Floyd L. Griffin Campaign Video

Michael Owens Endorsements for Secretary of State

Here is the list of elected officials who have given Owens their endorsement

• Gov. Roy Barnes, eightieth governor of Georgia
• Sen. Michael Rhett, Georgia State Senate, District 33
• Gail Hambrick, Clayton County Commissioner
• Monique Sheffield, Cobb County Commissioner
• Kelly Robinson, Douglas County Commissioner
• Jessie Goree, Clayton County School Board Chair
• Dee Haney, Clayton County School Board Member
• Tre Hutchens, Cobb County School Board Member
• Devetrion Caldwell, Douglas County School Board Member
• Rita Fasina-Thomas, Douglas County School Board Member
• Makenzie McDaniel, Henry County School Board Member
• Sandra Vincent, McDonough Mayor
• Anthony Ford, Stockbridge Mayor
• Carlos Greer, Locust Grove Mayor Pro-Tem
• Devon Myrick, Austell City Councilman
• Valerie Anderson, Austell City Councilwoman
• Connie Alsobrook, Conyers City Councilwoman
• Lance Robertson, East Point City Councilman
• Devlin Cleveland, Hampton City Councilman
• Erroll Mitchell, former Hampton City Councilman
• Alfred Dixon, former Jonesboro City Councilman
• Antonio Jones, Kennesaw City Councilman
• Maryline Blackburn, former Smyrna City Councilwoman
• LaKeisha Gantt, Stockbridge City Councilwoman
• Yolanda Barber, Stockbridge City Councilwoman
• Larry Curtis, Warner Robins City Councilma

Former Lt. Governor Mark Taylor Endorses Floyd Griffin for Secretary of State

 

#1 Rated Business Show talks with Former State Senator and Secretary of State Candidate Floyd Griffin

Jessica Fore for GA-10 U.S. House of Representatives

Can Winfred Dukes put a "W" in the win column for State Democrats?

It's no secret that the Democratic Party has been bleeding voters over the past decade in rural Georgia. In 2010 Georgia voters elected Republican, now Senate candidate Gary Black over then State Senator J.B. Powell, another Conservative Democrat to succeed longtime Agriculture Commissioner, the late Tommy Irvin, a Conservative Democrat from Northeast Georgia who was appointed by then Governor Lester Maddox in 1969 who Tom Baxter coined as the last Democrat out the door following his retirement in 2010. Irvin's grandson Chris Irvin ran in 2014, losing to Gary Black.

Now comes Winfred Dukes, a centrist Democratic State Representative from Southwest Georgia (Albany), the heart of Georgia Agriculture. He served over two decades in the Georgia house. He gives the Democrats best chance at winning this crucial post. But he must get past the Democratic primary where two other candidate are vying for the nomination. Dukes comes from the Roy Barnes-Mark Taylor-Michael Thirmond wing of the Democratic party that still carry some influence despite the new, progressive wing led by Stacey Abrams.In many states, the position carries significant authority. In 40 states, according to the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, agriculture departments oversee the animal industry; in about half of states, they oversee food safety and meat inspection. In 48 states, they determine what qualifies as "organic," while in 43 states they regulate pesticides. Over the past decade, growing Republican strength further down the ballot here in Georgia, combined with attrition among long-serving, conservative Democrats incumbents has helped the GOP win lower state offices and increased opportunities for the types of rural Republicans who can seriously contest the position of agriculture commissioner.

The GOP has also focused more attention on agriculture offices, partnering with the Republican Agriculture Commissioners Committee and Ag America, a group that works to elect qualified Republican candidates to the position.

What's more, Democratic electoral and bench strength here in Georgia is concentrated in cities and suburbs, where it’s hard to become a credible candidate for agriculture commissioner. Two Democrats running for Ag Commissioner, Nakita Hemingway and Fred Swann hail from the metro Atlanta area. Besides, rural voters feel they have more at stake in voting for agriculture commissioner than urban voters do ans that my friends is a fact!

These days the GOP has no shortage of qualified candidates here in Georgia with agricultural backgrounds, while Democrats have tapped a mix of farmers, agriculture policy experts, civil servants and the occasional rural lawmaker for the post. Can Dukes break the Democratic drought? 

Floyd Griffin, not Bee Nguyen can win in the General Election.

Over in Baldwin County, Retired Colonel, former State Senator and Mayor Floyd Griffin is one of only three Democrats who hail from outside of Metro Atlanta. Griffin is running to secure the Demoocratic nomination in hopes of becoming Georgia's next Secretary of State in a race that features Bee Nguyen who is the party's favorite, despite not having accomplished much during her time in the Legislature.

Right now according to a recent poll more than 60% of Democrats are undecided in the race in the race for Secretary of State.

Griffin joined the U.S. Army in 1967 and gradueted from the Army Command and General Staff College as well as the National War College.

This isn't Griffin first time running for a Statewide office. in 1998 he ran for Lt. Governor, losing to eventual winner Mark Taylor, who has endorsed Griffin's bid for Secretary of State. Before than, Griffin ran for the State Senate 25th District where he became the first black candidate to win a majority white district since reconstruction.

For Democrats, they need to focus on who can WIN in the General Election, not who can win solely in metro Atlanta. Right now Democrats in the metro Atlanta region refuse to look beyond their metro area base when it comes to supporting democratic candidates.Bee Nguyen is the Georgia Democratic Party's preferred favorite (even thought they pretend they don't endorse candidates in the General Election). She is also the favorite of left wing supporters and groups on the west and east coast and up north as well. But in a primary that will be dominated by black voters who make up more than 2/3rds of the primary vote, its very likely the democratic nominee will be a black candidate and it just might me Floyd Griffin or any other candidate in the race like Michael Owens or Dee Haigler.