Democrat Ken Hodges, candidate for Attorney General, picked up the endorsement today of well-known Republican Howard “Bo” Callaway. A respected national Republican figure, Callaway was the first modern day Republican candidate for Governor of the state of Georgia on the ballot and is regarded by some as the “father” of the modern Georgia Republican Party.

In 1964, Callaway was the first Georgia Republican elected to Congress from Georgia since Reconstruction in 1875. In 1966, he ran for Governor of Georgia and was a strong contender in the race, winning the popular vote. Due to a Democratic write-in effort following the primaries, Callaway failed to receive the constitutional required majority to win. Under state law at the time, the Georgia House of Representatives chose the Governor, and being majority Democratic, they voted for the Democratic nominee, Lester Maddox.

Read more: Albany Herald