Top Georgia politicians to visit Columbus on Aug. 20

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — The Georgia Chamber of Commerce will hold its the 2025 Congressional Luncheon at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center on Wednesday, August 20. 

The event is scheduled to draw some of the state’s top politicians and will put U.S Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), in the same room with one of his Republican challengers, Congressman Mike Collins (R-Ga.).

Several other congressmen will be in attendance, including Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), and Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.). This event traditionally attracts political and business leaders from across the state. 

According to a news release from the state chamber, the winner of the ‘Coolest Thing Made in Georgia’, a new statewide knockout-style competition launched by the Georgia Chamber will also be announced during the 2025 Congressional Luncheon. Hundreds of nominations were received for the ‘Coolest Thing Made in Georgia’. After a review, 64 of Georgia’s most innovative companies were entered into a randomly drawn bracket, with hundreds of thousands of Georgians casting their vote for the ‘Coolest Thing Made in Georgia’. The two finalists are the Midnight EVTOL from Archer Aviation and the Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules.  

Additionally, the Georgia Chamber will announce the inaugural winners of the Blanchard Leadership Award along with the Georgia Chamber Corporate Citizen Award. These two awards showcase the servant leaders and corporate citizens shaping Georgia’s future.  The Blanchard Leadership Award is named for former Synovus Chairman Jimmy Blanchard.