Georgia candidate declares ‘Wakanda Forever’ in official paperwork

ajc.com

The mega-hit movie "Black Panther" is officially influencing Georgia politics.

While most candidates play it straight on the paperwork the file when qualifying for office, R.J. Hadley, a Democratic contender for secretary of state, had some fun with his. On it, he wrote “WAKANDA FOREVER” -- an homage to the fictional, high-tech African kingdom lionized in the film.

Hadley isn’t a fringe candidate. He is a former Rockdale County tax commissioner. But he has been a frustrated office-seeker, having run for statewide office six times.

“I've got the organizational, tech and people skills to do an excellent job as Secretary,” he said. “That line was just a call to Democratic primary voters to look toward the future, not the past, not campaign reports, not NRA ratings, to see that R.J. Hadley is best prepared for the job.”

Former U.S. Rep. John Barrow, too, has qualified to run in the Democratic primary. Four Republicans are also gunning for the open seat.