March 3, 2026 • 10 mins
Georgia's Attorney General continues to campaign to become the state's governor. With the November election just months away, he continues to campaign across the state.
The Black Information Network's Alexandria Ikomoni sat down with Chris Carr.
Follow The Black Information Network as we continue to cover major races across the country ahead of this year's elections.
Listen now!
The Black Information Network's Alexandria Ikomoni sat down with Chris Carr.
Follow The Black Information Network as we continue to cover major races across the country ahead of this year's elections.
Listen now!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Georgia's Attorney General continues to campaign to become the governor
of Georgia. With the November election just months away, he
continues to campaign across the state. The Black Information That Works.
Alexandria Ikimoni sat down with Chris Carr.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
This is Alexandria Ikimoni with the Black Information Network here
with Attorney General Chris Carr.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
How are you today? I'm doing great. How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
I'm doing well. Here to talk about, you know, everything
you have going on also the run for governor here
in the state of Georgia. First of all, how has
it been. We're only days away at this point.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
It's great, it's exciting, and that's what you know. This
is a big state. We have an important open election
for governor and for other offices, and I'm just honored
to be running absolutely.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Now, quick question, I mean you have been a known
name in Georgia for a very long time. Why did
you decide to run for governor now?
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Well, because Governor Camp's terms expired, and I think that
we truly are the model for the nation as it
relates to job creation and safety. But it doesn't just happen,
you know, it takes work. And I think that this
state has really done a lot both from the private
sector the public sector coming together to solve problems. One is,
I just believe in the transformative nature of a job,
and that's not Republican or Democrat or independent.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
A good job is a good job. It's just on
a human level. Same with safety.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
I don't think it's Republican or Democrat or independent to
make sure that people are safe no matter their race,
or their gender, or their religion, sexual orientation, political party,
or where they live or where they're from. That's what
we're supposed to do in government, and so I'm very
proud that we have become a very effective criminal practice
making sure we protect vulnerable populations in our state.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
What other big focus is you want to really push
out to the community about what you plan on really
doing when you if you get into office, if you
win the election.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Yeah, everything I think goes really comes back to a job.
So you're going to look at literacy rates, educational opportunities,
workforce investment. You know, we've got the ports of Vandon runs,
we have Heartsfield. We should be the logistics capital of
the world. Good legal and regulatory and tax environment. I
want to to have the lowest tax environment of any
(02:02):
state in the nation. That means lower income tax, lower
property tax, but keeping people safe. We have a human
trafficking prosecution unit, a gang unit, organize retail theft. But
I also want to focus on mental health because the
root cause of poverty and homelessness is mental health challenges.
You know, mentally healthy people don't shoot up schools or
office buildings or military bases. And we know that our jails,
(02:25):
the vast majority of them, have people that are struggling
with addiction or mental health challenges, and so we've got
to be able to focus on that, I think from
a regional approach. And then my wife has said if
she becomes first Lady, she wants to focus on the
foster care system. She was a product of the foster
care system. So those are the issues that we think
are really important. We've got to be able to win
this race in order to be able to work on
(02:45):
those absolutely.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Now, tell me more about how being the Attorney General
prepared you for this role in this position.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Yeah, I think actually the three jobs I've had, I
was a chief of staff to a US senator, so
dealt with the issues out of Washington, and unfortunately, when
Congress doesn't get things done, the states have to deal
with them. And so we've dealt with issues of immigration
or environmental issues, business issues, national security. You know, I
will say this state's been built on agriculture, manufacturing, trade,
(03:12):
the military, hospitality, and constructions the backbone. Every community in
this state is impacted by one or more of those issues.
Dealt with it in Washington, then Commissioner of Economic Development,
bringing jobs to the state, helping companies expand and grow,
focus on tourism opportunities like we have in Atlanta and
Savannah and around the state. And then as attorney General,
(03:33):
we've been the lawyer for every agency and authority and
board that this state has. So I know what those
issues are. But again, most importantly, what is government supposed
to do?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Keep people safe?
Speaker 4 (03:43):
And being able to focus on that from human trafficking
and gang and organize retail front I think makes me
uniquely suited to be governor in the state.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Absolutely, and you mentioned this, but I do want to
touch on it. Issues within the state, within the country
right now, immigration is a big one. What are your
thoughts on how things have been going across the country,
but also here in Georgia with immigration.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Yeah, the one thing the federal government supposed to do
is keep the nation safe, and so President Trump has
done an outstanding job of securing the border. And look,
we've had to deal with violent issues when the border
is not secure. We see human trafficking, we've seen fentanyl,
and we've seen gang activity coming across the border. And
people don't like to hear it, but it's true. When
(04:25):
the border is not secure, every state ends up being
a border state.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
So we've had to deal with that.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
But again, our state's built on agriculture, manufacturing, trade, in
the military. I think I want Georgians to have first
DIBs on every job, but I don't want Georgia businesses
to suffer if there isn't a job. So I think
now is a great opportunity for the President and Congress
to be able to modernize the system so that there
is a guest worker program that makes sense for those
(04:50):
that are in manufacturing and in agriculture are number one
industry in the state.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
We have some.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Great, smart students that have come from around the world.
Instead of giving i'm a diploma and sending them home
to compete against us, we should find ways to help
bring them into American companies and live the American dream.
And I just think there has to be a humane
way to deal with children who came here through no
choice of their own, that are going to college, that
are going to the technical schools, that are in the military,
(05:16):
and make sure we deal with it. So again, keep
the border has to be secure, but we also got
to make sure that Georgians have first DIBs on jobs.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
But Georgia companies can't suffer.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Absolutely. Another big thing that we love to talk about
here in Georgia, it's also a problem is affordability. What
are your plans in order to really help people here
in the metro also cross the state in order to
comfortably afford even just groceries or not need a roommate
in order to run an apartment.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
A huge issue and it's a big issue around the
state of Georgia. Number one is a good paying job.
Things are really unaffordable if you don't have a good
paying job, So that's the number one issue. Secondly, taxes
and for those that are looking for housing, and we
need to have options all across the board. But yes,
income tax is a big issue. I think we can
actually lower the come tax reasonably and responsibly, not shifting
(06:02):
the burden to business as some have suggested we should do,
but maybe buy down on it, like North Carolina has
a taxpayer or relief fund where you responsibly use surpluses
to buy But the big issue really is property taxes.
So whether you are that first time homeowner or you
are on a fixed income or lower income to be
able to afford that house, but then assessments go up
(06:25):
fifty or seventy five or one hundred and fifty percent,
it prices you out of that home.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
That is crazy.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
And some that are running in the race, like the
Lieutenant governor, want to do away with you affordable housing
tax credit. I say we should double down on that.
How do we incentivize the private sector to provide the
full array of options for people to live how they
want to live and where they want to live. So
those are the things you got to be able to
focus on.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, and you touched on this.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
There are multiple candidates that are running for governor, especially
on the Democratic side, very crowded for those who honestly
aren't doing due diligence to understand what each candidate's platform are.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
From your perspe.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
How do you feel like you are different from the
other candidates that are running on both Democratic and Republican side.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
Yeah, one is I have the experience to actually do
the job. Now I'm going to have to figure out
how to do it today I get elected. And secondly,
I can get elected. And in Georgia, you have to
be able to appeal to the independent and persuadable voter.
You can't just We're at best a forty eight forty
six Republican state. The way you win is appeal to
independent voters that care about jobs, safety, education, affordability, don't
(07:28):
really want to talk about social issues the way the
right or the left typically has. But candidate quality matters,
and there is only one candidate running for governor as
a Republican that can do that, and that's me.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Yeah, twenty twenty election was still a hot topic today
from people just from different perspectives. I wanted to get
your thoughts on how everything transpired and how do we
move forward with the upcoming elections that we have and
leaving twenty twenty in the past.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Yeah, I tend to subscribe to Governor Kemp's theory that
if you're going to win in twenty twenty six. You
got to focus on issues of twenty twenty six that
people really care about, particularly the persuadable voter, and that's
job safety again, affordability, education, and those types of things.
As I have said before, if there is any wrongdoing
in an election, then if the evidence is presented to me,
(08:17):
I would be more than happy and we'll prosecute somebody.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
As far as voter fraud goes, we didn't see.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Widespread voter fraud such that it will overturn the election
in twenty twenty in the same way we didn't see
voter suppression in twenty eighteen when the Democratic gubernatorial candidate
said that was the reason. So at the end of
the day, we have to have safe, secure, transparent elections.
I want my vote to count, I want my vote
to be safe, I want my vote to be transparent,
just like everybody else's.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
That's how we do it.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
That's what separates our country from so many others, and
we got to make sure that we do it.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
And I'm going to make sure that our elections are safe,
secure and.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Accessible and focusing on this election. I know you're running,
but talk to us more about why this election is
so important.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Yeah, Georgia is really a battleground state. You know this
truly from again from my perspective. If you're a Republican,
if you don't have the right candidate for governor, it
may not just be about the gubernatory election. It could
be about the Senate race, could be about all the
down ballast statewide officers, if you care about who the
attorney general or who the insurance commissioner, of public safety
commissioner is. But really, this state has been built on good,
(09:18):
solid leadership going back decades. Again, Zell Miller was a
Thankfully zel Miller had the Hope Scholarship helped me go
to college. You know, then Sonny Purdue and Nathan Dial
and Brian Kemp. We've had good leaders that know what
it takes to be the governor, that have been their own,
independent people that have built this state based on jobs
(09:40):
and safety.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
I want to continue in that mold Okay, I love that.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
And just one last thing here, anything you wanted to
share with the listeners that I might not have touched
on yet.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Well, if you want to support us in the race,
you can go to car Forgeorgia dot com. We're on Instagram,
we are on Facebook. We are on TikTok. Please find
us and we'd love to have I don't want to
earn the vote support of every one of your listeners.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Perfect. Thank you so much Chris Carr for coming in.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Thanks Alexandria and Chris followed the Black Information Network as
we continue to cover major races around the country ahead
of this year's elections. Next week, we hear from Andrea
Coleman and two of the Democratic candidates in Georgia, Keisha
Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.
Georgia's Attorney General continues to campaign to become the governor
of Georgia. With the November election just months away, he
continues to campaign across the state. The Black Information That Works.
Alexandria Ikimoni sat down with Chris Carr.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
This is Alexandria Ikimoni with the Black Information Network here
with Attorney General Chris Carr.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
How are you today? I'm doing great. How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
I'm doing well. Here to talk about, you know, everything
you have going on also the run for governor here
in the state of Georgia. First of all, how has
it been. We're only days away at this point.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
It's great, it's exciting, and that's what you know. This
is a big state. We have an important open election
for governor and for other offices, and I'm just honored
to be running absolutely.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Now, quick question, I mean you have been a known
name in Georgia for a very long time. Why did
you decide to run for governor now?
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Well, because Governor Camp's terms expired, and I think that
we truly are the model for the nation as it
relates to job creation and safety. But it doesn't just happen,
you know, it takes work. And I think that this
state has really done a lot both from the private
sector the public sector coming together to solve problems. One is,
I just believe in the transformative nature of a job,
and that's not Republican or Democrat or independent.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
A good job is a good job. It's just on
a human level. Same with safety.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
I don't think it's Republican or Democrat or independent to
make sure that people are safe no matter their race,
or their gender, or their religion, sexual orientation, political party,
or where they live or where they're from. That's what
we're supposed to do in government, and so I'm very
proud that we have become a very effective criminal practice
making sure we protect vulnerable populations in our state.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
What other big focus is you want to really push
out to the community about what you plan on really
doing when you if you get into office, if you
win the election.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Yeah, everything I think goes really comes back to a job.
So you're going to look at literacy rates, educational opportunities,
workforce investment. You know, we've got the ports of Vandon runs,
we have Heartsfield. We should be the logistics capital of
the world. Good legal and regulatory and tax environment. I
want to to have the lowest tax environment of any
(02:02):
state in the nation. That means lower income tax, lower
property tax, but keeping people safe. We have a human
trafficking prosecution unit, a gang unit, organize retail theft. But
I also want to focus on mental health because the
root cause of poverty and homelessness is mental health challenges.
You know, mentally healthy people don't shoot up schools or
office buildings or military bases. And we know that our jails,
(02:25):
the vast majority of them, have people that are struggling
with addiction or mental health challenges, and so we've got
to be able to focus on that, I think from
a regional approach. And then my wife has said if
she becomes first Lady, she wants to focus on the
foster care system. She was a product of the foster
care system. So those are the issues that we think
are really important. We've got to be able to win
this race in order to be able to work on
(02:45):
those absolutely.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Now, tell me more about how being the Attorney General
prepared you for this role in this position.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Yeah, I think actually the three jobs I've had, I
was a chief of staff to a US senator, so
dealt with the issues out of Washington, and unfortunately, when
Congress doesn't get things done, the states have to deal
with them. And so we've dealt with issues of immigration
or environmental issues, business issues, national security. You know, I
will say this state's been built on agriculture, manufacturing, trade,
(03:12):
the military, hospitality, and constructions the backbone. Every community in
this state is impacted by one or more of those issues.
Dealt with it in Washington, then Commissioner of Economic Development,
bringing jobs to the state, helping companies expand and grow,
focus on tourism opportunities like we have in Atlanta and
Savannah and around the state. And then as attorney General,
(03:33):
we've been the lawyer for every agency and authority and
board that this state has. So I know what those
issues are. But again, most importantly, what is government supposed
to do?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Keep people safe?
Speaker 4 (03:43):
And being able to focus on that from human trafficking
and gang and organize retail front I think makes me
uniquely suited to be governor in the state.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Absolutely, and you mentioned this, but I do want to
touch on it. Issues within the state, within the country
right now, immigration is a big one. What are your
thoughts on how things have been going across the country,
but also here in Georgia with immigration.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Yeah, the one thing the federal government supposed to do
is keep the nation safe, and so President Trump has
done an outstanding job of securing the border. And look,
we've had to deal with violent issues when the border
is not secure. We see human trafficking, we've seen fentanyl,
and we've seen gang activity coming across the border. And
people don't like to hear it, but it's true. When
(04:25):
the border is not secure, every state ends up being
a border state.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
So we've had to deal with that.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
But again, our state's built on agriculture, manufacturing, trade, in
the military. I think I want Georgians to have first
DIBs on every job, but I don't want Georgia businesses
to suffer if there isn't a job. So I think
now is a great opportunity for the President and Congress
to be able to modernize the system so that there
is a guest worker program that makes sense for those
(04:50):
that are in manufacturing and in agriculture are number one
industry in the state.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
We have some.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Great, smart students that have come from around the world.
Instead of giving i'm a diploma and sending them home
to compete against us, we should find ways to help
bring them into American companies and live the American dream.
And I just think there has to be a humane
way to deal with children who came here through no
choice of their own, that are going to college, that
are going to the technical schools, that are in the military,
(05:16):
and make sure we deal with it. So again, keep
the border has to be secure, but we also got
to make sure that Georgians have first DIBs on jobs.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
But Georgia companies can't suffer.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Absolutely. Another big thing that we love to talk about
here in Georgia, it's also a problem is affordability. What
are your plans in order to really help people here
in the metro also cross the state in order to
comfortably afford even just groceries or not need a roommate
in order to run an apartment.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
A huge issue and it's a big issue around the
state of Georgia. Number one is a good paying job.
Things are really unaffordable if you don't have a good
paying job, So that's the number one issue. Secondly, taxes
and for those that are looking for housing, and we
need to have options all across the board. But yes,
income tax is a big issue. I think we can
actually lower the come tax reasonably and responsibly, not shifting
(06:02):
the burden to business as some have suggested we should do,
but maybe buy down on it, like North Carolina has
a taxpayer or relief fund where you responsibly use surpluses
to buy But the big issue really is property taxes.
So whether you are that first time homeowner or you
are on a fixed income or lower income to be
able to afford that house, but then assessments go up
(06:25):
fifty or seventy five or one hundred and fifty percent,
it prices you out of that home.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
That is crazy.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
And some that are running in the race, like the
Lieutenant governor, want to do away with you affordable housing
tax credit. I say we should double down on that.
How do we incentivize the private sector to provide the
full array of options for people to live how they
want to live and where they want to live. So
those are the things you got to be able to
focus on.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, and you touched on this.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
There are multiple candidates that are running for governor, especially
on the Democratic side, very crowded for those who honestly
aren't doing due diligence to understand what each candidate's platform are.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
From your perspe.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
How do you feel like you are different from the
other candidates that are running on both Democratic and Republican side.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
Yeah, one is I have the experience to actually do
the job. Now I'm going to have to figure out
how to do it today I get elected. And secondly,
I can get elected. And in Georgia, you have to
be able to appeal to the independent and persuadable voter.
You can't just We're at best a forty eight forty
six Republican state. The way you win is appeal to
independent voters that care about jobs, safety, education, affordability, don't
(07:28):
really want to talk about social issues the way the
right or the left typically has. But candidate quality matters,
and there is only one candidate running for governor as
a Republican that can do that, and that's me.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Yeah, twenty twenty election was still a hot topic today
from people just from different perspectives. I wanted to get
your thoughts on how everything transpired and how do we
move forward with the upcoming elections that we have and
leaving twenty twenty in the past.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Yeah, I tend to subscribe to Governor Kemp's theory that
if you're going to win in twenty twenty six. You
got to focus on issues of twenty twenty six that
people really care about, particularly the persuadable voter, and that's
job safety again, affordability, education, and those types of things.
As I have said before, if there is any wrongdoing
in an election, then if the evidence is presented to me,
(08:17):
I would be more than happy and we'll prosecute somebody.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
As far as voter fraud goes, we didn't see.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Widespread voter fraud such that it will overturn the election
in twenty twenty in the same way we didn't see
voter suppression in twenty eighteen when the Democratic gubernatorial candidate
said that was the reason. So at the end of
the day, we have to have safe, secure, transparent elections.
I want my vote to count, I want my vote
to be safe, I want my vote to be transparent,
just like everybody else's.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
That's how we do it.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
That's what separates our country from so many others, and
we got to make sure that we do it.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
And I'm going to make sure that our elections are safe,
secure and.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Accessible and focusing on this election. I know you're running,
but talk to us more about why this election is
so important.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Yeah, Georgia is really a battleground state. You know this
truly from again from my perspective. If you're a Republican,
if you don't have the right candidate for governor, it
may not just be about the gubernatory election. It could
be about the Senate race, could be about all the
down ballast statewide officers, if you care about who the
attorney general or who the insurance commissioner, of public safety
commissioner is. But really, this state has been built on good,
(09:18):
solid leadership going back decades. Again, Zell Miller was a
Thankfully zel Miller had the Hope Scholarship helped me go
to college. You know, then Sonny Purdue and Nathan Dial
and Brian Kemp. We've had good leaders that know what
it takes to be the governor, that have been their own,
independent people that have built this state based on jobs
(09:40):
and safety.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
I want to continue in that mold Okay, I love that.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
And just one last thing here, anything you wanted to
share with the listeners that I might not have touched
on yet.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Well, if you want to support us in the race,
you can go to car Forgeorgia dot com. We're on Instagram,
we are on Facebook. We are on TikTok. Please find
us and we'd love to have I don't want to
earn the vote support of every one of your listeners.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Perfect. Thank you so much Chris Carr for coming in.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Thanks Alexandria and Chris followed the Black Information Network as
we continue to cover major races around the country ahead
of this year's elections. Next week, we hear from Andrea
Coleman and two of the Democratic candidates in Georgia, Keisha
Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.
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