Jon Ossoff

Your daily jolt of news and analysis from the AJC politics team.

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins celebrates with supporters following his victory in the U.S. Senate runoff election last month. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Today’s newsletter highlights:

Colin Gray, the father of Apalachee High School shooter Colt Gray, faces sentencing.

Brian Kemp orders state agencies to prepare for possible budget cuts.

Marjorie Taylor Greene ties the knot.

Outside boost

Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff (left) and Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mike Collins. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Reinforcements are coming for Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mike Collins.

The congressman is getting a boost from One Nation, a GOP-aligned group that said Thursday it plans to spend $15 million in Georgia targeting Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff.

That comes on top of the $44 million the Senate Leadership Fund, the GOP super PAC linked to One Nation, has already pledged to spend on the race.

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Things to know

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill earlier this month. (Allison Robbert/AP)

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A longtime Gainesville employee is accused of stealing more than $1 million from the city over several years, Caroline Silva reports.

A statewide cellphone ban takes effect in Georgia high schools this year when students return to school on Monday. Cassidy Alexander, Jason Armesto and Martha Dalton report it’s one of several changes across Georgia schools this year.

Todd Blanche’s nomination to become U.S. attorney general stalled Wednesday as lawmakers scrapped a planned committee vote after key Republicans demanded more assurances about the settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.

Apalachee sentencing

Colin Gray looks on after a jury convicted him of second-degree murder and more than two dozen other charges in March. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC file)

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Budget cuts?

Gov. Brian Kemp speaks before signing the state's new budget at the state Capitol in May. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

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Healthcare focus

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Jackson, speaks during President Donald Trump's rally at Rome's Coosa Steel service center in February. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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Listen up

Georgia GOP Chair Josh McKoon, seen here in 2024. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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Burkhalter’s back

Former state Rep. Mark Burkhalter, who now goes by his first name, Joseph, has been nominated to serve as ambassador to Moldova. (Handout)

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Today in Washington

Trump will deliver remarks about a new program to recruit veterans to pursue careers in trucking.

The Senate will take a procedural vote on a war powers resolution to limit strikes in Iran and will consider a bloc of Trump nominations.

The Senate health committee will vote on the nominations of Erica Schwartz to head the Centers for Disease Control and Sean Kaufman for a senior role at the Department of Health and Human Services.

The House is out until Aug. 31.

Wedding bells

Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was first elected in 2020 to represent Georgia's 14th Congressional District. (Ben Gray for the AJC 2020)

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Shoutouts

U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, seen here at an event in East Point on Tuesday. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Atlanta.

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Before you go

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz speaks at the Wisconsin Air National Guard facility at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport earlier this month. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

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