November 13, 2025 • 26 mins
As millions of Americans rethink their political identity, former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan has made his own bold move — leaving the GOP to run for Governor of Georgia as a Democrat.
In this episode of the Now You Know "Meet the Candidates 2026 Midterm Series," Knowa sits down with the candidate for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about his political transformation, his policy priorities, and the future of Georgia politics.
Duncan talks about his thoughts on identity politics, DEI, the future of bipartisanship, and also opens up about his family, and why “doing the right thing” has become their guiding motto.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now You Know and No De Barrosso is a production
of iHeartMedia and partnership with Recent Choice Media. As we
undergo the second Trump administration, there are millions of Americans
changing their party affiliations from Republican to Democrat in discuss
of the actions of Donald Trump in the Republican Party.
(00:22):
Jeff Duncan is just one of those who is now
running for governor as a former Republican lieutenant governor now
running to be a Democratic governor. He talked about his
policy platform. I also made him talk about each of
his opponents and why they are not fit to be
governor or why they should not get the Democratic nomination.
So here on the Now You Know Midterm Series, I
(00:44):
welcome Lieutenant Governor Jeff Duncan. How are you, Jeff Duncan.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
I'm doing great.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
How about you, Jeff Duncan. We were talking about your
talent to come in Georgia. I was wondering, I have
a hypothetical for you.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
All right, let's hear it.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Let's say I was in Common Georgia, right, and I
I was so unfamiliar. This is gonna sound, this is
going to sound. Why would you ask this? I was?
I was there for a democratic meeting. Okay, And it
was maybe five point thirty and I was like, okay,
I'm stranded in your town. Would you let me stay
at your house?
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Absolutely? What, By the way, you'd love my three kids.
We'd be watching sports. We'd go downstairs and maybe we
got a pool table. I got a twenty three year old,
a twenty year old, but I got a fifteen year
old freshman high school. I thinks she hung the moon.
His name's Ryder. He's got the biggest personality I've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Well, speaking of which, I actually have him on the
notes here. All fun aside. He followed me on Instagram
And if you're watching Rider, hello, great.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Guy, he will be watching for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
He's a great guy. Sounds like such a great guy.
And he does sports, does any Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
You know. So he was an actor. It's a crazy story.
Rider was an actor really on a show called Young Dylan. Yeah,
are you being serious? No? No, No, I'm serious. He
was there for I think three years. He was on
Young Dylan, Young Dylan.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
I love that show.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Well, it's a great show. So Ryder was an actor
for three years and off and on, and then he
just decided he wanted to do sports. His older brothers
play sports. His oldest brother is a scratch golfer. His
middle brother plays football here at Georgia Tech, and riders like,
I want to do sports, and we're like, maybe it's
a little late to do that. But he did great.
(02:19):
He made a travel baseball team, he's came in second
in the county and golfing in the middle school golf tournament.
And he just finished an undefeated freshman football season. So
he's all things sports now.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yeah, and so are you. We talked a little bit
about it.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yeah, yeah, I'm a retired has been washed up, right,
I mean, but sports was my deal growing up. I
lived in seven states, and I just realized every time
I moved, if I was really good at sports, I'd
have a bunch of friends. And so I was a
high school quarterback and a baseball player, and the night
Georgia Tech showed up to watch a kid play another player,
(02:53):
I struck out seventeen and threw a no hitter. And
so I got a scholarship to Georgia Tech and then
ended up getting drafted and spent six years beating it
up in the minor leagues. Had a blast there.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
I used to I played baseball for maybe one year.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I bet you were great.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
I was okay, I was five. Jef Duncan, I was fie.
I was I was fine, And I really appreciate the
kindness and the invite to your home. I hope I
don't get stranded, but we'll we'll hang out. Jeb Doug
absolutely absolutely, So. I can't even get in an episode
because I'm so shocked about this young Dylan thing. I
love that show.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Well, it was great. It was fun. I mean, Ryder
was so exciting and it was hard, right, like he
had to learn how to act. Yeah, and he had
to learn, you know, his long, long days. But he
did a fantastic job, and the producers and everything were awesome.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
That's so cool. Well, first things first, you're running for
governor now I am. Yeah, you served in the state Senate,
you were the lieutenant governor, and now you switched your
party and now you're running for governor. So you obviously switched.
So how do you feel about primary voters who say
that maybe your policy hasn't changed, but your party did well.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I think my policies have been changing over the course
of time. I mean, this goes back to when I
was in the state House as a state representative. I
just saw the value of working across party lines, working
with folks like Stacy Abrams to solve big issues like
rural health care easy for me to say. And then
as lieutenant governor, worked across party lines to tackle some
big issues like healthcare, hate crimes, legislation. And then you know,
(04:19):
I didn't run again for lieutenant governor because I was
embarrassed about being a Republican. I was embarrassed at where
the party was going. I was embarrassed at the things
the party did and said, and a number of their
policy positions, including guns, including abortion. I got both of
those issues wrong as a Republican, and so I spoke
at the DNC. I went on the campaign trail for
eight weeks with Kamala Harris and worked really, really hard
(04:41):
to try to help her win. Unfortunately, we weren't successful,
but that doesn't mean we give up the fight.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
You know what's crazy, Jeff Duncan, I wanted to I
saw you like tweet about going to like the different
Kamala events, and he did one in Georgia, and I
was like, I want to meet Jeff Duncan, and I
missed that one event. But we made it happen, didn't we.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Yes, we did.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
You were on the campaign traill with the Vice president,
and so tell me about speaking to the DNC, Like,
what was it like? Did you just hit up Jamie
Harrison was like, I want to speak at your convention? Yes,
I'm a Republican.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
No, I don't even remember where the call came in.
I think they wanted to feel out whether or not
I would be open to it. I think there was
this group that had formed Republicans for Harris at the time,
and they reached out and just said, hey, would you
be open to the idea? And I said yes? And
the reason why because it was the right thing to do.
I mean, that's just what drives me in politics, like
looking for what the right thing to do is not
the popular thing, not the politically strategic thing to do.
(05:34):
I mean, that's why where we're at as a country
is people are just feeling the winds blow and they
make short, shallow decisions. So speaking at the DNC was
yes about an opportunity to share my thoughts and feelings
with America. The part that was so impactful for me
was how welcoming Democrats were from around the country. I mean,
the hugs, the high fives, even before I gave a speech,
(05:57):
and it's continued ever since.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
That's right. And so tell me a little bit about
what it's been like going on the campaign trail as
a Democrat, Like, how have people received you running as
a Democrat to your faith? Tell me about that.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
It's been great. I mean, it's really one of these
thoughts was if I build it, they will come. And
what I'm building is something that is winnable. It's been
nearly thirty years since the Democrat's been elected governor in Georgia,
since nineteen ninety eight, Roy Barnes got sworn in. And
we all have, you know, individual reasons why we think
that is. But the reality is it's because we haven't
got enough votes. And so I show up in these
(06:33):
communities all over the state talking about focusing on three issues. Affordability, healthcare,
and Donald Trump. Those are the three things I think
most folks are worried about. And I think Democrats realize,
look this, Jeff Duncan guy's got a really good shot
to win. In fact, he's got the best chance to
beat Bert Jones in the general election and turn the
tide here in Georgia, and so I'm meeting people where
they're at. I'm talking about the issues that they care
most about. And here's what I've learned. Georgia Democrats are
(06:56):
wired differently than national Democrats. I think we all feel
that because that's why we haven't won. We haven't got
enough votes. You have to win more than just your
base to win a statewide race in Georgia. And so
I'm the only one in this race that can win
Democrats independence in that batch of disgusted Republicans that just
want something different to vote for.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Now, I want to hear a little bit about your
policy platform. So lay it out for me, Like, for example,
a candidate might come in here and say, I want
to raise the minimum wage fund education. Lay out your
policy for someone who may not speak politics fluently.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
So I think there's two parts to it. One is
what can we do the art of the possible if
we win. I mean, it's not okay that Georgia is
near the bottom of the country in educational outcomes for
public education. We have to invest more in public education.
We have to update our funding formula. We've got to
give teachers pay raises. We've got to put more technology
in the classroom. I think there's opportunities to do that.
We have to continue to grow our economy in all
(07:49):
one hundred and fifty nine counties. We've got to expand
medicaid so that folks don't show up to the hospital
and either bankrupt themselves or bankrupt the hospital. We've got
to pass common sense gun legislation. I'm anxious to sign
an executive order that clarifies doctors can practice medicine without
fear of prosecution when women are seeking an abortion, and
also repealing the six week ban. So all of that
(08:12):
is what we want to do as Democrats, but we
can't do that with a second place trophy. We have
to win, and so the focus is on affordability, on healthcare,
and on Donald Trump, and those specific lanes are I mean,
there's folks just minutes from here that can't go to work,
not because they don't want to go to work, but
because they can't afford childcare. We need to tackle that
with programs like the CAPS program, more state funding. We
(08:33):
need affordable housing. Some folks can't even get their families
back on track because they can't afford a roof over
their head. In healthcare. It's an embarrassment to think that
Republicans their policy platform on healthcare is well, if they
don't have insurance, they're not going to get sick or
need to go to the doctor. That's not the way
it works. And then I think loudest is we have
to push back on Donald Trump. We cannot just lay
(08:56):
down and let him bully over us. We can't just
let him send National Guard troops into a city that
doesn't need them. We don't need as weaponizing the Department
of Justice, we don't need them. I mean, all of
this doesn't make sense. These tariffs are absolutely tearing the
hearts and souls out of our rural communities in these farms.
So affordability, healthcare and Donald Trump, that's the pathway to winning.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Yeah, I appreciate that. And I want to ask you
just maybe three policies. You tell me if you would
support them or not? Okay, okay, would you support raising
the state minimum wage into what?
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yes? And the state minimum wage is already at odds
with what the federal minimum wage is. I think we
have to sit back and look at something north of
ten plus dollars, twelve plus dollars, something that meets an honest,
fair wage. I think we have to work closely with
the business community. I think we have to work closely
with citizens themselves and find a market condition. But nobody
can can support their family on what the current minimum
(09:47):
wage is. And look, we have this incredible opportunity in
Georgia to do something bigger and better than the other states.
I mean, our best days are still in front of us.
And I think we need a partner with Georgians. We
need to partner with the private sector. We need to
partner with the state guard to create an environment that
is somebody's able to support their family. If they're willing
to go to an honest day's work, they should earn
an honest day's wage.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Yeah. And I'm going to ask you this next policy question.
It's a it's a now you know, Stafle, It's something
I asked Stacy Abrams on the show, Jason Estevez and
when I saw him in person, even Colton Moore. So
I'm going to ask you, I want to buy a
golf cart, Jeff Duncan, and if I those are expensive, yes,
i'ma explained And by abolishing the state income tax, I
(10:30):
can easily get a golf cart, maybe a few. So
I want to know, do you support abolishing the state
income tax?
Speaker 2 (10:37):
I would love for you to be able to afford
that golf cart. Yeah, but here, but here, here, here's
part of the problem. I would love to tell every
Georgian that they're going to get no income tax or
tax breaks or tax cuts. I mean, we all want
to feel that, we all want to see the tail
into that. But what sacrifice, right.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
I mean, I can get the golf cart. I'm just
trying to be responsible.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Right, But here's here's the problem. The second part of
that's each the Burt Jones gives about wanting to eliminate
the state income tax, is he's not telling you he's
got to raise the state income tax to twelve percent.
So on that golf cart that you buy, you're going
to pay twelve percent sales tax on it, so you
might not be able to afford it anymore.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
There's no states with twelve percent income taxes it.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
There's other states, and they mostly don't have they don't
have income tax. I mean that's the trade.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Washington has eleven point seventy five. That's the highest in
the country.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Right, You've got you know, high sales tax. In Florida,
you've got high sales tax on but then you have
to add all the counties and all the local municipalities
to it, so it adds up to much more than
six percent. I think there's actually somewhere in the range
of eleven to twelve percent something like that. And so
all the states that don't have income tax have some
some other sort of tax. And look, we've got kids
(11:43):
showing up to schools hungry right now. I mean, the
not so big beautiful bill cut funding even beyond this
government shutdown period of time to snap benefits. So kids
that used to get the only meal of the day,
they used to get with free and reduced lunches, now
they don't get I mean, how can we talk about
golf cars?
Speaker 1 (12:01):
You're clocking me, Jeff duncan car. I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Sorry, I'm a little intense about protecting those that need
it the most, and truly and honestly, it's one of
the reasons why I'm a Democrat now, because I wake
up with this incredibly built toolkit of tools that I
can help people in need. I can help reach into
those communities that just need that one jump start in
their life that one opportunity, that one skill gap to
close so that they can get that career in whatever
(12:25):
they want to they want to follow.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
You clocked me, Jeff Duncan.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
I didn't mean to cost me.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
But that's okay, you need to ride.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
My son rider is going to be mad at me, now.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
No, No, that's fine, it's okay, Okay. It was for
a good cost. So I am going to be responsible,
and I'm going to because I don't know where to
even drive a golf cart. So it's like every time
I bring up the cutting the state income tax, that's
kind of an example of how you can cut the
state income tax. It gets some cool like a golf cart.
But like you said, priorities, right, Jeff Duncan, Yeah, I find.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
It hard to believe that you would probably want to
be driving around in that golf cart and then driving
by somebody that is hungry or homeless or doesn't have
healthcare in sitting on the street suffering. I mean that
that that's kind of the dilemma that we're facing. If
we can be responsible and cut the income text, that's great,
that's awesome, but we can't let at sacrificing people in
need to cut the state income text.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Yeah, a quick pause for the calls. Stick around. We're
going to get to a fun game at the end.
But until then, I kind of want to ask you,
how do you feel about I guess you can kind
of say wokeness in the party as a former Republican,
how do you feel about You could even say identity
(13:38):
politics and all stuff like that inside of the party.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
I think people on all sides, left and right are
growing tired of identity politics right because it's not solving problems.
It's just pigeonholing people. It's it's isolating individuals, it's making
people one issue wonders. Yeah, And to me, leaders have
to be broad in scope. They have to be they
have to understand more than just one issue. But unfortunately,
(14:03):
you know, the consultants have figured out a way to
just demonize poverty or demonize wealth, or demonize whatever the
issue is, and that's what they campaign on. And we
the people have got to be smarter than that. We've
got to elect good leaders, great leaders that are able
to come to work every day with their best interest
in mind, the people's best interest and not their own
personal issues. And so identity politics is doesn't necessarily find
(14:25):
the best leaders. That's why I think Democrats have an
unbelievable chance of a lifetime right now because Donald Trump
is so wrong on these issues, his demeanor's toxicity is
so countercyclical to what people feel in their hearts that
we should be opening this tent up as Democrats and
growing the size of the tent that helps us achieve
and win elections in Georgia and all over the country
(14:46):
for a generation, because that's how bad Donald Trump's taking
this country.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, I agree, And so how are you feeling about
so far? How are you feeling? Kind of see the
different reactions from when you want the campaign tro For example,
when you were on the campaign tro you might have
heard maga, maga, maga, or when you were a Republican,
and now that you're a Democrat, you're hearing let's feed
the children, let's figure out how to get these stat
(15:10):
benefits back in their pockets. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
I mean, look, I think at the end of the day,
people want to be heard. When I go to South
Georgia farmers right now, they may have voted for Donald Trump,
but they want to be heard because these tariffs are
tearing apart their farms. The rural health care is disappearing.
I think folks in suburban areas really want to talk
about gun safety laws, they want to talk about educational outcomes.
(15:34):
I think folks this affordability crisis. I mean, there's folks
sitting in line right down the street that can't buy
all the groceries they have sitting on the checkout stand
because it can't afford it. These are real issues. Who's
talking about those issues? Who's got ideas to solve some
of those problems for them? That's what I feel like
most folks are worried about in the present day. And
I think there's this overwhelming majority of Georgians that span
(15:58):
even the political spectrum that really are seriously concerned about affordability.
Whether they're living check to check or own a business,
they can't predict tomorrow's prices. The healthcare stuff, it's real.
I mean, what do you do when you wake up
and you get a three thousand dollars monthly bill to
pay for your family's healthcare, or what do you do
if your ACA subsidy disappears, or what do you do
if your Medicaid got cut or you got pulled off
(16:18):
the rolls Just because Donald Trump doesn't like you anymore.
I mean, these are real issues that are that are
settling in people's kitchen tables, and it's scaring them.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Yeah, and so my main thing with kind of fighting
against Trump, right is do you plan to do that
in a policy way or in a partisan way. I
think a lot of the fight fight, fight, town hall, this,
this that is that it's very partisan. I feel like
your approach kind of comes from policy. So tell me
more about that.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Yeah. Look, I've never been a kind of a hell
raiser in my politics. It's just not been who I am.
It's not how I've been wired. It wasn't how I
was raised. I was raised to focus on the problem
and do anything I can do to solve it. And
that means working across party lines, that means working across
urban rural divides. And so yeah, I'll continue to be strategic.
(17:07):
I mean, look, some of the most effective ways to
push back on Donald Trump is certainly not on Twitter
or certainly not in the media, but it's with the courts.
When we watch some of these states governors and mayors
that have pushed back on National Guard troops being deployed,
or some of these terriff issues that looks like the
Supreme Court has got hopefully going to overturn this, this
tariff situation. The courts have been the most powerful tool
(17:29):
to push back on Donald Trump, but we certainly have
to be willing and able to do it. I've been there.
I've taken on Donald Trump. I pushed back. I've called
him out for being wrong for this country. I've called
him out not just for being wrong for the Republican Party,
but being wrong for every single person with a heartbeat
in this country. I mean, it's every day the group
(17:49):
of disgusted Americans gets bigger and bigger and bigger with
Donald Trump, even if they voted for him. I mean,
if you're trying to figure out what these ice raids
are all about, they're about a five second sound on Twitter.
They're about Christy Nome being able to flaunt her hatred
for an entire group of people that aren't harming anybody.
(18:10):
They're here illegally because they came to this country for
hope and opportunity, and they but they're putting in hard
so much hard work, and they're embedded in our communities.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
I want to ask you a very brief, short question
that I believe that I believe defines a candidacy. How
do you feel about DEEI.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
I feel like this is the heart and soul. This
is the foundation of the civil rights movement here in Georgia.
And to see the airport be put in a position
where they have to choose between getting thirty or forty
million dollars in federal funding or honoring their commitment to
Georgians by having a diverse and equitable and inclusive contracting
process is It's just stupid, doesn't meet the moment, and
(18:50):
so as governor of the state, I'm going to work
to have a very diverse contracting and hiring practice. I'm
going to work to make sure that we have a
reflection of what Georgia's people really want us to be
and who we are and who are our morals and
fiber are this this attack on DEI is unwarranted, it's unnecessary,
and Georgia should get to be who Georgia wants to be.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Speaking of a diverse cabinet, let's say you win the primary,
then win the general election. If you really want a
diverse cabinet, point me.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Hold on, I ask people what they're good at first, Yeah,
what do you think you would be best at serving.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Let me be the campaign trail listening to our foods
are if you get elected sold.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
That sounds like a great spot. But I think you'd
be good at that. You'd be great at that.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
I appreciate that. So there's about three short fun games
that I like to wrap up the episode with. So
tell me this, how do you feel about the following counties?
In one word? Fulton County strong, Strongfold County, decab, diverse, Gwenette, growing, foresy.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Can I use the same word growing?
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Yeah? For site that's growing. That's my home county, is it? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Yeah, I remember.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
That's what's coming is Chatham Chatham County historic? Historic, Muscogee, uh,
economically developing, it's growing too. You said one word? Yeah,
you know what, I'm gonna go back to Columbus baseball
must go because they got a minor league baseball team
down there.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Now really, yeah, didn't they make a whole sploss for it?
Speaker 2 (20:36):
I don't know. I don't know about those. I think
it makes sense in certain situations. But it's a local decision.
I think all all those types of decisions, if they're
made local, then then they get to decide on their
schools and streets and whatnot.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
There you go. Well, this is a game where it's
a little messy, but it's my It's kind of my
favorite part of the mid term series so far. I
want to ask you about your opponents and why you
think they might not be ready to be nominated or
even fit to be governor.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Burt Jones, fake elector willing to lie about an election.
Donald Trump's chief cheerleader in Georgia. I think that disqualifies
him from being an honest Umpire Chris Carr, Uh, Chris
is is? I consider Chris a friend. I think the
unfortunate part for Chris Carr in his race is that
Donald Trump didn't endorse him, and therefore I don't think
(21:25):
he's got a chance to win.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
So you discord Chris Carr, Well, I just.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Think that Donald Trump, unfortunately for good good folks on
that side, has decided in advance of who wins these elections,
how they are funded. Uh and so you know, and
the unfortunate part is watching a lot of these Republicans
get on ice skates and go backwards on this Donald
Trump stuff, uh, you know, and having to rubber stamp
this maga you know, kind of hate filled brand of
(21:50):
politics which is not problem solving, which doesn't meet I
think Georgian's where they're at.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Brad Raffinsberger.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
I think it's the same same. You know, I consider
Brad a friend, we served in the House together. We're
certainly on the right side of history with the twenty
twenty election. But I feel like, you know, his rubber
stamp of Donald Trump and his MAGA policies just doesn't meet,
doesn't meet Georgia. Where they're at. Rural Roman, real Roman.
I don't know much about Rua. I know that she
served in the legislature, and I don't know much about
(22:20):
her politics.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Jason askedives.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
I think Jason is a young, hard charging gentleman. I
think he served one term, maybe a little bit more
than one term in the state Senate. I know he's
working hard. We'll see where. We'll see where his campaign goes.
Derrick Jackson also a member the legislature. Good hardworking guy.
I'm sure he's got a story to tell. I don't
know much about it, but I'm sure he's got a
story to tell.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Keisha Land's bottom she.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Long resume of being in Atlanta politics. I think she's
got an opportunity to to have high name ID, but
I think she's also got some tough questions answer about
her time as mayor.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
That's right. And lastly, Michael Thurman.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Michael Thurman good Man, long long track record of service
over multiple decades. I think you know he'll he'll certainly
put in the effort, work hard. Look forward to seeing
him on the campaign trail. That's right.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
And last fun game, as we prepare to send you
off to the campaign trail, I'm gonna name You have
young children, so I'm gonna name some slang terms, and
you're gonna tell me you're.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Probably gonna fail this immense and my kids are gonna cringe.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
Maybe not bet If I say, all right, Jeff Duncan,
we're gonna go here, you say, and I say, bet,
I have no idea that that means okay, you're confirming.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Okay, hey, all right, no cat that my kids use
this all the time. That's like, you can't lie. I
got that.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Look at that you did, Finna me and Jeff Duncan.
Finna fixing to do something, sorry, fixing to do some glazing.
You are glazing, You're.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
You're embellishing somebody you're you're making them sound better than
they are. Oh my goodness, did I get it right?
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Jeff dunk And how how do you know?
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Because my kids use those terms and I eventually ask
them what they're saying.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Glazing. And lastly, swish cheese is someone has been swish cheese.
I have no clue that means they got shot. That's
not good, that's not good at all. Yeah, I'm glad
I don't know that term. You don't like swiss cheese.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
I don't like being shot.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
Yeah. And lastly, Jeff Duncan, as we wrap up the
super fun episode, what's important to you?
Speaker 2 (24:21):
I think doing the right thing? That's our family motto.
I think doing the right thing. The older I get,
the more I kind of get into this community service
aspect of my life. It's about trying to figure out
what's the right thing to do, above and beyond party politics.
Doing the right thing will never be the wrong thing
is our family motto. I think it's important to put
that on display, not just for the community, but also
for my three boys, for them to watch what Dad does.
(24:43):
I mean, I very easily could have done what so
many other Republicans did during the twenty twenty election and
act like it was rigged just to stay in the
cool kids club, and that didn't make sense to me.
I could have just stayed as a Republican because it
was maybe the easiest pathway to staying elected, but that
wasn't what I felt like was the right thing to do.
Being a Democrat is the right thing to do.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
You're gonna work hard and make it out the mud
and we're gonna see where it goes. Yes, thank you
for coming on Now you Know in the Midterm series.
It was a pleasure having you, and I can't wait
to see you again.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Thanks for the opportunity. Brother, Absolutely take care.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
That was Lieutenant Governor Jeff Duncan. I had such a
great time. It was truly such a pleasure having him on,
getting to know him, and folks, you heard it here. First,
if I was stranded in his town, he would let
me stay at his house and we would hang out.
You heard that. This episode is of course a part
of the Now you Know Midterm series. Now, on this
(25:34):
Midterm series, it's all about what matters to you. It's
not about who I support. You do not have to
like every single candidate that we have on we're going
to have on Republicans, We're going to have on socialists,
we're gonna have on moderate Democrats. And so the takeaway
I kind of want you to have is more information.
I want you to get to know them as a person,
as a candidate, and I kind of want you to
(25:55):
understand beyond their policy platform. I want it to be
in a broken down way. I want them to explain
their policy platform to those who do not speak fluent politics.
And so it really really really matters the ton when
we can get guests like Jeff Duncan on the Now
you Know Midterm Series, and I hope you're enjoying it,
leave a review showing love because I feel like it's
(26:17):
going to be really important coming into the midtrums. So
I encourage you to go back and watch the Midterm Series.
I hope you enjoyed this episode with Jeff Duncan. Leave
a review on Now you Know Market played and download
and show some love over on the socials at Noah
de Barasso k N O W A D E B
A R A s O. Thank you
Now You Know and No De Barrosso is a production
of iHeartMedia and partnership with Recent Choice Media. As we
undergo the second Trump administration, there are millions of Americans
changing their party affiliations from Republican to Democrat in discuss
of the actions of Donald Trump in the Republican Party.
(00:22):
Jeff Duncan is just one of those who is now
running for governor as a former Republican lieutenant governor now
running to be a Democratic governor. He talked about his
policy platform. I also made him talk about each of
his opponents and why they are not fit to be
governor or why they should not get the Democratic nomination.
So here on the Now You Know Midterm Series, I
(00:44):
welcome Lieutenant Governor Jeff Duncan. How are you, Jeff Duncan.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
I'm doing great.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
How about you, Jeff Duncan. We were talking about your
talent to come in Georgia. I was wondering, I have
a hypothetical for you.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
All right, let's hear it.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Let's say I was in Common Georgia, right, and I
I was so unfamiliar. This is gonna sound, this is
going to sound. Why would you ask this? I was?
I was there for a democratic meeting. Okay, And it
was maybe five point thirty and I was like, okay,
I'm stranded in your town. Would you let me stay
at your house?
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Absolutely? What, By the way, you'd love my three kids.
We'd be watching sports. We'd go downstairs and maybe we
got a pool table. I got a twenty three year old,
a twenty year old, but I got a fifteen year
old freshman high school. I thinks she hung the moon.
His name's Ryder. He's got the biggest personality I've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Well, speaking of which, I actually have him on the
notes here. All fun aside. He followed me on Instagram
And if you're watching Rider, hello, great.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Guy, he will be watching for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
He's a great guy. Sounds like such a great guy.
And he does sports, does any Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
You know. So he was an actor. It's a crazy story.
Rider was an actor really on a show called Young Dylan. Yeah,
are you being serious? No? No, No, I'm serious. He
was there for I think three years. He was on
Young Dylan, Young Dylan.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
I love that show.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Well, it's a great show. So Ryder was an actor
for three years and off and on, and then he
just decided he wanted to do sports. His older brothers
play sports. His oldest brother is a scratch golfer. His
middle brother plays football here at Georgia Tech, and riders like,
I want to do sports, and we're like, maybe it's
a little late to do that. But he did great.
(02:19):
He made a travel baseball team, he's came in second
in the county and golfing in the middle school golf tournament.
And he just finished an undefeated freshman football season. So
he's all things sports now.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yeah, and so are you. We talked a little bit
about it.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yeah, yeah, I'm a retired has been washed up, right,
I mean, but sports was my deal growing up. I
lived in seven states, and I just realized every time
I moved, if I was really good at sports, I'd
have a bunch of friends. And so I was a
high school quarterback and a baseball player, and the night
Georgia Tech showed up to watch a kid play another player,
(02:53):
I struck out seventeen and threw a no hitter. And
so I got a scholarship to Georgia Tech and then
ended up getting drafted and spent six years beating it
up in the minor leagues. Had a blast there.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
I used to I played baseball for maybe one year.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I bet you were great.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
I was okay, I was five. Jef Duncan, I was fie.
I was I was fine, And I really appreciate the
kindness and the invite to your home. I hope I
don't get stranded, but we'll we'll hang out. Jeb Doug
absolutely absolutely, So. I can't even get in an episode
because I'm so shocked about this young Dylan thing. I
love that show.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Well, it was great. It was fun. I mean, Ryder
was so exciting and it was hard, right, like he
had to learn how to act. Yeah, and he had
to learn, you know, his long, long days. But he
did a fantastic job, and the producers and everything were awesome.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
That's so cool. Well, first things first, you're running for
governor now I am. Yeah, you served in the state Senate,
you were the lieutenant governor, and now you switched your
party and now you're running for governor. So you obviously switched.
So how do you feel about primary voters who say
that maybe your policy hasn't changed, but your party did well.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I think my policies have been changing over the course
of time. I mean, this goes back to when I
was in the state House as a state representative. I
just saw the value of working across party lines, working
with folks like Stacy Abrams to solve big issues like
rural health care easy for me to say. And then
as lieutenant governor, worked across party lines to tackle some
big issues like healthcare, hate crimes, legislation. And then you know,
(04:19):
I didn't run again for lieutenant governor because I was
embarrassed about being a Republican. I was embarrassed at where
the party was going. I was embarrassed at the things
the party did and said, and a number of their
policy positions, including guns, including abortion. I got both of
those issues wrong as a Republican, and so I spoke
at the DNC. I went on the campaign trail for
eight weeks with Kamala Harris and worked really, really hard
(04:41):
to try to help her win. Unfortunately, we weren't successful,
but that doesn't mean we give up the fight.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
You know what's crazy, Jeff Duncan, I wanted to I
saw you like tweet about going to like the different
Kamala events, and he did one in Georgia, and I
was like, I want to meet Jeff Duncan, and I
missed that one event. But we made it happen, didn't we.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Yes, we did.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
You were on the campaign traill with the Vice president,
and so tell me about speaking to the DNC, Like,
what was it like? Did you just hit up Jamie
Harrison was like, I want to speak at your convention? Yes,
I'm a Republican.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
No, I don't even remember where the call came in.
I think they wanted to feel out whether or not
I would be open to it. I think there was
this group that had formed Republicans for Harris at the time,
and they reached out and just said, hey, would you
be open to the idea? And I said yes? And
the reason why because it was the right thing to do.
I mean, that's just what drives me in politics, like
looking for what the right thing to do is not
the popular thing, not the politically strategic thing to do.
(05:34):
I mean, that's why where we're at as a country
is people are just feeling the winds blow and they
make short, shallow decisions. So speaking at the DNC was
yes about an opportunity to share my thoughts and feelings
with America. The part that was so impactful for me
was how welcoming Democrats were from around the country. I mean,
the hugs, the high fives, even before I gave a speech,
(05:57):
and it's continued ever since.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
That's right. And so tell me a little bit about
what it's been like going on the campaign trail as
a Democrat, Like, how have people received you running as
a Democrat to your faith? Tell me about that.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
It's been great. I mean, it's really one of these
thoughts was if I build it, they will come. And
what I'm building is something that is winnable. It's been
nearly thirty years since the Democrat's been elected governor in Georgia,
since nineteen ninety eight, Roy Barnes got sworn in. And
we all have, you know, individual reasons why we think
that is. But the reality is it's because we haven't
got enough votes. And so I show up in these
(06:33):
communities all over the state talking about focusing on three issues. Affordability, healthcare,
and Donald Trump. Those are the three things I think
most folks are worried about. And I think Democrats realize,
look this, Jeff Duncan guy's got a really good shot
to win. In fact, he's got the best chance to
beat Bert Jones in the general election and turn the
tide here in Georgia, and so I'm meeting people where
they're at. I'm talking about the issues that they care
most about. And here's what I've learned. Georgia Democrats are
(06:56):
wired differently than national Democrats. I think we all feel
that because that's why we haven't won. We haven't got
enough votes. You have to win more than just your
base to win a statewide race in Georgia. And so
I'm the only one in this race that can win
Democrats independence in that batch of disgusted Republicans that just
want something different to vote for.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Now, I want to hear a little bit about your
policy platform. So lay it out for me, Like, for example,
a candidate might come in here and say, I want
to raise the minimum wage fund education. Lay out your
policy for someone who may not speak politics fluently.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
So I think there's two parts to it. One is
what can we do the art of the possible if
we win. I mean, it's not okay that Georgia is
near the bottom of the country in educational outcomes for
public education. We have to invest more in public education.
We have to update our funding formula. We've got to
give teachers pay raises. We've got to put more technology
in the classroom. I think there's opportunities to do that.
We have to continue to grow our economy in all
(07:49):
one hundred and fifty nine counties. We've got to expand
medicaid so that folks don't show up to the hospital
and either bankrupt themselves or bankrupt the hospital. We've got
to pass common sense gun legislation. I'm anxious to sign
an executive order that clarifies doctors can practice medicine without
fear of prosecution when women are seeking an abortion, and
also repealing the six week ban. So all of that
(08:12):
is what we want to do as Democrats, but we
can't do that with a second place trophy. We have
to win, and so the focus is on affordability, on healthcare,
and on Donald Trump, and those specific lanes are I mean,
there's folks just minutes from here that can't go to work,
not because they don't want to go to work, but
because they can't afford childcare. We need to tackle that
with programs like the CAPS program, more state funding. We
(08:33):
need affordable housing. Some folks can't even get their families
back on track because they can't afford a roof over
their head. In healthcare. It's an embarrassment to think that
Republicans their policy platform on healthcare is well, if they
don't have insurance, they're not going to get sick or
need to go to the doctor. That's not the way
it works. And then I think loudest is we have
to push back on Donald Trump. We cannot just lay
(08:56):
down and let him bully over us. We can't just
let him send National Guard troops into a city that
doesn't need them. We don't need as weaponizing the Department
of Justice, we don't need them. I mean, all of
this doesn't make sense. These tariffs are absolutely tearing the
hearts and souls out of our rural communities in these farms.
So affordability, healthcare and Donald Trump, that's the pathway to winning.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Yeah, I appreciate that. And I want to ask you
just maybe three policies. You tell me if you would
support them or not? Okay, okay, would you support raising
the state minimum wage into what?
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yes? And the state minimum wage is already at odds
with what the federal minimum wage is. I think we
have to sit back and look at something north of
ten plus dollars, twelve plus dollars, something that meets an honest,
fair wage. I think we have to work closely with
the business community. I think we have to work closely
with citizens themselves and find a market condition. But nobody
can can support their family on what the current minimum
(09:47):
wage is. And look, we have this incredible opportunity in
Georgia to do something bigger and better than the other states.
I mean, our best days are still in front of us.
And I think we need a partner with Georgians. We
need to partner with the private sector. We need to
partner with the state guard to create an environment that
is somebody's able to support their family. If they're willing
to go to an honest day's work, they should earn
an honest day's wage.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Yeah. And I'm going to ask you this next policy question.
It's a it's a now you know, Stafle, It's something
I asked Stacy Abrams on the show, Jason Estevez and
when I saw him in person, even Colton Moore. So
I'm going to ask you, I want to buy a
golf cart, Jeff Duncan, and if I those are expensive, yes,
i'ma explained And by abolishing the state income tax, I
(10:30):
can easily get a golf cart, maybe a few. So
I want to know, do you support abolishing the state
income tax?
Speaker 2 (10:37):
I would love for you to be able to afford
that golf cart. Yeah, but here, but here, here, here's
part of the problem. I would love to tell every
Georgian that they're going to get no income tax or
tax breaks or tax cuts. I mean, we all want
to feel that, we all want to see the tail
into that. But what sacrifice, right.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
I mean, I can get the golf cart. I'm just
trying to be responsible.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Right, But here's here's the problem. The second part of
that's each the Burt Jones gives about wanting to eliminate
the state income tax, is he's not telling you he's
got to raise the state income tax to twelve percent.
So on that golf cart that you buy, you're going
to pay twelve percent sales tax on it, so you
might not be able to afford it anymore.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
There's no states with twelve percent income taxes it.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
There's other states, and they mostly don't have they don't
have income tax. I mean that's the trade.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Washington has eleven point seventy five. That's the highest in
the country.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Right, You've got you know, high sales tax. In Florida,
you've got high sales tax on but then you have
to add all the counties and all the local municipalities
to it, so it adds up to much more than
six percent. I think there's actually somewhere in the range
of eleven to twelve percent something like that. And so
all the states that don't have income tax have some
some other sort of tax. And look, we've got kids
(11:43):
showing up to schools hungry right now. I mean, the
not so big beautiful bill cut funding even beyond this
government shutdown period of time to snap benefits. So kids
that used to get the only meal of the day,
they used to get with free and reduced lunches, now
they don't get I mean, how can we talk about
golf cars?
Speaker 1 (12:01):
You're clocking me, Jeff duncan car. I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Sorry, I'm a little intense about protecting those that need
it the most, and truly and honestly, it's one of
the reasons why I'm a Democrat now, because I wake
up with this incredibly built toolkit of tools that I
can help people in need. I can help reach into
those communities that just need that one jump start in
their life that one opportunity, that one skill gap to
close so that they can get that career in whatever
(12:25):
they want to they want to follow.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
You clocked me, Jeff Duncan.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
I didn't mean to cost me.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
But that's okay, you need to ride.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
My son rider is going to be mad at me, now.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
No, No, that's fine, it's okay, Okay. It was for
a good cost. So I am going to be responsible,
and I'm going to because I don't know where to
even drive a golf cart. So it's like every time
I bring up the cutting the state income tax, that's
kind of an example of how you can cut the
state income tax. It gets some cool like a golf cart.
But like you said, priorities, right, Jeff Duncan, Yeah, I find.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
It hard to believe that you would probably want to
be driving around in that golf cart and then driving
by somebody that is hungry or homeless or doesn't have
healthcare in sitting on the street suffering. I mean that
that that's kind of the dilemma that we're facing. If
we can be responsible and cut the income text, that's great,
that's awesome, but we can't let at sacrificing people in
need to cut the state income text.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Yeah, a quick pause for the calls. Stick around. We're
going to get to a fun game at the end.
But until then, I kind of want to ask you,
how do you feel about I guess you can kind
of say wokeness in the party as a former Republican,
how do you feel about You could even say identity
(13:38):
politics and all stuff like that inside of the party.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
I think people on all sides, left and right are
growing tired of identity politics right because it's not solving problems.
It's just pigeonholing people. It's it's isolating individuals, it's making
people one issue wonders. Yeah, And to me, leaders have
to be broad in scope. They have to be they
have to understand more than just one issue. But unfortunately,
(14:03):
you know, the consultants have figured out a way to
just demonize poverty or demonize wealth, or demonize whatever the
issue is, and that's what they campaign on. And we
the people have got to be smarter than that. We've
got to elect good leaders, great leaders that are able
to come to work every day with their best interest
in mind, the people's best interest and not their own
personal issues. And so identity politics is doesn't necessarily find
(14:25):
the best leaders. That's why I think Democrats have an
unbelievable chance of a lifetime right now because Donald Trump
is so wrong on these issues, his demeanor's toxicity is
so countercyclical to what people feel in their hearts that
we should be opening this tent up as Democrats and
growing the size of the tent that helps us achieve
and win elections in Georgia and all over the country
(14:46):
for a generation, because that's how bad Donald Trump's taking
this country.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, I agree, And so how are you feeling about
so far? How are you feeling? Kind of see the
different reactions from when you want the campaign tro For example,
when you were on the campaign tro you might have
heard maga, maga, maga, or when you were a Republican,
and now that you're a Democrat, you're hearing let's feed
the children, let's figure out how to get these stat
(15:10):
benefits back in their pockets. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
I mean, look, I think at the end of the day,
people want to be heard. When I go to South
Georgia farmers right now, they may have voted for Donald Trump,
but they want to be heard because these tariffs are
tearing apart their farms. The rural health care is disappearing.
I think folks in suburban areas really want to talk
about gun safety laws, they want to talk about educational outcomes.
(15:34):
I think folks this affordability crisis. I mean, there's folks
sitting in line right down the street that can't buy
all the groceries they have sitting on the checkout stand
because it can't afford it. These are real issues. Who's
talking about those issues? Who's got ideas to solve some
of those problems for them? That's what I feel like
most folks are worried about in the present day. And
I think there's this overwhelming majority of Georgians that span
(15:58):
even the political spectrum that really are seriously concerned about affordability.
Whether they're living check to check or own a business,
they can't predict tomorrow's prices. The healthcare stuff, it's real.
I mean, what do you do when you wake up
and you get a three thousand dollars monthly bill to
pay for your family's healthcare, or what do you do
if your ACA subsidy disappears, or what do you do
if your Medicaid got cut or you got pulled off
(16:18):
the rolls Just because Donald Trump doesn't like you anymore.
I mean, these are real issues that are that are
settling in people's kitchen tables, and it's scaring them.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Yeah, and so my main thing with kind of fighting
against Trump, right is do you plan to do that
in a policy way or in a partisan way. I
think a lot of the fight fight, fight, town hall, this,
this that is that it's very partisan. I feel like
your approach kind of comes from policy. So tell me
more about that.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Yeah. Look, I've never been a kind of a hell
raiser in my politics. It's just not been who I am.
It's not how I've been wired. It wasn't how I
was raised. I was raised to focus on the problem
and do anything I can do to solve it. And
that means working across party lines, that means working across
urban rural divides. And so yeah, I'll continue to be strategic.
(17:07):
I mean, look, some of the most effective ways to
push back on Donald Trump is certainly not on Twitter
or certainly not in the media, but it's with the courts.
When we watch some of these states governors and mayors
that have pushed back on National Guard troops being deployed,
or some of these terriff issues that looks like the
Supreme Court has got hopefully going to overturn this, this
tariff situation. The courts have been the most powerful tool
(17:29):
to push back on Donald Trump, but we certainly have
to be willing and able to do it. I've been there.
I've taken on Donald Trump. I pushed back. I've called
him out for being wrong for this country. I've called
him out not just for being wrong for the Republican Party,
but being wrong for every single person with a heartbeat
in this country. I mean, it's every day the group
(17:49):
of disgusted Americans gets bigger and bigger and bigger with
Donald Trump, even if they voted for him. I mean,
if you're trying to figure out what these ice raids
are all about, they're about a five second sound on Twitter.
They're about Christy Nome being able to flaunt her hatred
for an entire group of people that aren't harming anybody.
(18:10):
They're here illegally because they came to this country for
hope and opportunity, and they but they're putting in hard
so much hard work, and they're embedded in our communities.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
I want to ask you a very brief, short question
that I believe that I believe defines a candidacy. How
do you feel about DEEI.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
I feel like this is the heart and soul. This
is the foundation of the civil rights movement here in Georgia.
And to see the airport be put in a position
where they have to choose between getting thirty or forty
million dollars in federal funding or honoring their commitment to
Georgians by having a diverse and equitable and inclusive contracting
process is It's just stupid, doesn't meet the moment, and
(18:50):
so as governor of the state, I'm going to work
to have a very diverse contracting and hiring practice. I'm
going to work to make sure that we have a
reflection of what Georgia's people really want us to be
and who we are and who are our morals and
fiber are this this attack on DEI is unwarranted, it's unnecessary,
and Georgia should get to be who Georgia wants to be.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Speaking of a diverse cabinet, let's say you win the primary,
then win the general election. If you really want a
diverse cabinet, point me.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Hold on, I ask people what they're good at first, Yeah,
what do you think you would be best at serving.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Let me be the campaign trail listening to our foods
are if you get elected sold.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
That sounds like a great spot. But I think you'd
be good at that. You'd be great at that.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
I appreciate that. So there's about three short fun games
that I like to wrap up the episode with. So
tell me this, how do you feel about the following counties?
In one word? Fulton County strong, Strongfold County, decab, diverse, Gwenette, growing, foresy.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Can I use the same word growing?
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Yeah? For site that's growing. That's my home county, is it? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Yeah, I remember.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
That's what's coming is Chatham Chatham County historic? Historic, Muscogee, uh,
economically developing, it's growing too. You said one word? Yeah,
you know what, I'm gonna go back to Columbus baseball
must go because they got a minor league baseball team
down there.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Now really, yeah, didn't they make a whole sploss for it?
Speaker 2 (20:36):
I don't know. I don't know about those. I think
it makes sense in certain situations. But it's a local decision.
I think all all those types of decisions, if they're
made local, then then they get to decide on their
schools and streets and whatnot.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
There you go. Well, this is a game where it's
a little messy, but it's my It's kind of my
favorite part of the mid term series so far. I
want to ask you about your opponents and why you
think they might not be ready to be nominated or
even fit to be governor.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Burt Jones, fake elector willing to lie about an election.
Donald Trump's chief cheerleader in Georgia. I think that disqualifies
him from being an honest Umpire Chris Carr, Uh, Chris
is is? I consider Chris a friend. I think the
unfortunate part for Chris Carr in his race is that
Donald Trump didn't endorse him, and therefore I don't think
(21:25):
he's got a chance to win.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
So you discord Chris Carr, Well, I just.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Think that Donald Trump, unfortunately for good good folks on
that side, has decided in advance of who wins these elections,
how they are funded. Uh and so you know, and
the unfortunate part is watching a lot of these Republicans
get on ice skates and go backwards on this Donald
Trump stuff, uh, you know, and having to rubber stamp
this maga you know, kind of hate filled brand of
(21:50):
politics which is not problem solving, which doesn't meet I
think Georgian's where they're at.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Brad Raffinsberger.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
I think it's the same same. You know, I consider
Brad a friend, we served in the House together. We're
certainly on the right side of history with the twenty
twenty election. But I feel like, you know, his rubber
stamp of Donald Trump and his MAGA policies just doesn't meet,
doesn't meet Georgia. Where they're at. Rural Roman, real Roman.
I don't know much about Rua. I know that she
served in the legislature, and I don't know much about
(22:20):
her politics.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Jason askedives.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
I think Jason is a young, hard charging gentleman. I
think he served one term, maybe a little bit more
than one term in the state Senate. I know he's
working hard. We'll see where. We'll see where his campaign goes.
Derrick Jackson also a member the legislature. Good hardworking guy.
I'm sure he's got a story to tell. I don't
know much about it, but I'm sure he's got a
story to tell.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Keisha Land's bottom she.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Long resume of being in Atlanta politics. I think she's
got an opportunity to to have high name ID, but
I think she's also got some tough questions answer about
her time as mayor.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
That's right. And lastly, Michael Thurman.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Michael Thurman good Man, long long track record of service
over multiple decades. I think you know he'll he'll certainly
put in the effort, work hard. Look forward to seeing
him on the campaign trail. That's right.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
And last fun game, as we prepare to send you
off to the campaign trail, I'm gonna name You have
young children, so I'm gonna name some slang terms, and
you're gonna tell me you're.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Probably gonna fail this immense and my kids are gonna cringe.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
Maybe not bet If I say, all right, Jeff Duncan,
we're gonna go here, you say, and I say, bet,
I have no idea that that means okay, you're confirming.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Okay, hey, all right, no cat that my kids use
this all the time. That's like, you can't lie. I
got that.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Look at that you did, Finna me and Jeff Duncan.
Finna fixing to do something, sorry, fixing to do some glazing.
You are glazing, You're.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
You're embellishing somebody you're you're making them sound better than
they are. Oh my goodness, did I get it right?
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Jeff dunk And how how do you know?
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Because my kids use those terms and I eventually ask
them what they're saying.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Glazing. And lastly, swish cheese is someone has been swish cheese.
I have no clue that means they got shot. That's
not good, that's not good at all. Yeah, I'm glad
I don't know that term. You don't like swiss cheese.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
I don't like being shot.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
Yeah. And lastly, Jeff Duncan, as we wrap up the
super fun episode, what's important to you?
Speaker 2 (24:21):
I think doing the right thing? That's our family motto.
I think doing the right thing. The older I get,
the more I kind of get into this community service
aspect of my life. It's about trying to figure out
what's the right thing to do, above and beyond party politics.
Doing the right thing will never be the wrong thing
is our family motto. I think it's important to put
that on display, not just for the community, but also
for my three boys, for them to watch what Dad does.
(24:43):
I mean, I very easily could have done what so
many other Republicans did during the twenty twenty election and
act like it was rigged just to stay in the
cool kids club, and that didn't make sense to me.
I could have just stayed as a Republican because it
was maybe the easiest pathway to staying elected, but that
wasn't what I felt like was the right thing to do.
Being a Democrat is the right thing to do.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
You're gonna work hard and make it out the mud
and we're gonna see where it goes. Yes, thank you
for coming on Now you Know in the Midterm series.
It was a pleasure having you, and I can't wait
to see you again.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Thanks for the opportunity. Brother, Absolutely take care.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
That was Lieutenant Governor Jeff Duncan. I had such a
great time. It was truly such a pleasure having him on,
getting to know him, and folks, you heard it here. First,
if I was stranded in his town, he would let
me stay at his house and we would hang out.
You heard that. This episode is of course a part
of the Now you Know Midterm series. Now, on this
(25:34):
Midterm series, it's all about what matters to you. It's
not about who I support. You do not have to
like every single candidate that we have on we're going
to have on Republicans, We're going to have on socialists,
we're gonna have on moderate Democrats. And so the takeaway
I kind of want you to have is more information.
I want you to get to know them as a person,
as a candidate, and I kind of want you to
(25:55):
understand beyond their policy platform. I want it to be
in a broken down way. I want them to explain
their policy platform to those who do not speak fluent politics.
And so it really really really matters the ton when
we can get guests like Jeff Duncan on the Now
you Know Midterm Series, and I hope you're enjoying it,
leave a review showing love because I feel like it's
(26:17):
going to be really important coming into the midtrums. So
I encourage you to go back and watch the Midterm Series.
I hope you enjoyed this episode with Jeff Duncan. Leave
a review on Now you Know Market played and download
and show some love over on the socials at Noah
de Barasso k N O W A D E B
A R A s O. Thank you
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