DeKalb County, Georgia

Candidates have filed across 13 Georgia State Senate districts, mostly in metro Atlanta, ahead of the 2026 midterms. Several incumbents, including Sheikh Rahman, Ruwa Romman, Gail Davenport, Kenya Wicks, Jaha Howard, Kim Jackson, and Tonya Anderson, face no Republican opponent listed in their districts. Other seats are contested, including District 10, where Larry Johnson and Furquan Stafford compete to succeed Sen. Emmanuel Jones, and District 14, where Kevin Abel faces Mike Dvorscak for Sen. Josh McLaurin's open seat. Additional matchups include Romman vs. Shaikh, Castro vs. Setzler, Kemp vs. Helvy, and Jackson vs. Newlin, setting up a broad set of down-ballot races within the state's legislature.

Candidate fields are set for county commission, school board and other local races across eight North Georgia counties — Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Forsyth, Hall, Cherokee and Paulding — ahead of the 2026 midterms. The contests mix incumbents seeking reelection, open seats and several unopposed candidates. Notable races include Fulton County's commission chair contest between Mo Ivory and Eric Tatum, a crowded special election for Fulton's District 4 seat, and rematches such as Bridget Thorne versus Maggie Goldman in Fulton District 1.

These local races typically draw less prediction-market attention than statewide or federal contests, but the lineups give early visibility into competitive seats and turnout dynamics heading into next year's elections.

Early voting opened in Georgia for the 2026 midterm election, running through Oct. 30, with Oct. 23 as the deadline to request an absentee ballot. Nearly every major statewide office is open, with new officeholders guaranteed in most races. The headline contest pits Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms against Republican Rick Jackson for governor, while incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff faces Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins in a closely watched Senate race.

Down-ballot races include lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, agriculture, insurance and labor commissioner, plus two Public Service Commission seats, congressional and legislative contests. Voters will also decide three constitutional amendments covering conservation-use acreage limits, nonpartisan election of probate judges, and dedicated funding for 911 systems. Turnout data is tracked through the secretary of state's Election Data Hub. The races carry significant implications for prediction markets given Georgia's status as a key battleground state.

Koda Uebel, 20, of Victor Township, has been sentenced to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to attempted first-degree murder, Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser announced. The case stemmed from an attack on May 31, 2025, at a home in Big Rock Township, where deputies responding to a domestic disturbance call found Uebel punching, slapping and kicking a 71-year-old woman while threatening to kill her.

Deputies forced entry and were themselves attacked by Uebel, who bit one officer during the struggle before being subdued with a stun gun. Uebel reportedly smelled of alcohol and was slurring his speech at the time of arrest. The victim was hospitalized with serious injuries; the injured deputy and Uebel were treated and released the same day. Under Illinois law, Uebel must serve at least 85% of his sentence, with credit for 482 days already served in county jail.

Georgia's data center footprint could grow dramatically, with 119 planned facilities poised to increase the state's current 3,906 MW capacity by 287%, according to records analyzed by market intelligence firm Cleanview. The average new data center, running at typical two-thirds capacity, consumes enough energy to power 54,000 homes, and next-generation facilities are on track to use 2.5 times more power than those opening in 2026.

Growth projections face mounting local resistance over water and energy use. Effingham County residents have organized against an incentives deal for a proposed $20 billion OpenAI data center, while Shadowbox Studios is suing DeKalb County over a moratorium blocking its own data center plans. The issue has become a flashpoint in Georgia's governor's race, with Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms calling for a statewide development pause and Republican nominee Rick Jackson favoring local control. Cleanview notes many listed projects may never be built, with 45 already canceled and about 450 lacking completion dates.

A barn fire in DeKalb County, Tennessee, left several firefighters treated for heat-related illness after crews battled the blaze for hours in full protective gear during extreme heat. The DeKalb County Fire Department was dispatched around 2:05 p.m. to a structure fire near the intersection of Highways 96 and 70, where a barn was found fully engulfed, with flames and intense heat threatening a nearby residence roughly 30 feet away.

Firefighters managed to limit damage to the residence to minor exterior harm on its vinyl siding, but the barn itself was a total loss. During the extended firefighting effort, three firefighters were treated on-scene for heat exhaustion, and one sustained a minor burn. No civilian injuries were reported. Multiple agencies assisted, including crews from several area fire stations, a rehabilitation unit, tanker trucks, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department, EMS, and the Alexandria Fire Department. Officials thanked all responding units and volunteer firefighters for their efforts.

DeKalb County, Georgia commissioners voted unanimously to delay a decision on a proposed unauthorized camping ordinance for 30 days after a tense debate. The measure, which stems from a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing local governments to ban and fine outdoor sleeping on public property, would prohibit camping that obstructs public spaces or blocks entry to locations. Officers would be required to issue a warning before any arrest.

District 3 Commissioner Nicole Massiah said the ordinance targets unsafe encampments rather than unhoused people, arguing officers retain discretion before jailing anyone. Commissioner Ted Terry opposed the measure, citing sheriff's office warnings that it could increase jail admissions and strain county funds. Advocates, including Gregory White of A Home for Everyone in DeKalb, criticized the draft for lacking diversion language and clarity on storing displaced residents' belongings. Supporters and opponents both attended the Decatur meeting. The ordinance is set to return to the board for committee review and a final vote on September 29.

South Carolina Republicans returned to the polls Tuesday to pick a nominee for the Senate seat long held by the late Lindsey Graham, who died in July after winning renomination in June. Sen. Darline Graham, appointed to fill her brother's term and backed by President Trump and Sen. Tim Scott, faced Rep. Ralph Norman in a runoff after neither cleared a majority in the Aug. 11 primary; third-place finisher Rep. Russell Fry endorsed Graham. The winner faces Democrat Annie Andrews in the fall.

In Georgia's 13th Congressional District near Atlanta, Democrats Everton Blair and Marcye Scott, daughter of late Rep. David Scott, competed in a runoff to serve the remainder of Scott's term after topping a five-candidate field in July. Neither is seeking the full term beginning in 2027; that contest will pit Democratic state Rep. Jasmine Clark against Republican Jonathan Chavez in November. Both races drew attention as tests of turnout and party strength ahead of the 2026 midterms, now 70 days off.