ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Former Democratic state Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes is running for Georgia lieutenant governor, saying she switched races from insurance commissioner because she can “do the most good” in the post.

She highlighted her background as the youngest woman elected to the state Senate and the first senator to give birth while serving, and said she would be the first woman, first mother and first daughter of immigrants to serve as lieutenant governor.

Parkes also criticized Republican state Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cummings, citing a campaign ad she called islamophobic. She said she confronted Dolezal after seeing it on the Senate floor and accused him of promoting “hate” in state politics.

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Gov. Brian Kemp has signed legislation to suspend the state’s gas tax for 60 days.

In Washington, D.C., another attempt to end the partial government shutdown - forcing thousands of government employees to work without pay - has failed.

For the first time ever, a Georgia mother is being charged with attempted murder under the state’s heartbeat abortion law.

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Georgia will once again be a key state in the 2028 presidential election, with red and blue power brokers lobbying the swing state, which is often a direct way to the White House.

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