Think back to the summer of 2020 in Atlanta. A Wendy’s was burned down. A little girl lost her life in the crossfire of gunshots that ensued nearby. An Atlanta Police car was set on fire near the CNN Center, which was the victim of fireworks being thrown into its lobby. Major roads were blocked by rioters. Glass was broken at the Omni Hotel. Centennial Olympic Park was vandalized. Jails were emptied. Police were asked to “stand down.” 157 homicides occurred in Atlanta in 2020, nearly sixty percent more than the year before. Crime surged from the City of Atlanta, all over the metro area.
One would think that following such a shocking loss of life and property in 2020, that a common sense, bipartisan consensus would emerge in favor of public safety in the aftermath. Sadly, that has not occurred. For the past four years, many Georgia House Democrats have voted like California House Democrats, Minnesota House Democrats, or New York House Democrats on a dozen or more important public safety bills.
While affordability is the top issue in the 2026 election, a close second is public safety. There has never been a greater difference on the issue of public safety in Georgia than right now.
During the 2025-26 General Assembly, the following are the numbers of overwhelmingly Democrat “No” votes, on the following public safety bills in the Georgia House:
1. Fentanyl Eradiction Act, SB 79: 31 No votes.
2. Prohibiting camping on public property and sanctuary city/county policies, HB 295: 76 No votes.
3. Tougher penalties for blocking highways, streets, and sidewalks, HB 752: 69 No votes.
4. Criminalization of disrupting a worship service, SB 591: 39 No votes.
5. Post-Apalachee School Safety bill, HB 268: 12 No Votes.
During the previous term in 2023-24, many House Democrats voted “No” on even more public safety bills:
1. Governor Kemp’s crackdown on gang recruitment of minors, SB 44;
2. Crackdown on contraband, cell phones and drones in prisons, SB 159;
3. Strengthening bail laws, SB 63;
4. The Georgia Laken Riley Act which cracked down on criminal illegal aliens, HB 1105;
5. Prosecutorial Oversight Commission, SB 332;
6. Criminalization of arson of a police car, HB 500; and
7. Making violent rioting a felony, HB 505.
A recent documentary on the initiative to recruit the 1996 Olympics to Atlanta quoted Ambassador Andrew Young as telling international officials during Atlanta’s closing arguments that Atlanta is the only American city to have been destroyed by war. Sadly, in 2020, many parts of Atlanta were destroyed by weak public safety policies. That should never happen again.
While there are many important questions on the 2026 ballot, ensuring that Atlanta and its suburbs do not burn again is a critical decision to make. Public safety and quality of life are on the ballot in 2026 in Georgia.
General Assembly members should stand with homeowners, hardworking Georgians, small business owners, school officials and law enforcement officers who place public safety above partisan politics. We should be committed to public service and keeping Georgia #1 in good things like public safety, rather than homicides, and to make people continue to want to move to Georgia from all around the country and around the world.
Rep. Matt Reeves represents Georgia’s 99th House District in Gwinnett County, where he and his wife Suzette have lived for 23 years and raised their three children. Reeves chaired the Insurance Affordability Study Committee, and 15 insurance companies have reduced their rates in Georgia this year.
