Battleground: Ballot Box

About Battleground: Ballot Box

Lawmakers: Spotlight shines a light on the voices driving Georgia's legislature. Host Donna Lowry interviews lawmakers, public officials, and community leaders on the top issues coming from under the Gold Dome. These conversations offer insight into the decision-making process behind the laws and their effects on everyday Georgians and provide clarity, context, and a closer look at the inner workings of the state government.

Publisher

Georgia Public Broadcasting

Category

government · news · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 Sept 2020

Latest episode

1 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

29 of 131 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   1 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Inside Jan Jones’ Historic Tenure in the Georgia General Assembly

   Georgia Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones shares insights on her legislative journey and commitment to future generations in this interview reflecting on her impactful tenure.

2. 

   27 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Fentanyl Laws, NIL Reform, and Tenant Rights

   Georgia lawmakers Dewey McClain and Josh McLaurin join us to break down major legislative issues, from fentanyl trafficking laws to student athlete NIL protections and housing policy. McLaurin discusses efforts to ensure drug laws target traffickers without criminalizing addiction, while McClain shares his work on fair pay and protections for young athletes. This episode offers a closer look at how decisions at the Capitol impact your daily life across Georgia.

3. 

   26 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Fight to Support Rural Georgia Communities

   Georgia lawmakers Bill Werkheiser and Carden Summers join us to discuss the challenges facing rural communities, from hospital closures to economic incentives aimed at keeping young people local. They share insights into proposed legislation, including the Rural Incentive Act and efforts to stabilize struggling hospitals. This conversation offers a closer look at how policy decisions under the Gold Dome impact rural Georgia and your community.

Inside a recent episode

Inside Jan Jones’ Historic Tenure in the Georgia General Assembly

Published 1 Apr 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Both sets of my grandparents were small, hardscrabble farmers with very large families to feed from Lawrence County. And so my message to young people when I speak is always that if someone as unlikely as me can serve in the Georgia General Assembly, they can as well or aspire to other things that maybe they haven't even imagined. And I'm thankful for my common upbringing. When you grow up with little special treatment, you learn to pull your own self up because no one is probably coming to do it for you. My life experiences influenced and shaped my intensity, which some of you are probably aware of as a state representative, to try to create opportunities for all young people, particularly the nobodies from nowhere. […]

Who has been a guest on Battleground: Ballot Box

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Sonya Halpern
• Randall Mangham
• Chris Clark
• Todd Jones
• Casey Carpenter

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

17,700,364

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

36 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 73 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

74

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

85

Contact Battleground: Ballot Box

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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