What is hElium Politics?

This is hElium Politics by Eli Spencer Heyman. I'm also known by my handle on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @elium2. This will be a newsletter where I write about Rhode Island and Georgia politics topics that interest me. Have you ever seen me do a thread on social media about campaign finance or analyze the state of a contest? I intend this site to be the primary platform for that work going forward, although I'll still do threads, of course.

What? You've never seen me do a thread and you have no idea who I am? I'm a native Atlantan and current resident of Sandy Springs, Ga. (although inside the Perimeter). I lived in Providence, R.I., for the better part of five years while I attended Brown University, from which I graduated with a bachelor's in public policy in 2021. My capstone paper made a case for ending qualified immunity when the government violates individuals' constitutional rights and explored possible avenues for ending it.

Both in Providence and since returning home, I have been heavily involved in progressive and left-wing activism. This involves some paid work, which I disclose on the About page, and also some campaign contributions, which I disclose when I write about those campaigns. Mainly, though, it's through grassroots involvement where no money changes hands either way.

Here, I'll write up things I find interesting in Georgia and Rhode Island politics; provide detailed writeups about races that I issue ratings for (all statewide contests in Georgia, all competitive state or federal races in both states, and select municipal races); and provide reflections on my own work (maps, predictions, district-level results, race calls, etc.) and the state of politics. I may occasionally write about other political happenings that interest me, like the 2021 Prop B vote on camping in Austin, Texas.

Things will be up and running here shortly, but you can subscribe in the meantime if you'd like to stay up to date and receive emails when new content is published!