By Sophia Lamb and Lidia Sidorova
•
February 2, 2026
Lidia Sidorova, Sophia Lamb
The Georgia State Capitol building serves an important role in the lives of each Georgia citizen, so learning about the happenings remains an imperative skill. To commemorate the first day in session January 12, 2026, Copy Editor Sophia Lamb and Page Editor Lidia Sidorova traveled to the historical building to watch the day unfold. While there, the two reporters spoke with multiple senators, representatives and protesters who rally for change.
At the start of the second semester for the 25-26 school year, Copy Editor Sophia Lamb and Page Editor Lidia Sidorova traveled down to the Georgia State Capitol to report on the first day of the 2026 Senate session.
January 12 marked the first Georgia State Senate meeting of 2026 — an important event for politically active individuals in Georgia. Hundreds of representatives, lobbyists, journalists and protestors gathered at the Georgia Capitol to discuss the current political climate, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits of the state. Each individual explored the opportunity to ask questions of deep importance, speak their mind and document the experience. (Sophia Lamb )Outside the Georgia State Capitol, a cumbersome line of eager individuals buzzed around beneath the glare of the golden dome. While chatter filled the chilly air, people pulled out their phones and cameras to document the line, capturing the novelty of traveling to the building on the first day back after the 2025 session’s end. With the excitement nearly palpable, journalists, bystanders and lobbyists conversed with each other, discussing what may find its way into the conversation on the Senate and House floor. (Lidia Sidorova)The Capitol building holds strong significance and solid security. Upon entering, individuals must pass through a body-scanner and surrender their personal belongings. With officers standing at the entrances, individuals know that they can maintain safety while visiting the government center. (Sophia Lamb)Gathered before the main stairwell, activists and protestors waited patiently for their turn to speak to the crowd. Each group rallied with a multitude of supporters, showing off matching shirts and holding sizable signs that clearly demonstrated their stance on the group’s cause. By allowing organizations to participate, the Georgia State Capitol demonstrates the extent to which they care to hear the people’s voices. For example, a group of pro-SNAP advocates organized on the main staircase to speak about the importance of SNAP in communities. (Lidia Sidorova)With the opportunity to speak out to government representatives and root for a cause, lobbyists and protestors congregated at the famous Capitol staircase. Affordability and budget cuts remained a recurring theme throughout the meeting with a group of protestors and lobbyists wearing matching clothing to bring attention to their message and their unity. (Sophia Lamb)Pictured above, Copy Editor Sophia Lamb spoke with Senate Doorkeeper Allen Edwards, who shared his experience in his current position. “The most interesting thing about my position is that I get to talk to the public. The others of us on the crew are there to restrict access to the chamber and to help the senators to enforce rules of decorum on the floor. My job is to greet people who have come to observe from the gallery. And that turns out to be very interesting, because people, for example, don’t realize that you have a right to be here. We’re constantly being asked, ‘Can I come in?’ And my answer is, ‘I can’t keep you out.’ If there’s a seat, you’re welcome to come in,” Edwards said. (Lidia Sidorova)In a nook on the second floor between the Senate and the House, various reporters swarmed around a senator after the session let up. The journalists pushed and shoved to achieve the optimal position, propelling their microphones forward. Fresh out of session, a pack of reporters followed him, anxiously awaiting the details from behind the chamber doors. (Lidia Sidorova)Pictured above, Page editor Lidia Sidorova spoke with House of Representatives member Eric Gisler, who spoke about his first time attending a Senate meeting. “It’s really my first day because I just got elected, so it’s going well so far. It was mostly procedural stuff today, we voted on a calendar — apparently that’s a new thing — a few years back we only had the calendar for a few weeks ahead at a time, but now we have the full calendar year. We had to do a few things to notify the house and the governor that the Senate is in session. Everybody’s talking about affordability. Different parties, different platforms all have different ideas of what that means so it’s going to be interesting to see how that works out. I’m looking forward to that,” Gisler said. (Sophia Lamb)As the day progressed, hundreds of marchers and lobbyists seized the chance to raise awareness about societal issues that worried them. Each protestor took their place on the grand stairs, several even capitalizing on the opportunity to speak their ideologies on equality and justice at the podium. As each person spoke up and as the day progressed, an audience of journalists and photographers surrounded the stairs, listening intently and recording the performances. (Sophia Lamb)Lamb spoke with two ladies, Ashley Lage and Ashley Heredia, who arrived at the Capitol building for the first time January 12, 2026. With the signs speaking out against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and arguing to legalize abortion in Georgia. The woman had attended protests before, but relayed their ecstaticness as traveling to the Capitol and claimed that it “was long overdue.” “I saw some social media posts from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Reproductive Freedom for All for ‘Pack the Capitol’ for the start of legislation. So we really just wanted to come out and get more involved on a local level with legislation and what’s happening. I’m just trying to be more active and make a difference with the issues that I care about. Obviously, I have the reproductive Freedom sign, and I’m really concerned with access to abortion and healthcare for women. I’m hoping for a change for that in Georgia,” Lage said. (Lidia Sidorova)Interviews flooded the building as journalists grasped the chance to inquire about the actions and plans of individuals in power. Certain representatives mingled with their acquaintances, while others stood before cameras, answering questions about the Senate’s first meeting of 2026. The Senate building bustled with the circulation of information and communication. (Sophia Lamb)Following his first day, Senator Jaha Howard of district 35 spoke with Lamb about which topic took the floor for the first day of the Senate. “It’s my first session. I was recently elected, 10 days old, into the Senate. So we’re excited about moving with some integrity and moving with urgency and making sure we’re having a good, nuanced conversation about moving things forward. Affordability has been the number one issue on both sides of the aisle, and it’s a good thing when both parties are leading with that, so we can have a healthy debate on how to do it,” Howard said. (Lidia Sidorova)
This story was originally published on The Chant on January 22, 2026.
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