Norcross, October 18, 2025 — Former Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, Democratic Candidate for Georgia Governor, concluded his statewide “Protect Georgians' Health Care” tour with a visit to the First Senior Center of Georgia, a Vietnamese community facility serving minority seniors in metro Atlanta, where he praised comprehensive elder care while sharply criticizing the Trump administration's healthcare and immigration policies.
The visit marked the final stop of Duncan's tour, highlighting what he describes as the Trump administration's attacks on Georgia's healthcare system. Duncan pledged to “have the courage to stand up to Trump and bring down costs as Governor.”
Healthcare Cuts Threaten Georgia Facilities
Duncan's tour comes amid mounting concerns over federal healthcare funding cuts affecting Georgia hospitals and medical facilities. A rural hospital in Lavonia is being forced to close its labor and delivery unit, while a hospital in Claxton faces likely closure of its Intensive Care Unit due to the Trump administration's Medicaid cuts.
Georgia stands to lose $3.7 billion in revenue next year alone if the Trump administration halts critical healthcare support from the Affordable Care Act, according to recent estimates. The cuts threaten to spike healthcare costs for families across the state.
During his visit to the First Senior Center of Georgia, which provides integrated services including meals, daycare, and wraparound healthcare for seniors, Duncan highlighted the facility as a model for addressing the needs of Georgia's aging population — services he warned could be jeopardized by the federal cuts.
“I've seen bits and pieces — adult daycare centers, wraparound services, and food pantries — but I've never seen it all merged together,” Duncan said. “This is truly an amazing place that gives folks a higher quality of life.”
The center serves hundreds of seniors daily, providing transportation, meals, healthcare access, and food assistance for families. Duncan emphasized the critical role such facilities play in addressing broader challenges facing Georgia's elderly population, including food insecurity and housing affordability.
“We've got to really roll up our sleeves and go to work and not only scale programs like this, but really tackle the affordability crisis,” Duncan said.
Immigration Enforcement Draws Sharp Rebuke
Duncan strongly condemned recent federal immigration actions, specifically addressing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's lawsuit against the Trump administration's $100,000 H-1B visa fee and Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids at Hyundai's Georgia facility.
“Good for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, they should [sue]. I hope they're successful,” Duncan said, criticizing what he described as chaos rather than leadership from the Trump administration.
The lieutenant governor said the ICE raid at Hyundai — which detained approximately 450 workers — has severely damaged trust with foreign investors, particularly Korean corporations that have invested billions in Georgia.
“Donald Trump and Kristi Noem and the rest of those folks slapped the Asian community,” Duncan said. “They slapped Hyundai in the face at the tune of putting north of $5 billion worth of investments” into Georgia.
Duncan noted that roughly 350 of the 450 detained workers had only clerical immigration issues that could have been resolved administratively. He characterized the raid as prioritizing “a five-second media clip on Twitter” over substantive problem-solving.
“These raids are inhumane. They're not needed,” Duncan said. “While we all agree that a secure, orderly border makes sense, these actions are shallow and quite honestly embarrassing for the world to see.”
Brain Drain Concerns
Addressing concerns about international talent leaving the United States for Canada, Europe, and China, Duncan pledged to make Georgia a welcoming destination for foreign students and workers if elected governor.
“When I win this race as governor, I'm going to send a message that I represent a majority of Georgians,” Duncan said. “I think a majority of Georgians understand the value of recruiting the best and brightest minds from around the world to come here, to study here, to train here, to innovate here.”
Duncan referenced his Partnership for Inclusive Innovation (PIN) initiative, which works to expand technology internships in counties, high schools, and technical schools across Georgia. He had previously campaigned on making Georgia the “technology capital of the East Coast.”
“We can invite the best and brightest here, and we've done it for decades, and we should continue to do it,” Duncan said. “This notion that we want to be at war with the rest of the world is embarrassing.”
The lieutenant governor emphasized that Asian business partners, including Hyundai and Kia, have created tens of thousands of high-paying jobs in Georgia, particularly in areas needing economic development.
Duncan concluded by stressing his commitment to continuing foreign investment and welcoming international students to Georgia, “whether they live here temporarily or live here permanently,” while promising to protect healthcare access and affordability for all Georgians.
