The Fellowship Hall Knows What the Party Won’t Admit: The Dark Horse Is in the Room

Every now and then, the church house gets quiet.  

Not because there’s nothing to say but because the truth about to be spoken needs room to land.

And on this Easter season, with Georgia politics shifting under our feet, some people are saying something that sounds a whole lot like a revival‑tent warning:

“Don’t write off Geoff Duncan in the Democratic Primary.”

Now, that’s not an endorsement.  

That’s not a prediction.  

That’s not a hallelujah chorus for any one candidate.

That’s simply what seasoned politicos and grassroots activists are whispering in pews, fellowship halls, and courthouse squares across this state.

Because Georgia is in a moment where the stakes are sky‑high, the margins are razor‑thin, and the old political hymns don’t hit like they used to.

Political watchers point out a few things worth paying attention to:

- He’s got statewide name recognition and that matters when ballots get crowded.  

- He complicates the usual partisan script and voters who don’t fit neatly into boxes often respond to candidates who don’t either.  

- He carries credibility with moderates and independents a lane Democrats can’t afford to ignore in a statewide race.  

- He brings a profile that could scramble assumptions and in Georgia, assumptions have been wrong before.  

Again, none of this guarantees anything.  

But it does mean the story isn’t as simple as some folks want it to be.

Georgia politics has a way of humbling the proud and lifting the unexpected.  

Ask anyone who’s watched this state long enough resurrection stories don’t start with the favorite. And that’s why some analysts say Democrats would be making a mistake to shrug off any candidate who brings a different coalition, a different profile, and a different kind of appeal.

Especially in a year when turnout, trust, and authenticity will matter more than slogans. This primary isn’t just a political contest, it’s a crossroads.  

And the church house knows a crossroads when it sees one.

Some folks

believe Geoff Duncan is the dark horse in this race.  

And in a year like this, with November looming large, they argue that ignoring a dark horse is how you end up praying for a miracle you didn’t have to need.

Easter in Georgia: Why Faith‑Anchored Democrats Could Shift the Map

Easter Sunday in Georgia isn’t just a date on the calendar it’s a rhythm.  

Sunrise services. Choir robes. Family tables. A quiet moment to breathe, bow your head, and remember that faith is still the backbone of so many communities across this state.

And in a year where Democrats are trying to reconnect with the voters they’ve struggled to reach... rural, working‑class, church‑going, small‑town Georgia, several candidates stand out for one simple reason:

They don’t treat faith like a political liability.  

They treat it like part of who they are.

These candidates come from the same Georgia where Scripture sits on dashboards, where people pray before meals, and where faith shapes how folks see leadership, responsibility, and service.

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Jason Moon — Labor Commissioner Candidate

Jason Moon’s story is rooted in service, work, and a steady belief that dignity comes from honest labor. His faith isn’t performative, it’s woven into how he talks about fairness, opportunity, and helping people stand on their own feet. Analysts note that candidates who can speak authentically to working‑class and faith‑driven voters often have an advantage in connecting with communities Democrats have struggled to reach.

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Michael McCord — Congressional Candidate

Michael McCord comes from that tradition where faith is a compass, not a campaign slogan. His public service record reflects humility, discipline, and a belief in community. Observers point out that candidates who can walk into a sanctuary or fellowship hall and feel at home often resonate with voters who value integrity and grounded leadership.

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Justin Lucas — Congressional Candidate

Justin Lucas represents a lane of leadership shaped by service, family, and faith. His background reflects the values many Georgia families hold close: responsibility, community, and a belief that public service should be rooted in something deeper than ambition. Candidates who can speak to both economic concerns and moral grounding often bridge divides in competitive districts.

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Shawn Harris — Congressional Candidate

Shawn Harris brings a faith‑anchored approach to public service, shaped by community involvement and a belief in lifting others up. His story aligns with voters who want leaders who understand struggle, purpose, and the role faith plays in navigating both. This connection can be meaningful in districts where churches remain central to civic life.

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Michael Thurmond — Gubernatorial Candidate

Michael Thurmond has long been recognized for a leadership style shaped by faith, humility, and a deep respect for Georgia’s working people. His story resonates with voters who value perseverance, service, and a moral center. Candidates with longstanding credibility in faith‑driven communities can help rebuild trust where Democrats have lost ground.

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Why This Matters for Democrats in November

If Democrats want to compete statewide, they can’t keep overlooking the voters who still see faith as part of their identity. Not every voter is ideological. Many are spiritual, practical, and looking for leaders who reflect their values without preaching at them.

Candidates like Moon, McCord, Lucas, Harris, and Thurmond represent a lane where:

- Faith and public service aren’t in conflict  

- Work, family, and community are front and center  

- Authenticity matters more than rhetoric  

If they make it out of their primaries, they could help Democrats reconnect with voters who’ve drifted away the Georgia that still bows its head before it eats.

The Elders Bless Thurmond and the New Folks Catch the Holy Ghost for the Wrong Reason

Church, gather ‘round for a quick word this Sunday morning, because some of y’all are acting like you’ve never seen politics before.

Tell me why folks are clutching their pearls because former Governor Roy Barnes and civil rights legend Andrew Young offered their support in a race? When did that become a crisis? When did a simple endorsement turn into a thunderstorm?

Let me preach this slow:

This ain’t new.  

This ain’t shocking.  

This ain’t even unusual.

Former elected officials endorse candidates every single cycle — Republican, Democrat, and everybody in between. It’s as normal as a deacon falling asleep during the sermon.

But here’s what I’m seeing, especially around Atlanta:

Some of the newer Democrats get real tense whenever the old guard speaks up.  

Not because of the endorsement itself, but because they don’t like the idea of voices with history and mileage still having something to say.

But hear this Sunday truth:

An endorsement is not control.  

It’s not a coronation.  

It’s not a backroom deal.  

It’s not a puppet string.

It’s simply seasoned folks  people who’ve lived through the highs and lows of Georgia politics saying,  

“Here’s who I believe in.”

You can shout amen to it, or you can sit there with your arms crossed.  

You can agree or disagree.  

That’s your right.

But let’s not pretend this is some wild new phenomenon.  

Let’s not act like the sky is falling because elders in the movement still have a voice.

This is normal politics.  

Nothing more, nothing less.

Now pass the plate and let the congregation say hallelujah.

Black Men Ain’t Your Damn Afterthought

Let’s stop sugarcoating it.  

In American politics, the Black male voter is the most disrespected, overlooked, and mishandled vote in the whole damn system. Everybody wants the numbers, nobody wants the conversation, and both parties act like Black men are supposed to just “show up” out of tradition or guilt.

That era is dead.

For years, the Democratic Party has treated Black men like the back‑of‑the‑line voters, the ones you call last, listen to least, and blame first when turnout dips. And while that’s been happening, the GOP has been circling like a hawk, not because they suddenly understand Black men, but because they see an opening big enough to drive a tractor through.

And here’s the part the national pundits keep missing:

In Georgia, Black men aren’t a side note.  

They’re the deciding note.

This voting bloc will shape the Democratic primary whether anybody wants to admit it or not. If Black men show up, the race tilts one way. If they stay home, it tilts another. It’s that simple. The numbers don’t lie, even if the parties do.

Black men aren’t leaving anybody.  

They’re tired of being ignored, talked down to, and treated like political spare parts.

And in a state as tight as Georgia where every vote is a knife‑edge,

the most disrespected vote in America might just be the one that decides who walks out of the Democratic primary alive. 

The 2026 Test: Do Georgia Democrats Want to Win or Feel Right?

Every election cycle comes with its own storyline, but Georgia’s 2026 midterms feel like a test — not just of candidates, but of the party’s identity. And the question hanging over everything from the U.S. Senate race down to county commission is simple:

What matters more to Democratic voters — purity or winning?

It’s a question folks whisper in barbershops, church parking lots, and union halls. It’s a question candidates feel every time they step into a forum. And it’s a question that’s shaping the entire ballot this year.

Georgia’s Coalition Is Wide — and That’s the Challenge

Georgia Democrats don’t have the luxury of a narrow base. The coalition stretches across:

- Black voters in metro and rural counties  

- White moderates in the suburbs  

- Latino and Asian communities  

- Young progressives  

- Older, pragmatic voters  

- Rural Democrats who’ve been outnumbered but not outworked  

When a coalition is this broad, tension is baked in. Some voters want a candidate who checks every ideological box. Others want someone who can walk into a red county, shake hands, and not get laughed out the room.

That tension is showing up up and down the ballot.

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The 2026 Field: A Mirror of the Party’s Divide

This year’s Democratic candidates from congressional hopefuls to statewide contenders reflect the full spectrum of the party.

You’ve got candidates running on:

- Pragmatic, coalition‑building messages  

- Progressive, movement‑driven platforms  

- Rural‑focused economic appeals  

- Urban‑centered reform agendas  

Some are emphasizing electability and broad appeal. Others are leaning into ideological clarity and issue purity. And voters are sorting themselves accordingly.

Political observers often note that this divide isn’t new — but the stakes feel higher now, especially with competitive races in congressional districts, the legislature, and statewide offices.

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Where Purity Shows Up

Purity politics tends to surface in:

- Primary debates  

- Online spaces  

- Issue‑specific activist circles  

- Younger, more ideologically driven segments of the base  

These voters want candidates who align perfectly with their values. They want boldness, clarity, and conviction. They want someone who won’t compromise.

There’s nothing wrong with that every party has a faction that pushes the envelope.

But purity alone doesn’t win statewide races in Georgia.

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Where Winning Shows Up

Winning‑focused voters often older, more consistent voters tend to prioritize:

- Broad appeal  

- Coalition‑building  

- Experience  

- Stability  

- The ability to compete in rural and suburban counties  

These are the voters who show up in every primary, every runoff, every general. They’re the backbone of the party’s turnout.

And they’re the ones who often decide who gets the nomination.

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The Rural Factor: Still the Missing Piece

Georgia may be changing, but it’s still a Southern, agricultural state. You can’t win statewide by stacking votes in six metro counties and hoping the rest of the map magically turns blue.

Candidates who can:

- speak to rural economic realities  

- show up in small towns  

- talk agriculture, healthcare access, and jobs  

- respect local culture  

…tend to perform better in November.

Some of this year’s candidates are leaning into that lane. Others aren’t. And voters will decide which approach they trust.

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So What Will Georgia Democrats Choose?

This midterm is shaping up to be a referendum on the party’s priorities.

Political analysts often point out that Democratic voters nationally are split between:

- those who want to win elections, and  

- those who want to win arguments.

Georgia’s 2026 ballot is giving voters a chance to show which path they prefer.

Will they choose candidates who can build a broad coalition across race, region, and ideology?  

Or will they choose candidates who represent the purest expression of their values?

Either way, the choice will define the party’s direction — not just for this cycle, but for years to come. 

The Timber’s Gone, the Paychecks Are Thin, and Rural Georgia Is Holding On

Folks who grew up around Georgia’s woods and fields know the truth: the timber industry still hasn’t gotten back on its feet since Hurricane Helene tore through this state. Entire stands that took generations to grow were snapped like matchsticks. And just when growers were trying to regroup, another blow landed, the closure of International Paper mills along the coast, including the one I worked in.

For a lot of families, that wasn’t just a job loss. It was the end of a way of life.

And the hits didn’t stop there.

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A $75 Billion Giant Under Strain

Agriculture is Georgia’s backbone, a $75 billion sector that touches everything from:

- Poultry  

- Peaches  

- Peanuts  

- Timber  

- The Georgia Ports  

- Inland ports  

- Food processing  

- Agribusiness up and down the line  

But the last several years have been rough. Many producers, especially small, Black, and first‑generation farmers say they’ve been squeezed by federal decisions, trade disruptions, and market instability. When you stack that on top of storm damage and mill closures, you get an industry that’s still standing but carrying a heavy load.

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A Republican‑Leaning Industry Facing Hard Realities

Roughly three‑quarters of Georgia’s agricultural community traditionally votes Republican. That’s been the pattern for decades. But this year feels different not because of party labels, but because the problems hitting farmers are local, immediate, and personal:

- Timber growers with nowhere to send their wood  

- Row‑crop farmers battling input costs  

- Black and first‑generation farmers fighting for access and fairness  

- Rural counties losing jobs tied to forestry and paper  

- Ports and logistics networks adjusting to global uncertainty  

When the ground shifts under your boots, you start looking for leaders who understand the dirt you’re standing on.

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A New Kind of Voice Rising From South Georgia

That’s why some folks are paying attention to younger growers and first‑generation farmers stepping into the conversation. People who actually farm. People who know the price of seed, the cost of diesel, and the heartbreak of watching a storm undo years of work.

One of those voices is South Georgia farmer Sedrick Rowe  a first‑generation grower, a young Black farmer, and someone who understands the stakes from the ground up. His story resonates with producers who feel overlooked, unheard, or left behind by decisions made far from the fields they work.

In a year when the timber industry is still hurting, when mills have closed, when storms have reshaped entire counties, and when farmers feel like they’re carrying the load alone, rural Georgia may be more open than usual to someone who speaks their language.

The Bottom Line here is that Georgia agriculture is at a crossroads.  

The timber hasn’t fully recovered.  

The mills are gone.  

The storms keep coming.  

And the people who feed, build, and supply this state are looking for answers.

This year’s election won’t just be about politics.  

It’ll be about survival, stability, and who understands the weight rural Georgia is carrying. 

Voices From the Amen Corner: Why South Georgia’s Black Voters Trust Steady Hands Like Thurmond and Moon

I visited a church last week down in rural Southeast Georgia where the dirt is red and the pines whisper when the wind shifts, Sunday mornings still mean something. Folks gather at a historic black church not just for worship, but for the conversations that happen afterward, the real ones, the ones that shape how people think about their communities and their future.

After service, the congregation drifted out into the felliwship hall behind the church. Kids ran around the fellowship hall. The men leaned against their trucks. The women huddled in the lobby.

At the center of the circle stood Miss Ruby, 82, who had lived through enough Georgia history to fill a library.

“People keep acting like Black folks in South Georgia don’t know politics,” she said, adjusting her hat. “Baby, we’ve been reading candidates longer than they’ve been reading polls.”

A few folks laughed, but everyone listened.

Next to her was Deacon Charles, a retired farmworker who’d spent decades in the peanut and timber fields.

“I don’t need somebody promising me the moon,” he said. “I need somebody who’s run something. Somebody who’s served. Somebody who understands rural Georgia ain’t a backdrop, it’s home.”

He paused, then added:

“That’s why folks down here pay attention when they hear names like Michael Thurmond. They know his story. They know he’s worked, served, led. They know he understands Georgia from the ground up.”

Miss Ruby nodded. “And that young man running for Labor Commissioner, Jason Moon. Folks like that. Somebody who’s worked with small businesses, understands jobs, understands what it means when a plant closes or a shift gets cut. That matters down here.”

Across the circle, Tameka, a school counselor, chimed in.

“People online think Black voters in the country are just ‘moderate’ or ‘old‑school.’ No. We’re practical. We know what works. We know who’s steady. We know who respects us enough to talk with us, not at us.”

She looked around the group.

“We like leaders who’ve actually done something. Leaders who understand farming, labor, schools, and small towns. Leaders who don’t treat us like a slogan.”

A few elders murmured “mm‑hmm” in agreement.

Then Jamal, 22, home from Albany State, spoke up.

“I used to think y’all were too cautious. But now I get it. Y’all ain’t scared, y’all just smart. You’ve seen what happens when folks talk big and deliver small.”

Miss Ruby smiled at him.

“Baby, we’ve lived through enough storms to know the difference between thunder and rain.”

The group fell quiet for a moment.

Finally, Deacon Charles said:

“Down here, we like Democrats who are steady. Who know the land. Who know the people. Who’ve worked real jobs, solved real problems, and don’t look down on us. Folks like Thurmond. Folks like Moon. Folks who understand rural Georgia because they’ve lived something.”

Miss Ruby tapped her cane on the dirt.

“And don’t let nobody tell you Black folks in South Georgia don’t think for ourselves. We’re the reason half these elections even get close.”

Soft laughter was heard through the group, the kind that comes from truth.

As everyone headed toward their cars and trucks, the pastor called out:

“Y’all remember, wisdom don’t make noise. It just shows up.”

And in that moment, it was clear:

Black voters in rural South Georgia weren’t confused.  

They weren’t passive.  

They weren’t waiting for someone to tell them what to believe.

They were choosing leaders who matched their values... steady hands, proven service, grounded judgment, the kind of leaders who fit South Georgia like a well‑worn pair of boots.

 

Brown, Dollison and the 2022 Georgia Agriculture Commissioner race

Gary Black, Georgia's current Agriculture Commissioner announced this week that he will enter the U.S. Senate race for a chance to take on incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock in 2022. Black was elected State Agriculture Commissioner in 2010 after longtime Agriculture Commissioner, (the late) Tommy Irvin retired after serving 41 years at the helm.

With Black now seeking higher office, the question now is who will run for the post. The rce for State Agriculture is typically a lower profile race but not anymore. There's a bevy of potential candidates on the Republican side who could run from State Senator Tyler Harper to State Representative Robert Dickey, but what about the Democratic side?

LeMario Brown, 34 who's currently serving as City Councilman for the city of Fort Valley is a Pecan Farmer out of Peach County. He's a graduate of Fort Valley State University, later studied at Columbia Southern University interned at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Brown. Brown has the ability to appeal to younger voters and also stem the loss of youth in the agriculture industry. 

Ricky Dollison Sr. a 1978 graduate of Worth County High School is a 4th Generation Farmer and owner and operator of Warrior Creek Premium Meats. The Tifton resident farm over in nearby Worth County and also the former High School Football All American was featured in one of Sen. Warnock's digital ads during the 2020 campaign season. He created Ag First Community Cooperative.

Given how hard its been for Democrats to find a strong candidate with a strong Agricultuel background, either of these two upstanding gentlemen would move Georgia Ag industry into a new era and would be a strong advocates for small family farms.

Three Vying to Succeed Retiring Macon County Sheriff

On May 24, Macon County will elect a new sheriff for the first time since 1976 as longtime sheriff Charles M. Cannon Sr,

Matthew Woodard

69, will not seek re-election to the office he has held for 40 years.

Three candidates have qualified to become the next sheriff for Macon County. All three are running in the Democratic Primary, but Cannon & Kanazawa are Republicans running as Democrats

Matthew "Matt" Woodard
Oglethorpe
Assistant Chief of Police for the City of Reynolds

Charles M. Cannon, Jr
Montezuma
Assistant Police Chief for the City of Montezuma

Terry Kanazawa (R)
Montezuma
Retired (Perrenial Candidate)
Former Deputy

Chris Irvin Goes after Gary Black in New Radio Ad

​(D) Chris Irvin who's challenging (R) Gary Black for Agriculture Commissioner is up with a radio spot slamming Black over Georgia's Food Safety and the Skinny Dipping episode that occurred at Lake Blackshear last year. Listen to the ad below:

 Chris Irvin-Agriculture Commissioner-GA 'Safe Food 2'-(2014-10-17)-mix-REV1.mp3

​

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Debate- Chris Irvin (D) v Gary Black (R)General (2014)

35 GA Sheriffs switch support from Sam Olens (R) to Greg Hecht (D)

In the statewide race for Attorney General, 34 sheriffs have switched their endorsement from incumbent Sam Olens  to Democratic challenger Greg Hecht. This bipartisan group includes ten Republicans.

“Sheriffs want an Attorney General who is going to prosecute corruption and enforce the law, and has the experience to back it up.” said Hecht. “I prosecuted cases myself as an assistant District Attorney, and I’m proud to have the support of these sheriffs.”

Sam Olens, Greg Hecht

The full list of sheriffs endorsing Greg Hecht who previously endorsed Sam Olens is below:

 

Sheriff Bobby McLemore, Ben Hill County

Sheriff Harold Lancaster, Bleckley County

Sheriff Mike Dewey, Brooks County

Sheriff Gregory Coursey, Burke County

Sheriff Josh Hilton, Calhoun County

Sheriff Jim Proctor, Camden County

Sheriff Winston Peterson, Clinch County

Sheriff Douglas Hanks, Cook County

Sheriff Wiley Griffin, Decatur County

Sheriff William Price, Early County

Sheriff Tim Burkhalter, Floyd County

Sheriff Steve Thomas, Franklin County

Sheriff Ted Jackson, Fulton County

Sheriff Harry C. Young, Grady County

Sheriff Ross Henry, Heard County

Sheriff Preston Bohannon, Jeff Davis County

Sheriff Rusty Oxford, Johnson County

Sheriff Butch Reece, Jones County

Sheriff Nick Norton, Lanier County

Sheriff Craig Nobles, Long County

Sheriff Derrell Neal, Marion County

Sheriff Logan Marshall, McDuffie County

Sheriff Chuck Smith, Meriwether County

Sheriff Ladson  O’Connor, Montgomery County

Sheriff Billy Cape, Pulaski County

Sheriff Billy Joe Foster, Quitman County

Sheriff Heath Elliott, Seminole County

Sheriff Larry Jones, Stewart County

Sheriff Marc Richards, Taliaferro County

Sheriff Gene Scarbrough, Tift County

Sheriff Alvie Lee Kight, Toombs County

Sheriff Andrew Hester, Turner County

Sheriff Darren Mitchum, Twiggs County

Sheriff Tommy Smith, Washington County

Sheriff Neal Walden, White County

Jason Carter: Dinner Table

2014: Carter, Beckum, Irvin and the Pursuit for Rural Georgia Vote

Jason Carter with supporters

Voters in rural areas of Georgia tend to be older than the electorate as a whole and they tend to be of more moderate means. Additionally, older voters tend to vote in higher numbers in midterm elections.

Democrats running this year in Georgia have to be very comfortable in talking about the values they share with other small town Georgia

residents. They have to be very comfortable in believing in God and that they go to church like everybody else does. Issues ranging from Social Security to medicaid to agriculture to economic fairness (which resonates in rural communities and put republicans on defense) are issues that are  well received in rural parts of the state.

 Chris Irvin at Vidalia Onion Festival, Toombs Co

Dems such as Ag Commissioner candidate Christopher Irvin (D-Toccoa), Secretary of State candidate Gerald Beckum (D-Oglethorpe) & Jason Carter, gubernatorial candidate for governor are such candidates that can appeal to these voters who tend to be independent-minded & conservative leaning. These three in particular can appeal to the what I called Zell Miller-Sam Nunn Democrats who have strayed away from the party in recent years.

These candidates in addition to Michelle Nunn who's running for the Senate have been criticized for reaching out to people who haven`t been voting for the Democrats in years, some people have criticized them for trying to broaden the base of the party. To liberals here in this state, broadening the base is how you win elections. Just ask Congressman John Barrow (D-Augusta) who have managed to win his last two re-election bids by broadening his base outside of his former home of Savannah and now Augusta.

Gerald Beckum with ex-State Rep.Robert Ray, Crawford Co

Bottom line: Georgia Liberal Democrats need to get past their interest-group politics and SUPPORT CANDIDATES who appeal to rural Georgians and their values...... well in another word, Georgians who values doesn't line up with the National Democrats and Obamacrats.  They don't understand that the real fault line is culture values. Left wingers often wonder why do working-class voters so often vote for the party (GOP) that pushes tax cuts for the wealthy? The short answer: Money isn't everything. Nothing connects quite like shared culture to persuade voters that, despite other appearances, you're really on their side.

Open Elections.....NOT!

The GOP’s need to game voting has spread like political cancer. Republican-controlled legislatures have gone to great lengths to complicate many aspects of the voting process, from registration to ballot-access rules. The goal is to suppress perceived Democratic voting blocks, particularly people of color, the poor and students. What’s especially pernicious about the best known of these tactics, stricter voter ID laws, is that it adds a nasty twist to the otherwise simple requirements to be a legal voter. Instead of satisfying age, residency and citizenship status and showing that one is mentally fit and has no felony record (as in most states) these new laws say you cannot get a ballot unless you also have a specific kind of state government photo ID. Not everybody has that ID, or the documents needed to obtain it. The right to vote has never been based on plastic.

This anti-democratic trend is larger than just photo ID laws. Florida passed laws imposing fines and filing deadlines on voter registration groups, which, despite being blocked by a court recently.

Today’s majority Caucasian dominated GOP knows it cannot hold onto power in an increasingly multicultural America unless it keeps communities of color, young people and women from voting.
You would think today’s Republicans would be more confident in their ideas, stand by them and trust the voters to decide. But that is not the case.

Jefferson Jackson Dinner Last Night in Fort Valley

Jason Carter addressing the audience during Peach Co JJ Dinner

Last Night, the Peach County Democratic held its first ever Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Fort Valley located in Rural Central Georgia at the Agriculture Technology Center. An estimated 200 were in attendance as they got to hear from Gubernatorial candidate Jason Carter, as well as other statewide hopefuls, Connie Stokes (Lt Governor), Alisha Morgan (State Superintendent), Chris Irvin (Agriculture Commissioner), Tarnisha Dent (State Superintendent), Gerald Beckum (Secretary of State) & Robin Shipp (Labor Commissioner)

Candidate for Agriculture Commissioner Chris Irvin speaking

Senator Carter was introduced by Macon Circuit D.A. David Cooke in which afterwards Carter gave a rousing, charismatic speech critical of Gov. Nathan Deal on Public Education, Jobs, etc.

Also on hand was Congressman Sanford Bishop & wife Vivian Creighton-Bishop, sheriffs David Davis (Bibb County) & Lewis Walker (Crawford County) and host of local elected officials from surrounding counties as well.

Rep. Sanford Bishop presents Carter with a Plaque

Candidates Gerald Beckum Secretary of State with Keith Heard Insurance Commissioner

Georgia Democratic Candidates & The Elusive 8-10%

If you're a democratic candidate here in Georgia, you'll automatically start out with 42-43% of the vote statewide. That's the floor for the democrats here in Georgia. That's a given! But what's more of a concern for democratic candidates is the other 8-10% of the vote that's proving to be elusive.

If look at recent polls, it shows both Michelle Nunn, candidate for the U.S. Senate & Jason Carter, candidate for governor hovering between 40-43%........but neither have advance above the 43% threshold and that's the root of the problem for democratic candidates nowadays in Georgia.

Many of those voters tend to be independent who lean conservative or are just straight independent voters. In my opinion, Zell Miller's 2004 Speech at the Republican National Convention contributed to independents and moderates voters switching from voting for democrats to republican (that's another story for another time)

So how can they capture the other 8-10 percent needed to win statewide contest.

Those voters, but not all of them, I think are conflicted about the role of government, that we know. But they don't like the partisanship coming from both sides. And they're afraid that the product ti come out of such a process will be too partisan, too driven by special interest.

Michelle Nunn, Jason Carter and other ballot democrats can appeal to the moderate republicans, conservative democrats if all can project a positive message in contrast of the doom and gloom, scare the hell out of you message being employed by the republicans because you better believe than Deal and whoever emerges in the republican primary for the U.S. Senate will be waging a negative  campaign filled with scare tactics & conspiracies. Now at some point they (dems) will have to go on the attack if some baseless accusation is hurled at them.

If they can come out talking positively, talking about the future of Georgia, etc, then they can begin to pickoff those voters that are critical for electoral success in November.

The narrative now is that Carter, Nunn has given Georgia Democrats a chance to come out of the wilderness and compete in statewide elections for the first time in over a decade & their star power gives them the opportunity to raise money, mobilize future voters and energize veteran democratic stalwarts who have been beaten down by years of losing at the ballot box.  The key for each of them, along with others like Chris Irvin (Agriculture Commissioner) Greg Hecht (Attorney General) & others is can they appeal to the state's centrist voters who either vote reoublican or simply sit out elections because they don;t like the choices on the ballot and can they build on momentum the party have to build a formidable statewide network?

But in order for democrats to be competitive, they need more than Nunn and Carter at the top of the ticket. Outside of those two, who else on the ballot can help strengthened and appeal to centrist/independent voters tired of the partisan games. It's a tossup, with the exception of Greg Hecht (who ran for Lt. Governor in 2006) the other candidates are first time candidates for statewide office. That's why its essential that Secretary of State candidate Gerald Beckum, a rural white conservative democrat emerge from the democratic primary who knows how to connect to the very voters democrats have had a hard time winning over & Robin Shipp, candidate for Labor Commissioner who have made several trips to middle and south Georgia since announcing her entry for Labor Commissioner) to continue engaging small town voters over the next 7 months.

The hope I think for the party is that these candidates have the ability to reach out to moderate republicans who are disgruntled with the right wing of the republican party, which is the Tea Party, as well as conservative democrats and Independents. Many of these voters long for a common-sense alternative, but need to feel comfortable electing a moderate who's not liberal and who is likely to differ from the National Democratic Party Platform on social issues which will reassure voters who consider those issues important. Then, with voters comfortable, these candidates can share their values and then talk about issues such as education, economic growth and the need for cooperation, which Michelle Nunn is stressing to voters as she travels the state.

They can tell voters they deserve a education system that doesn't cram as many children as possible into a classroom and they shouldn't have a senator, governor or a state legislature that do not view those at the bottom of the barrel of the economic ladder as prone to become dependent on government help if they expand social programs to assist them temporarily through economic hard times. They should have someone in D.C. or Atlanta that don't consider "Bi-partisanship" a dirty word.

To sum it all up: There is no winning here without appealing to independent voters, moderate republicans and conservative democrats. And there;s no winning without the base, which means capitulation doesn't work  Democrats like Jason Carter have to persuade voters in the middle that they can do a better job that the other occupants. Democrats need to make the case for common-sense solutions to problems facing voters here in the state. All too often some dismiss the arguments of the other side as worthless, crazy, stupid, and walk away leaving folks to believe what they hear on talk radio or Fox News which is a right-wing network. Democrats have to engage, they have to persuade, they have to listen to the crazy, out of the mainstream arguments and calmly refute them. That's how you reach voters in the middle.

It's how you change the wind and it's what they will have to do, because I can picture what every GOP candidate running will be talking about: Obamacare (which they are banking on as their meal ticket).....Taxes......Obamacare.......Liberal this.......Obamacare........Harry Reid........Liberal that.........Obamacare, you know the drill.

What's Needed To Defeat A Entrenched Incumbent?

Courage, Committment, Determination, and Ego make first-time candidates or challengers to incumbents run. But what does it take to make them win? Candidates ranging from Jason Carter (Governor), Christopher Irvin (Agriculture Commissioner), Gerald Beckum (Secretary of State) to Brian Roslund, Harris County Democrat & Railroad executive taking on Incumbent (R) State Senator Josh McKoon to Joyce Denson of Toomsboro challenging Bubber Epps for HD 144 have stepped up to the plate to defeat entrenched incumbents. 

 

The challenges they faces are legion: Will major demographic changes in the state bode well for Carter, a Bluedog Georgia Democrat running in a Republican leaning state? Will Gerald Beckum's well-connected personal contacts across the state from his time of mayor of Oglethorpe bring the dollars so critical to his campaign? Will candidates such as Brian Roslund attract enough media attention? To whom can they turn for sound strategic advice and support? Balancing key issues in electoral politics with a fascinating David-and-Goliath storyline

How does anyone ever defeat a sitting incumbent? It's simple: Have a message that rings and resonates among open-like-minded voters. Because the rigid partisans, those types are unreachable.

The most likely conditions under which a incumbent is defeated would be where there is something extraordinary going on politically, such as the economy in dire condition, or voters who makeup the regular, working class, everyday Joes feel that their situation isn't getting any better.


In order for incumbents to lose elections, they must not only be perceived as having failed, but conditions ranging from economic to overall conditions throughout the state have to be going in a downward spiral or trending that way. Those discouraging conditions make a challenger's message resonate. If some of those conditions don't exist, the challenger might have a very bold, convincing message that ought to be appealing, but it will not be enough to persuade most voters to support the challenger. The main decision  that voters are making is not whether they want to endorse the challenger's vision and message, but whether they want to throw out the incumbent.

69 Yr Old Treutlen County Resident & Self Described Reagan Democrat: "Democrats Don't Even Campaign Around Here"!

2012 HD 138 Candidate Kevin Brown (D-Buena Vista)

"With the exception of Congressman John Barrow, Democrats don't even campaign around this area, all you see is Republican signs. If they ran candidates here and statewide candidates expose themselves to the folks in these neck of the woods, they'd get more support" said 69 year old Treutlen County Resident & self described Reagan Democrat (who shall remain nameless) in email I received a month ago.

And I agree 1000% with that sentiment

Most Democrats here in Georgia often think too much about big problems that might or could happen. These potential problems always seem to be more important at the very moment that party leaders should be developing a truly statewide Democratic campaign infrastructure. That infrastructure is exactly what is need to regain more Georgia House & Senate seats. As a resident of the boondocks this is a issue for central & southern Georgia.

2012 HD 139 Candidate Thomas Coogle (D-Oglethorpe) 

However, these areas have be short changed by the leadership in Atlanta.

Oftentimes, campaign decision makers and money men in Atlanta invest in metropolitan areas instead of small communities such as Cordele, Camilla, Homerville, Georgetown, Claxton, Buchanan. Obviously, this hurts democrats chances to even make a dent in the Republican super-majority or near super majority in Atlanta. There are competitive districts in Southwest, Middle & Northeast Georgia, they just need a little nourishment.

Businessmen and laymen alike know that you must invest to get a return. Not investing in these rural areas to help mobilize Democrats crushes their chances at progress, and in the process it hits the youth the hardest. Much of the base of the statewide Democratic party is probably between the 18-45 age range, but in the rural areas where the population is much older, democrats have lost ground or just lost these voters for over a decade now.. Right now these people are the “bread and butter” of elections. However, this is not a solution for the long term. The party must invest in rural youth to be successful. Bringing on the power of younger voters will make Georgia out front and allow then to stay relevant and competitive.

2010 HD 143 Candidate Dan King (D-Dublin) 

Ignoring the rural youth and pulling/denying campaign support and funds from rural Democratic candidates who are not progressive or die-in-the-wool Obamacrats is not the way to develop a statewide, long term majority.

On the bright side, if campaign leaders invested in rural youths and supported rural candidates, there would be no one left to tell them (Ahem!!)

2010, '12 HD 153 Candidate John Tibbetts (D-Tifton)

they were doing it wrong. Now you probably ask what is the democrats major challenge for rural Georgia in the next election cycle & beyond? I think their biggest challenge is also their biggest opportunity. They need to get the message out to rural citizens about how the anti-working class agenda of the current majority in the Georgia State Legislature doesn’t represent the interests of any part of the state, and particularly rural Georgia. Getting that message to rural voters will be their biggest challenge and doing so will their our greatest asset.

Why Black Voters Are More Forgiving Of Scandalized Politicians?

African American support for tainted politicians comes from the same ethic that has allowed Democrats to maintain black support despite poll after poll showing black attitudes on abortion, religion and, until recently, gay marriage line up more closely with the GOP’s positions.  In a perfect world, one might prefer a governor who addresses your interests and doesn’t sleep with prostitutes. In the imperfect, racially and economically stratified world we actually live in, the former takes precedence over the latter—especially in communities where political attention can be a life and death issue.

So why does it seem that many black voters rally behind corrupt or disgraced political figures and in many cases still cast votes in their favor? Well for starters, many other black elected officials, represents districts that suffer from relentlessly poor economic prospects. Once elected, these professional politicians seem to abandon all sense of judgment as they seek to enrich themselves and expand their influence, all while doing little to improve lives for their voters.  Look at former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Washington D.C. former Mayor Marion Barry as examples of corrupt politicos who still won despite mounting proof of their corruption.


The above cases illustrate a profoundly misguided tendency of Black Voters rallying to the side of an embattled politician because he or she is “one of their own.” Even before President Obama was elected, black voting patterns were, or are nearly monolithic -virtually any Democrat could win black votes; and indeed, most have. Black voters have developed a dismaying habit of remaining fiercely loyal to their public servants. This is built largely on the idea,  perpetuated by many Democrats, black and white, that the political system is stacked against black interests.

So long as entrenched black politicians continue to cultivate myths of victimhood within their electorates, corrupt politicians will forever win elections whether they deserve to or not. Many of these public servants exist in cosseted worlds where the needs of their voters don’t affect them, and they stopped attending those concerns long ago.