Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is running for governor of Georgia, suggests casino revenue should be used to fund expansion of early childhood education.
A proposal to put casino revenue toward funding an expansion of early childhood education has garnered renewed attention for Georgia gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta.
Bottoms, the favorite to be the Democratic nominee for governor, suggested that gambling could bring in up to $300 million annually. The extra money would be a ”game changer” for the state, she told WJCL last weekend.
In this state of Georgia, education needs to be a priority for us. We are number one in business in the country, but in the bottom half in education.”
Competitive Primary on Horizon
Bottoms’ casino proposal comes as candidates from both parties ramp up their campaigns for a final push ahead of the May 19 primary. Early voting opens in two weeks with local, state, and federal races on the ballot.
Among the Democratic candidates for governor, campaigns center heavily on education, health care, the economy, and basic affordability.
Former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, running this time as a Democrat, criticized legislation that could hinder labor during a March visit to coastal Georgia.
During that visit, Duncan said:
There’s some bills that continue to show up in the legislature, in Atlanta, that try to create synthetic headwinds, and slow down labor. I don’t think we ought to do that. I think the rest of the world is comfortable working with labor. And I certainly, as governor, will be too.”
Meanwhile, State Sen. Jason Esteves is the first Democratic candidate to invest a significant sum in television advertising.
Republicans Focus on Taxes, Safety
On the opposite side of the aisle, candidates are prioritizing taxes, jobs, and public safety, while waging a fierce competition through campaign ads.
Both Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and billionaire Rick Jackson have spent heavily on television ads during their battle for the Republican nomination. Jackson made his first Savannah campaign stop in March, during which he highlighted his business experience.
At the time, Jackson suggested a return to in-state manufacturing would help offset affordability issues.
I think having a business solution to bring back manufacturing here and bring back good businesses that add high-paying jobs will help on affordability.”
Other state politicians, including Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Attorney General Chris Carr, are also campaigning for the Republican nod.
Casino and Sports Betting Question on Hiatus Until 2028
Regardless of who wins the gubernatorial race, the question of legalizing casinos or sports betting in Georgia is on hold until at least 2028.
In March, the state House of Representatives defeated a resolution that would have permitted residents to vote on the issue this fall. It would have made it to the ballot only if the resolution had also passed the Senate.
While there is debate in Georgia about whether a constitutional amendment is required to expand gambling in the state, multiple state lawmakers have staked their support for legalization on a successful ballot measure.
In Georgia, constitutional amendments can appear on ballots only in even years. Because the resolution failed, the possibility of legal sports betting or casinos cannot go to voters until the 2028 primary, and neither casinos nor sportsbooks would be able to operate in Georgia until at least 2029.
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