8 Endorsements for Key State House Seats

1. HD 39: There are three candidates to replace Alisha Morgan who is running for State School Superintendent. It's possible that this race will go to a runoff, but out of the three only stands out from the pack and that's Erica Thomas (D-Austell). Thomas is the vice president of the Young Democrats of Cobb County and also having worked for Rep. Morgan, she knows the concerns and issues that are facing HD 39. Her energy, enthusiasm and professionalism will be a welcomed asset to the Democratic Caucus and the State Legislature. PEANUT POLITICS ENDORSES ERICA THOMAS FOR HD 39

2. HD 58: This is a interesting race between Incumbent Simone Bell (D-Atlanta) and challenger Erica Morris Long (D-Atlanta). Bell serves as Democratic Jr Whip for the House Democratic Caucus and is strong advocate of the LBGT Community, Women's issues and Housing. Long.who is the wife of former State Rep. Ralph Long is a Democratic strategist and Attorney who first cut her political teeth on Capitol Hill and also worked as a Legislative Assistant in the Clinton Administration. The Harvard educated attorney is making her first run for political office. PEANUT POLITICS ENDORSES ERICA MORRIS LONG FOR HD 58

3. HD 74: Incumbent Valencia Stovall (D-Ellenwood) faces two challengers in her bid to remain as Rep for District 74: Former State Reps. Yasmin Neal (D-Atlanta) and Roberta-Abdul-Salaam (D-Riverdale).  With three candidates in the race, a runoff could be in the works, but voters should send Yasmin Neal back to the State Legislature. Neal who's background is in Law Enforcement is a staunch supporter of the law and her first stint as Representative was a fairly successful one. She brings a strong work ethic, drive and commitment.  PEANUT POLITICS ENDORSES YASMIN NEAL FOR HD 74

4. HD 105: Renita Hamilton (D-Lawrenceville) narrowly lost her bid to represent HD 105, garnering 48% of the vote against Republican Joyce Chandler. She's back for another run for the seat, this time she faces off against political novice Tim Hur (D-Lawrenceville), a Asian American and ex- volunteer for Minority Leader Stacey Abrams in the Democratic Primary. Hur has the backing of the Young Dems as well as some other key democratic backers. Hur is a realtor and is making his first run for office. The race got interesting recently due to a robo call residents of HD 105 received which has been criticized as offensive and designed to boost the candidacy of Hur and weaken the candidacy of Hamilton who is the front runner in the process. The choice is simple, who is the stronger General Election candidate? Voters should send Renita Hamilton, a pro-family values, pro-gun, small businessowner & Bluedog Democrat to the General Election to face Joyce Chandler in a rematch of their 2012 race. Hamilton is very well known throughout the district, she enjoys high Name I.D. and is heavily involved in the community and have received the backing of some of the prominent black churches in the district, as well as middle of the road soccer moms and rural HD 105 residents. PEANUT POLITICS ENDORSES RENITA HAMILTON FOR HD 105.

5. HD 148: Incumbent Buddy Harden (R-Cordele) is trying to fend off a challenge from Randy Head (R-Hawkinsville), a small businessowner out of Hawkinsville. There are many challenges facing District 148 and its time for someone to step forward and put the citizens first instead of Special Interest, Atlanta Politicos. Randy Head is the right man for the job and his strong local ties will be beneficial to the people of 148. From Agri-businesses to Economic revitalization, Randy Head will work hard for the citizens of 148. PEANUT POLITICS ENDORSES RANDY HEAD FOR HD 148.

6. HD 180: Jason Spencer (R-Woodbine) is battling challenger Nancy Stasinis (R-St. Marys) to represent HD 180. Spencer is a Tea Party Republican who sponsered HB 707 (HB 943) that would bar any state or local governments, agencies or employees from advocating for Medicaid expansion, except under certain circumstances, or from creating a health insurance exchange. It also would bar the University of Georgia and any other state organizations from running health insurance navigator programs to help Georgia consumers buy insurance on the federally run Health Insurance Marketplace. Over 600,000 Georgians do not have healthcare and Spencer have been most vocal in his opposition to the ACA & expansion of Medicaid. Nancy Stasinis is businessowner, Kings Bay Realty and is making her first run for office and will bring a calm, reasoned voice to the table, professionalism and respect back to Camden County & HD 180. How she feels about medicaid expansion is unknown, but she would be a upgrade over Jason Spencer. PEANUT POLITICS ENDORSES NANCY STASINIS FOR HD 180

prohibit Georgia employees of any state unit from spending state funds to advocate for the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion provision, and would eventually halt the navigator program run by the University of Georgia. Navigators are people trained to assist those seeking insurance through the health care exchange under the ACA.
The legislation also would prevent the state from creating its own health care exchange. Georgians now use a federally run exchange.
- See more at: http://www.georgiahealthnews.com/2014/03/anti-obamacare-bill-late-night-approval/#sthash.RoUGzs3l.dpuf

prohibit Georgia employees of any state unit from spending state funds to advocate for the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion provision, and would eventually halt the navigator program run by the University of Georgia. Navigators are people trained to assist those seeking insurance through the health care exchange under the ACA.
The legislation also would prevent the state from creating its own health care exchange. Georgians now use a federally run exchange.
- See more at: http://www.georgiahealthnews.com/2014/03/anti-obamacare-bill-late-night-approval/#sthash.RoUGzs3l.dpuf

7. HD 153: Carol Fullerton (D-Albany) is the incumbent in this race, but she faces tow challengers in Darrel Ealum (D-Albany) & Muarlean Edwards (D-Albany). This is a sleepy race for this east Albany House District, but a change is needed and Ealum, a ex-U.S Marine and CFO of Ealum Estates is the right person at the right time for this position. PEANUT POLITICS ENDORSES DARREL EALUM FOR HD 153.

8. HD 169: There will be a new State Rep for HD 169. Chuck Sims (R-Ambrose) decided not to seek re-election. Two democrats are vying for the right to advance to the General Election. They are Larry NeSmith (D-Douglas) and Dewey Hayes (D-Douglas). Nesmith a U.S. Army Veteran and Civil Right Activist is making his first run for office. Dewey Hayes, a Attorney and former Coffee Co State Court Solicitor is also making his first run for office. We here at Peanut Politics feel either guy would make a good representative.....but it all comes down to electoral strength and who can win in a General Election, so PEANUT POLITICS ENDORSES DEWEY HAYES FOR HD 169

GA Legislature: Ten 2014 Races/Seats To Watch

(1)  HD 156 Greg Morris (R-Vidalia) vs Lee Burton (R-Vidalia)

Incumbent Greg Morris faces a serious challenge in the form of Lee Burton for HD 156. Morris first elected in 1998 as a Democrat switched parties to the GOP in 2005. Morris pre-filed legislation HB 702 to erect a Ten Commandments monument in place of the Thomas Watson statue that was removed last yr. Now although it seem like a good gesture on Morris, it all seems political with the sudden challenge of Conservative Lee Burton.

Burton, a former U.S. Navy Seal, Vice Chair of the Toombs Co Republican Party and member of the Georgia Tea Party already has the endorsement of influential GOP Grassroots activists Pat Tippett & Kay Godwin. Burton, a 1988 graduate of Vidalia High School is making his first run for office.

Morris who is vice chair of the Banking Committee advantage as a incumbent may help him in the upcoming Republican Primary, but Lee Burton is no slouch, plus having the support of Georgia Conservatives in Action will only help him in his bid to upend Morris who was a former Toombs Co Commissioner. No Democrat have yet announced for this seat.

(2) SD 22 Hardie Davis (D-Augusta)

Incumbent moderate State Senator Hardie Davis of Augusta is running for Mayor of Augusta in 2014, replacing the term-limited Deke Coperhaver. Expect multiple candidates to vie for the open Senate Seat that takes up much of Richmond County. Former State Senator J.B. Powell, Vietnam Veteran & 2002 Congressional candidate Chuck Pardue are possibilities for this seat.

(3) SD 18 Incumbent Cecil Staton (R-Macon), Spencer Price (R-Thomaston) & John Kennedy (R-Macon)

In 2012 Cecil Staton barely defeated Physician Spencer Price of Thomaston to return to the State Legislature in 2012. This time there will be a rematch, plus one with the entry of Macon Lawyer John F. Kennedy. Both Price and Kenendy are running to the right of Staton and it's likely that this race will go into a runoff. Staton is currently Majority Whip of the Senate. No Democrats have announced for this seat that includes Upson, Crawford, Peach, Monroe and portions of Bibb County.

(4) HD 12. Eddie Lumsden (R-Rome)

Lumsden defeated longtime Democratic Moderate & Educator Barbara Massey-Reece by 3% in 2012. With such a close margin of victory, expect democrats to make a run at this seat in 2014. The district includes Chatooga and Northern Floyd County.

(5) HD 105 Joyce Chandler (R-Grayson)

Chandler narrowly defeated Businessowner Renita Hamiton (D-Lawrenceville) a Conservative Democrat 51% to 48 in 2012.  HD 105 seat is your classic swing legislative seat. This seat will be atop of the Democrats list of seats they hope to pickup in 2014.

(6) HD 139 Patty Bentley D-Reynolds)

Bentley defeated Reynolds Foodliner VP Thomas Coogle, a Conservative Democrat in the Democratic Runoff 50% to 49%. The race also included Michael Dinkins who served as County Commissioner of Peach County. This seat includes Dooly, Macon, Taylor and Southern Peach County. Look for numerous candidates to jump into the race given the relative razor thin margin of victory by the Incumbent.

(7) HD 145 Rusty Kidd (I-Lake Sinclair)

Independent Rusty Kidd defeated Pharmaceutical Businessowner, U.S Navy Veteran and Radio Show Host Quentin Howell (D-Milledgeville), a Conservative Democrat the past two election cycles. This seat includes Baldwin and South Central Putnam County which includes Eatonton. Expect a republican to jump into this race and Howell may make a third run for the seat.

(8) HD 138 Michael Cheokas (R-Americus)

Cheokas who was another party switcher in 2010 narrowly defeated Marion County Commissioner Kevin Brown, a Moderate Democrat 50% to 49%. The newly drawn district includes Chattahoochee, Marion, Schley, and majority of Sumter County. Given the narrow margin of victory for Cheokas, expect Brown to make another attempt to unseat Cheokas.

(9) HD 148 Buddy Harden (R-Cordele) vs Randy Head (R-Hawkinsville)

Incumbent Buddy Harden will face a primary challenge from  Businessowner Randy Head who owns Grillmaster over in Perry. Head has a impressive background that will appeal to various interest of the district. Harden replaced longtime State Rep. Johnny Floyd who resigned after serving 17 yrs as State Rep. The district includes a bog portion of rural Houston Co, Pulaski, Wilcox and Crisp County

(10) SD 23 Jesse Stone (R-Waynesboro)

After Conservative Democrat J.B. Powell left this seat to run for Agriculture Commissioner, Stone who was mayor of Waynesboro, step forward and qualified for the seat...the sad part is the Democrats failed to recruit a challenger to put uo against Stone. Vietnam Veteran and Attorney Chuck Pardue mounted a successful drive to get on the ballot as a independent, but soon afterwards dropped out of the race due to a family related matter. ( His son was seriously wounded in Afghanistan and experienced serious trauma because of it). SD 23 includes Burke, Screven, Johnson, Jenkins, northern Emanuel County, Jefferson, Glascock, Warren, McDuffie, extreme southern portion of Columbia, tiny portion of northern and Richmond County. Expect Senate Democrats to do a much better job of recruiting a candidate to take on Stone.

Democratic Candidates who can WIN in November

63 Democrats in the House, 22 Democrats in the State Senate. That's it! About half of the legislative seats are unopposed this year in the state house & more than that in the State Senate.

Now its time to separate the contenders from the pretenders as far as democrats who can WIN in November:

1, Quentin T. Howell (D-Hardwick). Howell is trying for a second time to unseat Independent Rusty Kidd for HD 145, which covers Baldwin & southern Putnam County. Howell has been campaigning for this seat for well over a year, and has been building support since his 2010 loss. Howell, a Blue Dog Democrat is a businessman/entrepreneur, radio talk show host & veteran of the Navy. He has worked throughout the community in Milledgeville on numerous issues that affected the citizens.  Howell is by far the strongest candidate running as a democrat this year. 

2. Jana Hill (D-Clayton) Hill is making her first run for office against Republican Stephen Allison. Hill, a former educator is a strong advocate for public schools and economic development. Hill serves on the Boards of the Rabun Chamber of Commerce and Community Pantry and is a founding member of the Old School Community Garden. Recently, she was elected as a 2012 Georgia Delegate to the Democratic National Convention and she works with the Development Authority of Rabun County.

3. Renita Hamilton (D-Lawrenceville). This seat is definitely one democrats can win. Hamilton who ran for Lawrenceville City County in 2011 is taking on Joyce Chandler for HD 105. Hamilton, a pro-business, pro-family democrat has the vision, integrity, and real-life experience necessary to bring family-sustaining jobs and a healthier economic prosperity back to the district.  As the owner of a small business, she understands the difficulty of sustaining a viable small business & also understand the problems of entrepreneurs, investors and developers. 

4. Kevin T. Brown (D-Buena Vista) Brown is challenging Mike Cheokas who changed parties & now running as a republican this election cycle. Brown is a former U.S. Army Veteran, Director of the Marion County Family Connection & member of numerous boards thoughout the West Central Georgia Area. HD 138 is one of the few seat that democrats can flip to blue. It consist of Chattahoochee, Marion, Schley & Sumter County.

5. Dr Nelva Lee (D-McDonough) Lee, a native of Panama, moved to the US due to the Noriega Dictatorship.  Lee, a Conservative Democrat is the President and Founder of the MiTio Institute and the MiTio Foundation. The MiTio Institute is an Online Medical Interpreting and Translating Diploma Training Program. She has also served as a Mental Health Coordinator for the Department of Health and as Director of Patient Advocacy for the Grady Health System. And Chair of the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters. Lee main focus in her run for the State Senate is bringing attention on making the Small business industry in her district as robust and viable as possible and expand hiring incentives to make them S.T.E.M. (Science Technology Engineering Math) industry specific, among other things in her platform.

6. Mary Ann Whipple-Lue (D-Gordon) Lue is taking on James Epps of Dry Branch for HD 144 which now includes NW Laurens County & Bleckley County with Wilkinson, Twiggs & east Bibb County & Eastern Jones Co. Lue a former member of the Wilkinson County BOE is running on bringing more Industry to HD 144.  And being heavily involved in education, wants to fix Georgia's struggling Public Schools. Lue hails from the same hometown as did late State Rep. Ken Birdsong.

(GA-HD 105) Renita Hamilton is the Centrist Who Democrats Need to Rejuvenate the Party's Sagging Fortunes

A true centrist democrat, Renita Hamitlon is the only candidate in the race for HD 105 with the ability to deliver the message of the working class across party lines, appeal to independents & like-minded republican & to grow the democratic base in Gwinnett County.


In the race for the open HD 105 seat, Hamilton stands out as the most electable & most appealing against her opposition Joyce Chandler. She is the best positioned to appeal to the middle, while at the same time bringing new voters into the democratic party in Gwinnett County.



 Renita Hamilton believes strongly in traditional values.

I  believe that the Democratic Party will never again be able to compete statewide in Georgia unless they successfully appeal to independent and rural voters. It’s not that the Georgia Democratic message is too liberal…it’s that they keep choosing messengers who cannot connect with voters outside of the Democratic base & that's why candidates like Renita Hamilton are desperately needed in the ranks of the democratic party who can effectively connect with voters who are not liberals and progressives. Dems need a candidate such as Renita, who can inspire people across demographic and party lines to join ranks and to vote with democrats to restore the American Dream in Georgia.

Hamilton, a native of Turner County where her parents instilled strong values in the church is a small businessowner, Polished Affairs, LLC, graduated from Savannah State University & currently attending Tennessee State where she is trying to obtain her Masters in professional Studies in Strategic Leadership.

Hamilton is a  pro-business, anti-tax democrat who is also a gun owner who previously ran for Lawrenceville City Council back in 2011.

Renita Hamilton is the Right Choice for HD 105

Up in Gwinnett County, there's a race for the open HD 105 seat located in southern Gwinnett County.  Two democrats, Renita Hamilton & Rashid MaliK are vying for the chance to represent the newly drawn district which was created during the redistricting process

Im not going to waste my time here, the choice is simple...Renita Hamilton, hands down. Hamilton, a Conservative Democrat is a native of Turner County who moved to the east matro Atlanta County when she was a teenager.

Community involvement is a passion of Hamilton who wants to bring about positive and effective change improve , increase value, enhance the quality of life for residents of HD 105.

Hamilton, a businessowner who operated Polished Affairs, LLC knows what hardships small businesses have faced in this unprecedented economic downturn since the depression & having someone of Hamilton's experience in the business world would be a huge asset for Georgia & HD 105.

Send a businesswoman, a christian, a gun owner, a fiscal discipline to face the winner of the GOP primary & then the General Election. The Democratic Party needs Renita Hamilton in its ranks. Elect Renita Hamilton as your next State Representative

Candidate Spotlight: Renita Hamilton (D-Lawrenceville)

Bluedog Democrat Renita Hamilton, a businessowner from Lawrenceville is running for the open HD 105 seat which consist of Grayson & Logavillle & other parts of South Central Gwinnett County.

Hamilton, a Turner County Native moved to Gwinnett County in 1992 & have lived there sinc. She is a graduate of Savannah State University with a major in Mass Communications. Her core issues are Fiscal Responsibilty, Education, Transportation & Jobs. Hamilton wants to bring about positive and effective change in order to improve, increase value, enhance the quality of life and encourage awareness to community based issues and concerns. Hamilton is supporter of Gun Rights, Lower Taxes & Prayer back in our Schools

Hamilton is owner of Polished Affairs, LLC a event planner/wedding planner business which she started in 2003.

Check out her website: http://www.voterenitahamilton.org/