Athens broadcaster enters race for Georgia statehouse

Released today by the candidate:

Veteran Athens broadcaster Kris “KJ Allen” Kendrick announced his candidacy for Georgia’s State House District 120 on Monday morning. Kendrick made his announcement on Georgia’s Morning News with Tim Bryant.

Kendrick stated that the reason that he is running is to continue to super-serve the 120th District just as Houston Gaines has done for over six years, stating that he is the candidate that “can carry on the great work that Houston has done for this district.”  Protecting our schools, supporting law enforcement and securing transportation and infrastructure projects for District 120 are key elements of Kendrick’s campaign. “We have the money in the coffers, our state functions very, very well… we have the money to apply to those projects… We have to make sure the money does not go into the pot and end up somewhere else.” The full conversation can be found on SuperTalk Georgia’s YouTube channel, beginning at the 7:06 am mark on the November 10, 2025 Georgia’s Morning News broadcast.

Kendrick grew up in East Tennessee, then moved to Northeast Georgia shortly after graduating from high school in 1996. He has served in management and executive positions in the broadcast industry since the age of 19. Kendrick’s company, Oconee Communications Company, is based in Athens and operates 11 broadcast stations in North and Middle Georgia. In addition, Oconee Communications operates SuperTalk Georgia, which syndicates Tim Bryant’s Georgia’s Morning News program to five radio stations. Kendrick received his meteorology certification from Mississippi State University and heads up the Georgia Weather Net, a broadcast and digital weather service covering the entire state of Georgia.

Kendrick will run in the Republican Primary to be held on May 19, 2026. Georgia State House District 120 covers portions of Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Jackson and Oconee Counties,