Georgia is a battleground in 2020. It hasn’t gone to the Democrats in the past 5 presidential elections, but the state is getting more purple by the second.
The prize for winning Georgia is huge, not the least of which is 16 Electoral College votes and two, yes count them TWO, Senate seats.
But as the state trends purple, we have to remember that some of the worst voter suppression in the country happens in Georgia. We all remember how close Stacey Abrams got to winning the governorship in 2018, and many believe that were it not for an incredible amount of voter suppression, she would have won the exceedingly tight race.
I want to win Georgia, and I hope you do, too. Here are some quick facts about the state, and a big list of organizations that could use your help.
Recent Turnout
2016 Presidential Election
Democrats 1,877,963
Republicans 2,089,104
2018 Midterms
Turnout in Georgia skyrocketed in 2018, fueled in part by a white hot governor’s race. In 2014, there were 2.6M votes cast, but in 2018, there were 3.9M votes cast. 61% of registered voters turned out.
2020 Primaries
Turnout for the Georgia Senate primary was triple what is was back in 2016, and almost twice what is was for the gubernatorial primary in 2018.
Key Down Ballot Races in 2020
High profile or competitive races at the state level can drive turnout to the polls. Here’s what’s on deck next year.
U.S. Senate
Georgia will have two U.S. Senate seats on the ballot in 2020, one being a normal re-election (Sen. David Perdue’s seat) and the other a special election (which Kelly Loeffler currently holds). The Democratic candidates for these races are Jon Ossoff and Rev. Rafael Warnock, respectively.
U.S. House
All 14 House seats are up for re-election. Districts 6 (McBath) and 7 (open) are considered to be the most competitive.
State Legislature
Both of the state chambers have elections in 2020.
State Supreme Court
Four state Supreme Court judges have terms that are expiring.
How You Can Help
Get involved with voter registration and voter turnout efforts. You can join or donate to one of the following organizations, or you can volunteer for a candidate you’re inspired by. *A quick shout-out to the local organizers who supplied me with this list of great organizations in Georgia!* Here’s a list to get you started:
Here’s the link you can share with others to check their voter registration or to register online: Register to Vote in Georgia
Voter Registration Info: GA Secretary of State — Elections Website
Find your local Democratic party organization: Georgia Democratic Party
You can find your county’s own Democratic party organization HERE
Find voter registration events: League of Women Voters of Georgia
Find progressive events in Arizona: Mobilize America
Join Fair Fight, Stacey Abrams’ organization dedicated to helping citizens get access to the ballot box
Get involved with New Georgia Project, an organization hyper-focused on registering voters in the state
Spread the Vote, dedicated to getting folks the ID they need to vote, has a chapter focused on Georgia.
The national organization, Let America Vote, has dedicated activity in Georgia
Get involved with voter registration events focused on turning out the youth vote with March for our Lives, Atlanta
Get connected to Indivisible groups in GeorgiaSwing Left has targeted Georgia as one of their Super States in 2020
Black Voters Matter is focused on voter registration
Go Vote GA has a nifty tool that will remind voters whenever there is an election
Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials primarily works to engage and activate Latino voters
Volunteer for a candidate: 15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election
Mini Tip of the Day: Add a signature to your personal email account, with a message like: “Today is a good day to make a plan to vote.” Include a link like Vote.Org
Get the rest of my Mini Tips here: 19 Quick Ways to Turn Out the Vote in 2020.
Categories: Uncategorized
TokyoSand, here is one key message. I know Republican Governor Brian Kemp’s name for one reason. As sitting GA Secretary of State, Kemp knowingly and blatantly cheated to win the election for governor against Stacy Abrams. So, when I hear Brian Kemp’s name that is what comes to mind. Is that the kind of state leadership Georgians want and deserve? Keith
I remember. A Secretary of State overseeing his own election is problematic, to say the least.