MEMO: GA-05 Nomination Process

This document was originally shared with members of the media on July 19th, 2020.

To: Members of the Media

From: Maggie Chambers, DPG Communications Director

Date: July 19, 2020 

Subject: GA-05 Nomination Process 

Following the devastating loss of Georgia Democrat and national hero Congressman John Lewis, the Democratic Party of Georgia’s Executive Committee now has the legal responsibility of naming a Democratic nominee for the ballot for Georgia’s 5th Congressional District by 4:00 pm on Monday, July 20th. 

Process So Far 

• Yesterday, the DPG made an open call for candidate applications from any Georgian interested in serving in this role, acknowledging the necessary speed of the process due to legal requirements laid out in O.C.G.A. § 21-2-134(b)(1)(B).

• By today’s 6:30pm deadline, a total of 131 candidates have answered the call and submitted applications to be considered for this role. 

• Submitted applications will now be evaluated by a nominating committee comprised of Fifth District and Democratic leaders, who will review all applications and make a recommendation of 3 to 5 individuals to be considered by the Executive Committee to fill the nomination. 
  • The nominating committee includes: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; DuBose Porter, former DPG chairman; Stacey Abrams, former Democratic leader of the Georgia House; Jason Carter, former state senator; Glen Paul Freedman, DPG State Committee member and Resolutions Committee Chair; LeWanna Heard Tucker, Chair of the Fulton Democratic Committee; and John Jackson, Chair of the DeKalb County Committee.
  • Nominating committee members are not voting members of the Executive Committee and will have no role in the Executive Committee’s selection of a nominee from among the individuals they recommend.

• Before noon tomorrow, the DPG will make public both the list of all applicants who applied for this role, as well as the list of 3-5 individuals recommended by the nominating committee. 

• At 12:00 pm tomorrow, the Executive Committee will meet virtually to consider the nominating committee’s recommendations, hear from each of the recommended candidates, and select a nominee. 

• There are 44 voting members of the DPG’s Executive Committee, which is made up of DPG officers, federal elected officials, key stakeholders, congressional district chairs, and other grassroots leaders of the Party. The full list of voting members is available here. 

• Once a nominee has been selected by the Executive Committee, the DPG will release the name of the nominee and information about the vote to select the nominee to the public via press release. 

Covering The Process

• On Monday, updates will be sent out 1) before noon, sharing both the list of all applicants and the short list of individuals identified by the nominating committee, and 2) after the conclusion of the 12pm Executive Committee meeting, naming the nominee as well as providing information about the vote to select the nominee. 

• The opening of the 12pm Zoom meeting of the Executive Committee will be open to press, including speeches made by the candidates. Members of the media interested in attending the meeting must fill out this form. 

• Updates on the nomination process for media will be sent out through the DPG’s press list – please send your contact information to [email protected] to be added to the list. 

###