of the 10 Republicans who voted for his impeachment.
  • Democrats boosted Gibbs, spending millions to help oust Meijer, thinking it would give them a better shot at winning the seat in a general election.

Thursday on Political Rewind: Author Mark Leibovich joins us to talk his new book, Thank You for Your Servitude. And be sure to sign up for the latest edition of our newsletter coming out this afternoon.