Sunday Solutions – Nov. 1, 2026
Good morning! First things first: ⏰ Did you set your clock back? Or were your tricks and treats just too much? Either way, we have your election and candidate info in one spot for you. Sure, early voting set records, but most of you are still waiting for Tuesday. Also, there’s other news, and a polite debate to be had: Are we all getting a bit more rude in our daily conversations? Let’s find out.
NEWS: POLITICS
Midterms are here, and so are the candidates
Candidates for state offices rolled through Coastal Georgia this past week to make sure they were still top of mind. The Current’s reporters were at gatherings in Coastal Georgia listening for the final pitches. Politics reporter Craig Nelson compiled a quick review of the messages as state and local candidates, along with some supporters, presented their final arguments for election.
The polls are close and if you’re still making your decisions, there’s one quick link to all we have: candidates, news, ballot issues… the works. And we’ll have all the results on Tuesday night. Come to thecurrentga.org and see the numbers and you can do your own political commentary.
My Voter Page
If you haven’t voted yet, you can find a sample ballot and your Tuesday polling location at the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page. Log in with just your name and birthdate — if you’re a citizen with a driver’s licence, you’re probably registered to vote. Don’t use a chatbot for this — AI software is getting sample ballots wrong in every county in the United States, a recent Washington Post investigation found. Go straight to the official state of Georgia site: My Voter Page.
NEWS: CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Follow the money – if you can
As record amounts of money pour into election campaigns, it’s harder to know where it all comes from, even though candidates must file disclosure forms. But in some cases, the candidates don’t even know. “Dark money” case in point: Georgia Public Service Commission candidate Josh Tolbert got a $2.4 million boost in a race that generally doesn’t see a lot of cash, relatively speaking. The data center boom and rising utility rates has drawn more focus to the work of the PSC, and thus, the two seats open for this election. The Current’s Mary Landers follows the money and reports that one nonprofit supporting the candidate gets its money from another, and neither are required to disclose their donors.
NEWS: ELECTIONS
A residency ruling and more
A judge ruled late Friday David Dillie, a Democratic candidate for Georgia House District 161, could stay on the ballot in his run against incumbent Republican Bill Hitchens. At issue were allegations that Dillie voted in the Nevada primary this year, which would negate his residency qualification to run for the post representing northwestern Chatham and southern Effingham counties. The Current‘s Margaret Coker covered the hearing and the ruling.
In other election updates:
- Justice Department targets Chatham, other Democratic areas for election monitors: Federal monitors will be assigned to counties that voted heavily Democratic in 2024. From The Current‘s Craig Nelson
- What early voting can – and can’t – tell us about how Georgia’s midterm election so far : This was written before the final early and absentee voting tally was in (2.8 million or 37.5% turnout) but the lessons are still valid. From Georgia Recorder
- Data centers are inspiring bipartisanship – for now: Will this be the defining issue nationwide this election? A researcher says it’s the first issue since the North American Free Trade Agreement that’s bridged deep political divides. From The Conversation.
NON-ELECTION NOTES FROM THE WEEK
- New housing agreement guarantees right to return for some Yamacraw Village residents: It’s een a long time coming, but residents now have a lock on affordable housing in the village’s next generation. From The Current’s Adithi Vimalanathan and Sarah Harwell.
- As safety oversight wanes and nuclear missions accelerate, a fire erupts at Savannah River Site: A reminder that the upriver plant’s new life manufacturing plutonium for warhead triggers will require safeguards for the region. From GPB News.
- Georgia’s measles cases reach 25 for 2026 as three more identified: Experts recommend vaccines as the best prevention. From GPB News.
- Kemp says Audi plant delivers on pledge to grow jobs in rural Georgia: The middle Georgia location adds automotive heft to the state. From Capitol Beat.
- OpenAI data center would fill 72 acres of wetlands: As site plans arrive for the Effingham site, permit requests go public. From The Current’s Mary Landers.
- DNR backtracks on dock length, settling on 1,000-foot limit: After a river of criticism for longer private docks over public salt marsh, panel opts for a shorter plan. From The Current‘s Mary Landers.
EDITOR CHOICE: COMMUNITY
☕ Your second cup: Rude or more tolerant?
Do you sometimes feel there’s been a change in standards for public behavior? You may have felt it or commented or just wondered quietly (or not so quietly) if you changed or if the world did. The answer is yes; it’s both. Research from Pew Research Center now tells us that half of Americans say people have gotten ruder since the pandemic. It’s all in how you define rude, and that itself may be changing. As it turns out, some things that were once frowned upon are …well, mostly OK now. Read the data and conclusions here. There’s also a quiz for your dinner table discussions. Be nice.
Coastal Georgia voting guide, 2026
By The Current
Find candidate info and stands on issues, debate recordings, plus voting, dropbox locations and hours for Coastal Georgia counties.
Unnamed donors pump money into Georgia Public Service Commission race
By Mary Landers
Millions of dollars from secret funders are boosting the candidacy of Republican Josh Tolbert in his bid for a seat on the Georgia Public Service Commission.
Candidates, supporters give closing pitches in Coastal Georgia
By Craig Nelson
As the November 3 general election approaches, various candidates and political figures in Georgia delivered closing arguments regarding the state’s economy, governance, and national influence.
Judge clears David Dillie to stay on ballot following double voting allegations
By Margaret Coker
A Georgia administrative judge ruled that Democratic state House District 161 candidate David Dillie can remain on the ballot despite allegations that he voted in a Nevada primary.
Justice Department targets Chatham, other Democratic areas for election monitors
By Craig Nelson
The U.S. Justice Department announced plans to deploy monitors to several Georgia counties, including Democratic strongholds like Chatham and Fulton, during next week’s midterm elections.
New housing agreement guarantees right to return for some Yamacraw Village residents
By Adithi Vimalanathan and Sarah Harwell
The Housing Authority of Savannah and the Yamacraw Village Residents Council have reached an agreement to build 100 new low-income units and provide relocation assistance for current residents following a plan to demolish the historic neighborhood.
As safety oversight wanes and nuclear missions accelerate, a fire erupts at Savannah River Site
By Jillian Magtoto/GPB News
A fire at the Savannah River National Laboratory triggered a brief state of emergency on Wednesday, raising renewed concerns about the facility’s fire suppression systems amidst ongoing oversight challenges from the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
Georgia’s measles cases reach 25 for 2026 as three more identified
By Ellen Eldridge/GPB
The Georgia Department of Public Health confirmed three additional unvaccinated measles cases in Macon County on Oct.27, bringing the state’s 2026 total to 25 confirmed cases.
Kemp says Audi plant delivers on pledge to grow jobs in rural Georgia
By Ty Tagami/Capitol Beat News Service
German automaker Audi announced plans to build its first U.S. plant in Peach County, Georgia, a move Governor Brian Kemp hailed as the completion of his strategy to attract major manufacturers to the state’s rural regions.
What early voting can – and can’t – tell us about how Georgia’s midterm election so far
By Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
As early voting concludes in Georgia ahead of Tuesday’s midterm election, analysts observe strong turnout among Democratic-leaning demographics while both parties prepare for a critical Election Day showdown in tight races.
DNR backtracks on dock length, settling on 1,000-foot limit
By Mary Landers
A Georgia Board of Natural Resources committee recommended limiting private recreational docks to 1,000 feet following intense opposition to a proposal that would have extended them up to 1,650 feet.
Data centers are inspiring bipartisanship – for now
By Barbara A. Trish/Grinnell College
Rising concerns over energy costs and land use have fostered an unlikely bipartisan movement opposing the expansion of data centers across the United States.
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