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HC Wake-Up Call: Georgia Dems Investigation, Current State of Midterm Elections, & Surprise Obama Visit

Allison Crist

Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)

Georgia Secretary of State Investigating Georgia Democrats Without Citing Evidence

The office of Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, who’s also the GOP nominee for governor, has launched an investigation into the state’s Democratic party for what it described as a “failed attempt to hack the state’s voter registration system.” Kemp’s office did not provide any evidence or explain why it is investigating Georgia’s Dem party when the announcement was made on Sunday. 

“While we cannot comment on the specifics of an ongoing investigation, I can confirm that the Democratic Party of Georgia is under investigation for possible cyber crimes,” said press secretary Candice Broce in a press release. “We can also confirm that no personal data was breached and our system remains secure.”

According to The New York Times, Democrats have called the investigation an abuse of power and a political stunt. Kemp is just two days away from Election Day, marking the conclusion of a closely contested race against Democrat Stacey Abrams. He’s previously been criticized for not resigning from overseeing the election since he’s involved and could have a conflict of interest. 

As for the investigation, Kemp’s office said that federal partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation, have been alerted. 

Midterm Election Predictions

This Tuesday, voters will elect a new House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. A poll released on Sunday from ABC News and The Washington Post found that 52 percent would prefer a generic Democrat over a generic Republican for Congress, and 44 percent would choose the Republican. In a poll from NBC News and The Wall Street Journal, 50 percent of likely voters favored a Democratically controlled Congress while only 43 percent favored a Republican one. 

Regarding specific elections, The New York Times reported that top officials on both sides are predicting North Dakota Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp’s defeat. “But every other Senate Democrat is still seen as viable,” The Times said. “That itself is rather extraordinary given that Democrats are defending 10 seats in states that President Trump carried.”

Missouri’s Senator Claire McCaskill and her Republican opponent Josh Hawley are nearly tied; as are Tennessee’s Democratic Phil Bredesen and Republican Representative Marsha Blackburn; and Texas’s Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Beto O’Rourke. 

Results could start rolling in as early as 8 pm ET on Tuesday, but close races could require recounts and take days to tally. 

Obama Drops In To Miami Taco Shop, Drawing a Big Crowd

People dining at Coyo Taco in Miami were certainly surprised when Former President Barack Obama showed up after campaigning for Florida candidates on Friday. “I want everybody to vote!” he shouted as more and more people began to gather. He was also surrounded by Secret Service agents, reporters and camera crews. 

Obama arrived with Andrew Gillum and Bill Nelson, the candidates he was advocating for at a get-out-the-vote rally at the Ice Palace. He took photos with the restaurant’s staff, congratulated a woman about to get married, and even sampled someone’s guac. 

What to look for…

Your plan to vote on Tuesday. 

Follow Allison on Twitter @AllisonMCrist.