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What Republican Rule Looks Like in One Swing State
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The Speaker of the House controls how many and which days are scheduled for session days and the limited time makes clear that the priority for the fall is political and not legislative — State Rep. Chris Rabb
By Stacy M. Brown,NNPA Newswire Correspondent
With voter registration drives principally aimed at trying to win back the House and possibly the Senate in Washington, Democrats have seen their efforts to establish legislation to help all citizens stymied by Republicans who serve as the majority in both of those key legislative branches of government.
This almost helpless situation also has played out across the country in state legislatures where the GOP holds the upper hand.
Currently, Republicans control 26 state governments while Democrats hold the majority in just eight states, according to Ballotpedia. There are six states where Democrats control the legislature but a Republican sits in the governor’s mansion.
Similarly, there are six states in which Republicans control the legislature, but a Democrat serves as governor, including Pennsylvania, where the GOP has routinely stymied attempts at gun control, criminal justice reform and affordable health care.
With a new legislative session convening, it’s anticipated that very little Commonwealth business will see completion. That’s because the GOP-controlled Pennsylvania House and Senate have decided to schedule a mind-bogglingly brief nine days of legislative business.
This small window for activity must serve the nation’s second-largest state legislature – 250 members – whose members are paid by taxpayers at an average annual salary of $87,000.
State Rep. Chris Rabb, a Philadelphia Democrat, said he remains interested in seeing several of his proposed bills voted out of committee.
Each bill, Rabb said, has significant impact on Philadelphia residents, including his proposals to increase the minimum wage for tipped workers, committing to 100 percent renewable energy to drastically reduce exposure to the devastating effects of climate change. Rabb’s proposals also include measures to expand voter rights and election reforms, like early voting, mail-in voting, and the universal automatic voter re-enfranchisement of returning citizens.
Rabb and his colleagues who represent the Philadelphia District and who currently sit in the minority, said they will work within the abbreviated legislative window to try and get something done on behalf of their constituencies, including those who reside in and around the City of Brotherly Love.
“I am looking forward to support[ing] legislation that empowers survivors of sexual abuse by removing the statute of limitations for sexual predation,” Rabb said this week. “I am also strongly supportive of bipartisan legislation that would allow unaffiliated voters — who are now the majority of the electorate — to vote in Pennsylvania’s primaries.”
The Speaker of the House controls how many and which days are scheduled for session days and the limited time makes clear that the priority for the fall is political and not legislative, Rabb said.
“[House GOP Speaker Mike Turzai] is essentially encouraging his fellow Republican members to campaign back home rather than do the job we’ve all been elected and paid to do which is create, amend and repeal state laws,” he said.
There’s a broad package of bills on sexual harassment, assault and intimidation that have received two hearings that need to be voted on this fall, Rabb added.
“One of those bills is mine, HB 2282, which would require all employers to provide online training for interns, domestic [workers] and agricultural workers on workplace harassment and discrimination,” he said.
There’s little doubt that the agenda could contain plenty of good legislation that’s awaiting action in committees, including gun control, education, criminal justice reform, jobs and the environment, said State Rep. Stephen Kinsey, who represents Philadelphia’s 201st legislative district.
Particularly, Kinsey said he’d like to see his bullying education bill (HB 2009) and Safer Schools Partnership Act (HB 2461) moved forward.
“I think we’re also all looking forward to pass legislation to repeal the antiquated statute of limitations. For more than 30 years, our current laws have prevented victims of sexual assault from making alleged claims against their abusers and we need to take action now,” Kinsey said.
“For the sake of the victims, we need these bills voted out of committee, passed and signed into law.”
Unfortunately, Democrats have no control over the short session agenda, but “it appears that those on the other side of the aisle would rather campaign than do the job they’re elected to do,” Kinsey said.
Despite the inactivity, Kinsey said he still wanted to encourage citizens to continue to be engaged with what’s happening in their communities and in Harrisburg.
“As old and new concerns rise, I will remain committed to do my best to help them along the way,” he said.
State Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky, a Democrat who represents Delaware County, Pa., said she too was disappointed that the first two session days in September were canceled because important legislation was sidelined including votes on #MeToo legislation, fair districts, and statute of limitations for abuse victims.
“These are bills that should not have to wait,” said Krueger-Braneky. “As representative for the 161st Legislative District, I will continue to push for legislation that puts the residents of Pennsylvania first. I will work with my colleagues to ensure we are putting working families before corporate special interests,” she said.
“We need to invest in our schools, make sure big corporations are paying their fair share in taxes, and ensure quality health care is affordable for everyone.”
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Black Veterans’ Fight for Equality…The Forgotten Cost of Service
Black veterans returned from serving a country that denied them equality. Discover the untold struggle for the benefits they earned in this week’s episode.
🇺🇸 They served America, then came home to segregation. Hear how Black veterans had to fight for the benefits they earned. Listen and learn more on this week’s episode of From the Desk of the Editor
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Black History
“Blue Tsunami” Sweeps Georgia, Bottoms Makes History
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE – THE MAROON TIGER — A political shift described as a “Blue Tsunami” has transformed the landscape of Georgia leadership following the recent election. Keisha Lance Bottoms made history when the race was called on Nov. 3, becoming the first woman and the first Black person elected as governor of Georgia.
The race was called on Nov. 3 at 9:24 p.m., which is much earlier than most elections. The atmosphere of the Marriott Marquis located in downtown Atlanta was only a mere sample of the excitement statewide. The event hall could barely hold the guests as the line for access passes extended across the entire lobby floor. Everyone came in some of their best attire, sporting unmistakable blue diamond pins with the words, “Keisha Lance Bottoms for governor.”
Now, Bottoms will become Georgia’s first woman and first Black governor when she takes office in January, making her the first Black woman to serve as governor of any U.S. state.
She described her campaign as reaching every corner of the state, “from the red hills of Georgia to the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Piedmont,” as cameras crowded in to capture the moment.
Joining her onstage were her mother, her children and her husband, Derek Bottoms, whom she met while attending Georgia State University College of Law and married in October 1994.
Supporters who had campaigned alongside Bottoms for 578 days shed tears of joy at her election watch party. Among those near the stage were U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock ‘91, D-Ga., the senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the Rev. Jamal Harrison Bryant ‘94, the senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.
Eight Black women, many firsts
In 2025, Black women experienced disproportionate employment losses as the Trump administration implemented federal workforce cuts and rolled back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
The losses disproportionately affected Black women across the country. In 2026, Georgia voters elected eight Black women to statewide office, marking a historic shift in the state’s political leadership. The South had something to say.
Georgia’s eight major statewide executive offices are the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, agriculture commissioner, insurance commissioner, labor commissioner and state school superintendent.
When the newly elected officials take office in January, Black women will hold seven of Georgia’s eight statewide executive offices, a first for the state, with Lt. Gov.-elect Josh McLaurin holding the eighth seat.
Several broke barriers of their own. Tanya Miller will become Georgia’s first elected woman attorney general. Penny Brown Reynolds, a former Fulton County judge, will become the first Black person elected Georgia secretary of state. Keisha Sean Waites, a former Atlanta City Council member, will become Georgia’s first Black woman insurance commissioner. Educator Lydia Powell will become its first Black woman state school superintendent, while Nikki Porcher will become its first Black woman labor commissioner.
Agriculture Commissioner-elect Katherine Juhan-Arnold founded Baby Katie’s Pharm & Kitchen, a nonprofit farm that provides fresh produce and agricultural education to underserved communities. Shelia Edwards, who won the District 5 race, will join Alicia Johnson as one of only two Black women on the Georgia Public Service Commission. Johnson became the first Black woman elected to a statewide partisan office outside the judiciary in Georgia after winning her commission seat in 2025.
“Georgia chose competence,” Brown Reynolds told The 19th. “We were not selected because we were Black women. I believe that we were selected because all of us bring something that Georgia desperately needs.”
Andra Gillespie, a political science professor at Emory University, told USA Today that the number of Black women elected to leadership positions in Georgia is unprecedented.
“Black women have definitely reached a point where they can not only run and be taken seriously for leadership positions in major parties,” she said.
The wins reached Congress too. State Rep. Jasmine Clark, D-Ga, became the first Black woman with a doctorate in science elected to Congress, winning Georgia’s 13th Congressional District seat, while U.S. Reps. Lucy McBath and Nikema Williams won reelection.
“Georgia has shown up”
Warnock said Georgia voters showed the power of organizing this election cycle and pledged to keep fighting for historically Black colleges and universities.
“I’m proud of Georgia. Georgia has shown up,” Warnock said. “Some 3 million of them early voted.”
He said churches played a key role in that turnout.
“What we saw, among other things, in this election cycle is the power of organizing, and the faith community has always been an important part of that,” he said.
When asked about the legislative priorities he plans to pursue with Keisha Lance Bottoms, Warnock highlighted his efforts to secure federal funding for historically Black colleges and universities.
Warnock pointed to a recent $97.1 million federal award supporting STEM programs at 10 historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions, including Clark Atlanta University. His office has also reported securing more than $17 billion for HBCUs nationwide since he began his full Senate term.
With Governor-Elect Bottoms being an HBCU graduate of Florida A&M University, Georgia will have two HBCU alumni representing the people of the state.
“My own life is a testament to how these schools perform way above their weight,” he said. “And so I’ll continue to fight for them.”
His advice for current students was simple: “Morehouse gave me everything I needed to get ready,” he said. “I want the students to look at someone like me, and many others in various fields, and know that we sat in those same desks that they sit in. And so the sky is the limit.”
“Money doesn’t make you a success; character does”
Bryant said the win was personal, crediting Black men and Black churches for helping elect Bottoms.
“Super excited to know history was made, and to know that Black men supported a Black woman to get to this place,” he said.
The biggest hurdle, Bryant said, was getting Black churches involved and engaged, which he described as a return to the church’s tradition from the civil rights movement.
His advice for young men at Morehouse and across Georgia was direct.
“The takeaway lesson for all of us is money doesn’t make you a success,” Bryant said. “Character does.”
When the officials-elect take office in January, Black women will lead nearly every corner of Georgia’s executive branch. Bottoms announced her transition team Friday, Nov. 6. She and the seven other statewide officials-elect will be sworn in in January.
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Based on reporting by Morehouse College – The Maroon Tiger.
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