(Atlanta, GA) – Georgia Conservation Voters (GCV) is deeply disappointed by yesterday’s ruling upholding the disqualification of Daniel Blackman from the race for Georgia’s Public Service Commission (PSC) District 3.
Daniel Blackman is a good man who has been in this fight for a long time. We don’t expect the judge’s decision to change that. But this election was never just about Daniel—or any one candidate. It’s about the families across our state who are tired of having unaffordable power bills. It’s about the unelected commissioners who’ve taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from the very companies they’re supposed to be protecting us from.
Summer utility rates have just gone up. And the current budget proposal before the U.S. Senate would defund utility bill assistance, which could result in 150,000 Georgia households losing access to power next year. That’s what matters. That’s why we fight.
We also want to acknowledge the confusion this decision may create for voters:
- Daniel Blackman has been officially disqualified.
- If you already voted for him, that vote will not count.
- You cannot vote again in the PSC race during the primary. You can vote in the primary runoff if one becomes necessary.
- Daniel’s name may still appear on some ballots, but votes for him won’t be counted.
Tens of thousands have already voted, and we urge state officials to be transparent and clear about handling those ballots.
We continue to question the fairness of a system that requires PSC candidates to live in a specific district while being elected statewide. If residency truly matters, then Georgia should adopt district-based elections—because that’s what would lead to real, meaningful representation for the people.
As always, we encourage voters to cast their ballots for the candidate of their choice in the June 17th primary. GCV does not currently plan to endorse another candidate in this primary, but we look forward to the outcome and may revisit endorsement decisions ahead of the general election. We remain committed to raising awareness about this critical race—and fighting for energy justice for all Georgians—through November and beyond.
For more information or to get involved, contact:
- Connie DiCicco, Political Director – connie@gcvoters.org
- Mia Delamar, Senior Organizing Manager – mia@gcvoters.org
