Editor’s Note: The following editorial was written by Melba Gandy, Democratic Party of Georgia Vice-Chair of Communications. It was submitted to Now Habersham for publication by the Habersham County Democratic Party.
Who hasn’t heard about the Democratic enthusiasm for the 2020 elections? It’s not just reported – it’s real.
Georgia’s 9th Congressional District, rumored to be one of the “reddest” in the country, is looking bluer as the 2020 elections approach. Heavily Republican, the District has voted overwhelmingly for GOP candidates in the last five presidential elections. Each received greater than 70 percent of votes cast.
The state has not had a Democratic governor since the end of Roy Barnes’ term in 2003, only 5 of Georgia’s 14 congressmen are Democrats, and both U.S. Senators are Republicans.
Change began as the Blue Wave made an impact in the 2018 election, when Stacey Abrams, a Democrat who ran for governor, received a greater percentage of white votes than anyone since Bill Clinton. In the highly contested and court-challenged election, Stacey officially lost by a mere 55,000 votes.
As the song goes, however, it appears that “the time’s they are a-changin’.” In the 9th Congressional District, 12 Democrats are challenging seats in the Georgia House of Representatives; 3 Democrats are challenging Republicans for Georgia Senate seats; and Democrats are running for County Commission in 7 of the 17 counties. An additional 19 local offices may be filled by Democrats running for Boards of Education, tax commissioners, court clerk, sheriff, and other offices.
The enthusiasm of Democratic candidates has been encouraged and supported by Party leaders. In particular, the Democratic Party of Georgia’s recently elected Chair of the 9th District, June Krise, has been instrumental in ensuring that training and other assistance to candidates has been available and accessible. Special attention has been paid to first-time candidates, who have not previously had a support base.
Candidates Running for the Georgia House of Representatives
| Georgia House District | Candidate/County of Residence |
| 7 (held by David Ralston) | Rick Day -Gilmer County |
| 8 (Gurtler) | David Cooper – Rabun |
| 9 (Tanner) | Sharon Ravert – Lumpkin |
| 10 (Rogers) | Nick Mitchell – White |
| 11 (Jasperse) | Kayla Hollifield – Pickens |
| 29 (Dubnik) | Pat Calmes – Hall |
| 30 (Dunahoo) | Leigh Miller – Hall |
| 31 (Benton) | Pete Fuller – Jackson |
| 32 (Powell) | Alisha Ison – Hart |
| 33 (McCall) | Kerry Dornell Hamm |
| 103 | Clifton Marshall – Hall |
| 117 (Gaines) | “Mokah” Jasmine Johnson – Clark |
Candidates Running for the Georgia Senate
| Georgia Senate District | Candidate/County of Residence |
| 47 | Dawn Johnson |
| 50 | Dee Daley – Rabun |
| 51 (Gooch) | June Krise – White |
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Candidates running for local (city and county) offices
| County | Candidate | Office Sought |
| Elbert | Melvin Andrews | Sheriff |
| Lillian Jones | Board of Education post 4 | |
| Fannin | Dixie Carter | County Commission, post 1 |
| Theresa Dillard | Board of Education | |
| Kathy Smith | Board of Education | |
| Habersham | Mike Adams | County Commission post 5 |
| Hart | David Cook | County Commission post 1 |
| Brad Goss | Tax Commissioner | |
| Brenda Jordon | Board of Education post 2 | |
| Lonnie Robinson | Board of Education post 2 | |
| Jackson | Jamie Mitchem | County Commission post 1 |
| Broderiche Jackson | County Commission post 2 | |
| Madison | Conolus Scott | County Commission post 2 |
| Rabun | Mary Smith | County Commission post 2 |
| Paulette Williams | Board of Education | |
| Towns | Bruce Rogers | Tax Commissioner |
| Union | Lamar Paris | County Commissioner |
| Judy Odom | Clerk of Court | |
| White | J. Miles Head | Surveyor |
