By Jasmine Stark
Made with assistance from generative AI.
Monroe County resident and Republican state senator John F. Kennedy, who served as President Pro Tempore of the Georgia Senate for the past three years, is running for lieutenant governor in 2026. In an interview with Monroe Matters, he outlined priorities on public safety, tax policy, and education reform.
Public Safety and Law Enforcement Support
Kennedy described public safety as a foundational responsibility of state government and a key issue driving his campaign. He praised the work of Monroe County law enforcement and emergency responders, crediting local leadership with maintaining safety and order in the district.
At the state level, he said he has focused on anti-gang efforts and strengthening support for law enforcement personnel. Kennedy also highlighted the growing challenges officers face related to mental health crises, noting a need for more training and resources to help law enforcement address mental health situations safely and effectively.
Fiscal Policy and State Budget Priorities
Kennedy discussed Georgia’s conservative approach to budgeting, noting ongoing reductions to the state income tax — most recently to 5.19% fro tax year 2025 — and the preservation of the state’s AAA bond rating.
“That means when we go to bond projects to build capital improvements at our universities for our state agencies, we pay a lower interest rate because of that AAA bond rating,” he explained.
Kennedy expressed cautious optimism about working with the federal government to fund infrastructure, education, and health care projects but warned against overreliance on federal dollars.
Balancing Growth and Energy Demands
In light of recent discussions about the impact of data centers on energy consumption and environmental sustainability, Kennedy said Georgia has taken steps to manage that growth responsibly. He cited a new Public Service Commission rule requiring large consumers who use over 100 MW of power to shoulder infrastructure costs associated with new power demands and noted that Georgia Power has implemented a three-year residential base rate freeze.
Kennedy also pointed to data centers as strategic infrastructure for national competitiveness in artificial intelligence and technology.
He pointed out that other countries are investing heavily in this space and stated, “they’re not going to slow down, they’re going to be competitive and we don’t want them outpacing us or it’s going to mean problems on a bigger scale.”
Education: Absenteeism and Parental Involvement
Kennedy identified public education as one of the central themes of his campaign, sharing his personal background as a product of Georgia’s public school system. He praised Monroe County’s schools for strong performance and said fast-growing districts need more support to keep pace with infrastructure and student needs.
He also emphasized concern over chronic absenteeism across Georgia.
“We’re talking about 360,000 school kids in our public school systems that are missing 18 days or more. That’s just not acceptable,” he said, referencing statistics for Georgia absenteeism rates. He then continued to discuss some of the legislation he has worked on to address this issue, including Senate Bill 123. Kennedy also led a resolution to create a state-level study committee to examine the root causes of absenteeism and support locally tailored solutions.
He voiced support for expanded school choice and greater parental involvement in education decision-making, saying families should have more influence over their children’s learning environments.
Health Care Access and Legal Reform
Addressing concerns over rural hospital closures and high uninsured rates, Kennedy pointed to rising medical malpractice insurance premiums as a factor contributing to physician shortages in rural areas. He cited his sponsorship of Senate Bills 68 and 69, which he described as a rebalancing of the civil justice system aimed at reducing those premiums and retaining doctors trained in Georgia.
“We’ve wound up with is a bill that is fair to both plaintiffs and defendants as they come into the court system, if that’s what they need to do,” he said about these tort reform bills.
Kennedy believes the legislation will keep medical professionals from leaving Georgia and improve access to care, particularly in underserved communities.
Leadership Style and Legislative Experience
Asked about his leadership philosophy, Kennedy described himself as a consensus-builder with a “listen first, talk last” approach. He has twice secured the position of President Pro Tempore of the Senate with support from both parties, demonstrating his political influence within the chamber.
Kennedy stated that his focus as lieutenant governor would be on delivering what he calls “conservative results,” citing his work on tort reform, social policy, and conservative budgeting.
Social Policy and Framing Conservative Legislation
Among the legislative outcomes Kennedy cited were education choice initiatives and fiscal reforms, as well as support for legislation that restricts participation in girls’ sports to individuals assigned female at birth. He framed these efforts as part of his broader goal of aligning state policy with what he referred to as “common sense values” that he believes reflect the views of most Americans.
While supporters of such measures argue they protect fairness in athletics, civil rights groups and many medical organizations have raised concerns about the effects of such policies on transgender youth, citing risks to mental health and safety.
Kennedy did not directly address those criticisms but emphasized that his legislative record reflects the priorities of his constituents.
Relationship with National GOP Leadership
Kennedy has been in direct contact with President Trump’s team, signaling a close alignment with the administration’s current political priorities.
“I was honored to meet with the president’s team and I will respect them by not going into details of that meeting but I will tell you, that I believe there are real areas in which Georgia can be a good partner with the current administration in Washington, bringing good common sense solutions to some real difficulties that our country has faced,” he said, citing growing the workforce, attracting investments, going after criminals, and cracking down on illegal immigration as some of the areas where his principles align with those of the Trump administration.
Some Georgia voters — including a growing number of right-leaning independents — have expressed caution about candidates closely aligned with the former president, particularly those seeking statewide office.
Federal Influence and Executive Power
As the relationship between state and federal authority continues to be a point of national debate — especially under the current presidential administration — some political observers have raised concerns about the potential for executive overreach in efforts to advance federal policy goals, particularly in states with differing political majorities.
When asked about this tension, Kennedy expressed broad support for the Trump administration’s policy objectives emphasizing the importance of Trumps goals over his methods.
Critics warn that the current administration’s use of federal power to advance polarizing ideological goals could set a precedent that may be used by future presidents in ways that do not align with Georgia’s values and interests. They argue that expanding executive authority to override state level policies puts states rights to self-governance at risk.
Kennedy emphasized that while legal boundaries and precedents should be respected, aligning state efforts with federal priorities can be a productive path forward when those goals reflect shared values.
Immigration and Federal-State Cooperation
Kennedy said he supports strong state-federal cooperation on issues such as workforce development, law enforcement, and border enforcement. He stated that Georgia can be a partner with the current presidential administration in pursuing goals such as investment, economic growth, and public safety.
In discussing immigration, Kennedy voiced alignment with policies focused on border enforcement and described illegal immigration as a concern — a viewpoint common among conservatives but also one that immigrant advocacy organizations argue can stigmatize entire communities.
Looking Ahead
As the 2026 election approaches, Kennedy continues to emphasize legislative experience and a record of conservative governance. While his platform touches on national issues, his campaign remains focused on state-level priorities — from education and law enforcement to healthcare access and budget management.
Kennedy says he is committed to “getting things done” and leading in a way that reflects the values of Georgia’s republican voters.
Primary elections are scheduled for May 19th 2026 followed by the general election on November 3rd. Several other candidates have announced their intentions to run including Republicans David Clark, Greg Dolezal, Steve Gooch, Brenda Nelson-porter, Takosha Swan, Blake, Tillery, Jerry Timbs, and Democrats Josh McLaurin and Richard N. Wright.
