Democratic Party of Georgia

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NO WAY WALKER: Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis, Local Leaders and Voters Stand Against Herschel Walker

Jordan Johnson, Commissioner for Augusta District 1: “Anyone who wants to represent the people of Georgia should possess the highest amount of character, the highest amount of decency, integrity, and respect for what it means to serve this great state and its people — but unfortunately, Herschel Walker has none of these characteristics.”

Today, Augusta voters held a press conference highlighting how Herschel Walker lacks the character and the competence to be Georgia’s U.S. Senator. Speakers discussed how Walker’s long, damning pattern of lies, scams, and disturbing conduct proves he is not fit to represent Georgians. 

With Georgia’s Senate runoff election rapidly approaching — early voting is  November 28th through December 2nd, and Election Day is on December 6th — speakers reminded Georgians why Walker has not earned their vote to represent them in the U.S. Senate and encouraged voters to make their voices heard. 

WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE HERE

“We’ve got a Senate race that’s been thrust into a runoff…a runoff that is the decision between competence and character, versus incompetence and lack of character. [Walker’s] got a problem with truth-telling. You know, this is the same man who holds up a badge and says that he’s part of law enforcement…we’ve got somebody walking around with a fake badge. We don’t need that,” said Hardie Davis, Mayor of Augusta. “The choice is clear. Georgia, we’ve got to re-elect Reverend Warnock, who has a record of actually supporting workers and doers – bringing down costs, addressing supply chain issues, creating good-paying jobs that sustain Georgia families – instead of just pretending, like Herschel Walker.” 

“Georgia deserves a Senator who remains committed to the values that we stand for. And luckily, that’s who Senator Reverend Warnock is,” said Rep. Gloria Frazier. “As the son of an Army veteran, he’s led the fight for Georgia’s veterans and military families in the Senate. My husband is retired military — 23 years. Veterans deserve to be taken care of here in Georgia. [Reverend Warnock] has brought the voices and concerns of our veterans and service members to the forefront and work in the Senate.” 

“Herschel Walker is someone who has lied over and over again about every aspect of his record. It would take us all day to sit here and go through every lie that Herschel Walker has told. Not to mention his disturbing conduct that he’s admitted to, that his family has exposed,” said Jordan Johnson, Commissioner for Augusta District 1. “Anyone who wants to represent the people of Georgia should possess the highest amount of character, the highest amount of decency, integrity, and respect for what it means to serve this great state and its people — but unfortunately, Herschel Walker has none of these characteristics. This election is about Georgia — nothing else. We cannot afford six years of Hershcel Walker representing this state. So I want to challenge everyone to make a plan to go and vote as soon as possible. Early voting begins on November 28, and it runs through December 2. If you miss the early voting period, you will be able to vote on December 6. Because everything is at stake in this election.” 

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On 93rd Anniversary of the Founding of Delta Airlines, Georgia Democrats Call on Cagle, Kemp to Put Working Families Over Politics

RELEASE for Wednesday, May 30 2018.

Contact:    
Eric Gray
Communications Director
Democratic Party of Georgia
(678) 278-2016 ext. 302

Cagle, Kemp Consistently Choose Special Interests Over Georgia Businesses

GEORGIA — On the 93th Anniversary of the founding of Delta Airlines, Georgia Democratic Party Chair DuBose Porter, Lieutenant Governor Candidate Sarah Riggs Amico, Congressman Hank Johnson, State Senator Valencia Seay, State Representative Derrick Jackson, State Representative Debra Bazemore, and Georgia AFL-CIO President Charlie Flemming stood together to call on the Republican Gubernatorial candidates to immediately cease extremist rhetoric that threatens to push employers away from the state and work with Delta Airlines and other Georgia employers to ensure that Georgia remains “the best state in America to do business.”

Earlier this year, both Cagle and Kemp bent over backwards to appease the NRA by threatening Delta Airlines, Georgia’s largest employer, for ending a discount program for NRA members directly following the horrific Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

Casey Cagle tweeted “I will kill any tax legislation that benefits Delta unless the company changes its position”.

Brian Kemp followed up by saying “It’s time for the Georgia Senate to kill the tax break for Delta and replace it with a sales tax holiday that benefits the same 2nd Amendment supporters that Delta – and other corporate cowards – are publicly shaming.”

With campaign ads pointing shotguns at teenagers and both candidates willing to put special interests over Georgia business, it is abundantly clear that there is only one candidate in this race that will keep Georgia open for all businesses.

“Once we have elected the next governor, Stacey Abrams, you will also have a partner under that gold dome. My point here is very simple: where we are open for business, when we continue to say we’re the number one state to do business, the last five years, other Fortune 500 companies need to know that we are open for business. And Delta can be a true testament to that,” said State Representative Derrick Jackson. “It is the reason that they’ve been here as long as they have. Let’s turn Georgia blue, and show them why we are the number one state to do business.”

“You’re going to hear a lot of talk from Mr. Cagle and Mr. Kemp with regards to being the number one state for business, but as the president of the AFL-CIO, I am excited that the candidates that we are supporting believe that there should be two Georgias: one, a state that can always be number one, but also a state where workers can thrive,” said Georgia AFL-CIO President Charlie Flemming. “Leader Abrams has said that your beginning should not dictate where you end up. That every Georgian should have the opportunity to prosper and raise their families and have good education, all of the things that we like as workers.”

“Over 33,000 families depend upon Delta Airlines, not only for a paycheck, but for the benefits and career path that put their family on path to the American Dream. And the Democratic Party of Georgia understands that the preservation of that access to the American Dream is essential, not only to our employers but to the people of Georgia as well and unlike our Republican counterparts, who played politics with Delta’s tax credits in the State Senate this year with a tussle with the NRA, the Democratic Party of Georgia and the candidates that you see represented here today know that we will always put the people of Georgia first before any special interest,” said Georgia Lieutenant Governor Nominee Sarah Riggs Amico.

“People across the nation see the shenanigans that are being played by Republicans who aspire to the highest offices in GA. I think that Georgians know we can do a lot better than that. We can do a lot better than that with people like Stacey Abrams and Sarah Riggs Amico. The question is, do we want to have a Georgia of shotgun pullers or a Georgia of job makers and job creators?”  said Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson.


“We should never put a special interest before family, especially when Delta has been here for 93 years,” said State Senator Valencia Seay.

“I want to congratulate Delta. Ninety-three years in the community…  My daughter works for Delta, and she has two children, my grandchildren. So if Cagle and Kemp want to play politics and take away from Delta, it is going affect so many families, so many lives…” Georgia State Representative Debra Bazemore.

“Other Fortune 500 companies need to know that we are open for business. And Delta can be a true testament to that,” said State Representative Derrick Jackson. “It is the reason that they’ve been here as long as they have. Let’s turn Georgia blue, and show them why we are the number one state to do business.”

Gubernatorial Nominee Stacey Abrams has committed to building an economy in Georgia where every Georgian has the freedom and opportunity to thrive. Under Abrams leadership, Georgia will be a place where business can thrive in all 159 counties. To view Abrams’ plans to build a diverse and effective economy and help small businesses thrive, click here and here.

To view video from today’s event, click here.

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GA Democrats Statement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Release:  Monday, January 15, 2017         

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“Today, we pause to our honor our nation’s greatest public servant, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and our shared dream of a just and free United States of America. In these times, Dr. King’s legacy of unconditional love and belief in an unvarying equality should stir a defiance in each and every one of our hearts. A defiance of hate and division. A defiance of poverty and economic inequality. A defiance of any and all barriers to the ballot box. A defiance of anyone who believes there are terms and conditions in choosing who the American Dream belongs to.

“Dr. King and those who marched with him fought for an America where opportunity and the hope of a better life belong to us all—regardless of what we look like, where we live, who we love, or where we are from. As Democrats, we aspire to preserve and build upon this legacy through action and policy that ensures this opportunity is within reach of every extended hand.” – DuBose Porter, Chair

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Alabama is a Democratic Election Roadmap for Georgia and South

By Chair DuBose Porter via The Hill

ATLANTA — Doug Jones’s win in Alabama was no miracle, no aberration in the political ecosystem, and no supernatural rarity limited to chance. The victory was deserved and it demands a fundamental rethinking of political operations in the deep South and elsewhere around the country. It sounds an alarm for Democratic investors that the time to dig in for 2018 is now, not in September.

Data sources and intelligence from the ground make it plain that the rise of black voter turnout was not a reaction against Roy Moore. Rather, success reflected the direct result of real investment that truly valued African American voters and a candidate who stood for policy important to the community. Conveniently for Democrats across the nation, these are the same policies the Democratic Party is becoming less and less afraid of championing, as a Republican White House and a conservative Congress try harder and harder to silence us.

Jones understands the source of change. In his victory speech on election night, he thanked the African American voters of Alabama. But to transform this win into a strategy for future celebrations, Democrats must take bold action and cut against our tendency to play it safe. Instead, our party must turn what has become an archaic formula for winning elections upside down, and we must do it now.

Allow me to lay out the case for Georgia in numbers to demonstrate why this is both time sensitive and imperative. Where Alabama’s white electorate is 70 percent, Georgia’s is only 55 percent, and Georgia Democrats can count on a reliable 23 percent of that white vote, even in tough years. While Alabama’s African American electorate is roughly a quarter of the population, Georgia’s is more than 40 percent and a coalition of African American, Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander voters comprise 45 percent of our electorate, and is rising.

Recall that Georgia outperformed Ohio in 2016. With just $100,000 in field investment from the Clinton campaign, Georgia was just shy of matching the vote deficit of neighboring battleground state North Carolina, where more than $30 million in investment poured in. Perhaps most plainly put, Donald Trump won Alabama with 62.1 percent of the vote. In Georgia, he won with just 51.3 percent. Where Alabama Democrats had to start to secure their victory, Georgia begins well more than 10 points bluer and nearly 20 percent more of our population are voters of color.

Georgia will be a minority majority state in just a few years, but we would be foolish to wait until then to chase our impending success. The tipping point for Democrats is not when our state becomes majority minority. The tipping point is critical mass, assuming the tools and resources are in place to create the infrastructure to turn out this coalition of voters of color, young people, and progressive white voters. The tipping point is here. And if you look at Arizona, Florida and other Sunbelt states, you’ll see a similar door of opportunity opening. As populations shift in our direction, our political strategies must catch up and race ahead.

What Georgia and other similarly situated state parties require now is early investment so that on the ground political operatives can build real political strength and infrastructure within the communities of our robust coalition. State parties, and our democracy in general, can’t wait until after our primary elections to get started. Late money to put ads up on TV advocating for one particular candidate to persuade dwindling Independent voters is no longer a viable primary option, and we must realize this before it’s too late.

It is equally shortsighted to think that only bad Republican candidates are driving Democratic success or that such success is a fluke. Replicating the win in Alabama is not impossible because the success of the Jones campaign was not an autonomous miracle. Let’s remember, Gov. John Bel Edwards in Louisiana, Gov. Roy Cooper in North Carolina, Gov. Ralph Northam and Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax in Virginia were not some deviant quirks of Southern politics. They are solid victories changing progressive policies in the South. Jones joined the trend. He didn’t start it.

The win in Alabama laid out the steps for success and all we need to do is follow them. We cannot take for granted our base, nor can we ignore the thousands of low propensity voters of color in the South simply because they haven’t self-activated into super voters. We must invest in early communication, build trust and strengthen our politics as a party in a way that respects and values every Democratic voter. It is our job as the Democratic Party to go to our voters in new and innovative ways, and this work needs to begin now.

DuBose Porter is chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia.

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Alabama is a Democratic election roadmap for Georgia and South

DPG Statement on Georgia State Legislative Races

Release:  Wednesday, December 6, 2017   

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement.

“In less than the span of a month, Georgia Democratic candidates and voters made history again. We have more firsts, fresh faces of the next generation of Democrats, and reasons to celebrate.

“I want to personally congratulate our First Vice Chair and the new senator from the 39th, Nikema Williams. Over the years, I have had the privilege of watching this bright mind make our Party a better one. And now the State Senate has the influential voice for the voiceless the DPG has cherished for years. We are so proud.

“Joining her is the new senator from the 6th, Jen Jordan—who officially broke the GOP supermajority in the State Senate. When Democrats talk about our values, it’s not just some talking point. We talk about our values because our values define our mission and purpose. Jen Jordan boldly championed our Democratic values and will now take those standards to the Gold Dome.

“History was made last night when Bee Nguyen was elected as the next representative from the 89th and became the first Vietnamese-American state legislator in Georgia. Another unabashed advocate for progressive causes, Bee will bring a much-needed perspective to the State House. She will be joined by the new representative from the 60th, Kim Schofield. An accomplished community leader and healthcare advocate, Georgia Democrats have another voice to fight for Medicaid expansion in our state.

“There’s a theme here. Four new public servants—all of them women. In these times, it is encouraging to know that voters want progressive leaders who believe in strengthening middle class families and expanding opportunity for everyone. Women have lead the resistance, and our future victories will be actualized because women are at the core of our Party.

“We’re already back to work in preparation for the host of elections ahead in 2018. This joy in our hearts will only flourish when, seat by seat, Georgia Democrats shift the majority back to where it always belonged. With us.”

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DPG Statement on Atlanta Mayoral Election

Release: Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement.

“Georgia Democrats offer our deepest congratulations to mayor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms for a truly momentous victory. Keisha championed our Democratic values and never backed down. With a Mayor Bottoms, we are confident that Atlanta is in good hands for another four years. From the bottom of my heart, I cannot wait to continue to work with Atlanta’s 60th mayor. Keisha Lance Bottoms.

“Keisha unabashedly spoke out against bigotry, sexism and discrimination. She stood tall and never flinched under fire. Keisha fought for her city and all of its people with love, determination, a spirit of equity and an offer of justice. This is the kind of leadership Democrats believe in.

“Let’s celebrate last night, but wake up this morning ready to get back to the good work of electing good Democrats across the state. Next year, we have scores of races to win from the governor’s mansion down to the school board. As Democrats, we must continue to fight for our values and what we believe in. Fight for Democrats. And expect nothing less than a truly fair and just Georgia.”

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DPG Statement on Democratic Election Victories

Release:  Wednesday, November 8, 2017  

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement on last night’s elections results.

“This was a great day for Georgia Democrats. Congratulations to Representative-elect Deborah Gonzalez (HD 117) and Representative-elect Johnathan Wallace (HD 119) for flipping two House seats long-held by Republicans. Their hard work and visions for a better Georgia are commendable and inspiring. Additionally, Democrats won a Senate seat last night. The voters in Senate District 6 were so fed up with Republicans that they sent both of Democrats to the run-off.

“I also want to congratulate two of our own Executive Committee members on their re-elections—Rome Commissioner Wendy Davis and Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry. Our Vice Chair, Nikema Williams made it to the run-off for Senate District 39 and I am pleased for her as well.”

“Georgia Democrats are grateful for every single Democrat who stood up and challenged Republicans across the state up and down the ballot– in every corner of the state. Thanks to their courage, the Democratic values of opportunity, economic mobility, fair wages, and affordable health care were championed in voting booths across Georgia.

“Those who simply chalk our wins up to an anti-Trump movement are discounting our candidates’ hard work and commitment to Democratic principles. This night wasn’t about what we’re against—it was about what we are for and what we are offering Georgia families.

“Now we move forward to pocket even more wins in next month’s runoff races and build on this movement for a string of victories in 2018.”

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Update on Georgia Voter Purge

Friends,

As the summer winds down, we see continuing attacks on our voting rights.  Whether due to actions by the Justice Department, the Commission on Voting Integrity, our own Secretary of State, or our counties, we must remain vigilant to protect these rights. So, with this message we reach out to you to find out if you have been contacted in connection with the on-going purge of inactive voters or the moving of active voters to inactive status. We would appreciate it if you would fill out the form through the link below if you have been contacted for either of these purposes. In addition, if you have friends who have received communications of this type, please pass on this form to them so we can gather this information from as many sources as possible. This information is important for us to have as we monitor the Secretary of State.

Voter Roll Form

If you received communication that you would be placed on the inactive list that means they need to hear from you or with the passage of enough time you will be taken off the voter role, i.e., you will be “purged.” You are still authorized to vote if you are on the inactive voter list. So long as you either vote in the next federal election or contact the superintendent of elections in your county you will be returned to active voter status.  You should have received a form to complete. Please do that.  If you do not still have the form, reach out to us through the link we have above and we will get you the appropriate information to contact your county superintendent of elections so you will be placed back into active status.

If you received a notification that you were removed from the voting list, you must re-register. Please use this link to register again or go into a Driver’s License Bureau or other location for voter registration. Unfortunately, once taken off the voting rolls this is the only effective way of being sure you are registered. If you re-register online you will be required to show photo identification for registration when you vote. If you register in person, be prepared with those materials. Photo identification requirements can be found here.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. The efforts to suppress our vote are real.  We must fight back.

 

Sincerely,

 

Pinney Allen

Chair, Voter Protection Committee

 

 

Georgia Congressional Republicans Vote to Take Away Health Care From 24 Million Americans, 4,316,000 Georgians With Pre-existing Conditions at Risk of Losing Coverage

Atlanta, GA – Today, Georgia’s Republican Congressional Delegation voted to strip health care from 24 million Americans to pay for a $600 billion tax cut for millionaires and billionaires. If Trumpcare becomes law, seniors will be saddled with higher premiums. Further, 4,316,000 Georgians with pre-existing conditions—including those with cancer, children with disabilities, and those who are pregnant—will at best see higher premiums and at worst complete loss of health care coverage. Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement.

“This is abominable, and I cannot comprehend how these nine men will sleep at night knowing they just tipped the delicate scales of life and death matters. Obamacare saved the lives of millions, improved the quality of life for millions more, and gave families the peace-of-mind that comes with having access to affordable health care. The GOP should know that this is not the end, it’s only the beginning. They will be held accountable.” – DuBose Porter, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair

The bill is so dangerous that GOP legislators even exempted themselves.

Trumpcare’s impact on Georgians with pre-existing conditions is catastrophic. The Center for American Progress has calculated the number of Georgians with pre-existing conditions by Congressional District. All nine Georgia GOP Congressmen voted in favor of putting these Georgians at risk:

Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-1) –  306,701

Drew Ferguson, IV (GA-3) – 299,400

Rob Woodall (GA-7) –  355,000

Austin Scott (GA-8) –  284,600

Doug Collins (GA-9) –  292,100

Jody B. Hice (GA-10) –  302,600

Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) –  328,200

Rick W. Allen (GA-12) –  293,200

Tom Graves (GA-14) –  285,700

Before Obamacare, insurance companies had license to deny coverage or charge higher premiums by defining pregnancy, sexual assault, drug addiction, cancer, diabetes, asthma and much more as pre-existing conditions.

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Georgia Democrats Demand Action & Transparency from SoS Brian Kemp Regarding Elections System Data Breach

Release:  Monday, March 13, 2017                                                                         

Atlanta, GA – Today, leaders at the Democratic Party sent a letter to the Georgia Secretary of State, Brian Kemp, demanding that he partake in the election security measures provided by the Department of Homeland Security prior to the upcoming election in the 6th Congressional District. This effort was precipitated by the news that Georgia’s Election System has been breached as recently as the last month and the action necessitated the involvement of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office.

The Department of Homeland Security urgently warned states during the 2016 election that such attacks might— and later did— occur. The Department offered a series of proactive security measures at no cost to the states to ensure that the election systems in each of the state were uncorrupted. Brian Kemp represented only a handful of states that refused the assistance.

Over the past week, leaders at the DPG have consulted with leading legal authorities about their concerns about the security of the elections in Georgia— particularly because the Special Election in the 6th Congressional District has garnered intense national attention.

“The voters of the 6th Congressional District— regardless of Party affiliation— deserve to know that their personal information is intact and that the election they are about to participate in is secure and that it will be conducted accurately,” said Chairman DuBose Porter.

The Democratic Party and its team of Voter Protection lawyers are making this request today so that the Department of Homeland Security, as an impartial third party, can conduct their security measures prior to the start of Early Vote on March 27th. Absent the scrutiny from the agency, the Party is asking that the election be conducted on paper ballot as those ballots have already been created and printed for absentee and overseas voters and the counties already have the proper scanning machines needed to count the ballots.

The letter sent to the Secretary of State’s Office— and CCed widely to other state leaders— can be found at this link. Below and at this link is a timeline of events that led the Democratic Party to take this action.

Georgia Elections Cybersecurity Timeline

August 15, 2016 – Dept. of Homeland Security hosted a phone call with members of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and other Chief Election Officials to discuss the cybersecurity of the election infrastructure. Secretary Johnson offered the assistance of the Department’s National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) to conduct vulnerability scans, provide actionable information, and access to other tools and resources for improving cybersecurity. – DHS.Gov

Media reports relay that “Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp was very vocal in the telephone call in telling Johnson the states don’t need any help from the federal government.”

August 18, 2016 – The Federal Bureau of Investigation issues a cyber bulletin headlined Targeting Activity Against State Board of Election Systems. The bulletin stated they “received information of an additional IP address, 5.149.249.172, which was detected in the July 2016 compromise of a state’s Board of Election Web site. Additionally, in August 2016 attempted intrusion activities into another state’s Board of Election system identified the IP address, 185.104.9.39 used in the aforementioned compromise.” – Yahoo News

August 25, 2016 – Georgia SoS Brian Kemp tells Nextgov it the Office of SoS will rely on its own security crew to maintain the integrity of voter data, stating in a written email “The question remains whether the federal government will subvert the Constitution to achieve the goal of federalizing elections under the guise of security…Designating voting systems or any other election system as critical infrastructure would be a vast federal overreach, the cost of which would not equally improve the security of elections in the United States.” – Nextgov / The Hill

September 16, 2016 – DHS Secretary Johnson states “We have also seen some efforts at cyber intrusions of voter registration data maintained in state election systems.” DHS also announces services available to state election officials to assist in their cybersecurity. Some of the services included:

Cyber hygiene scans on Internet-facing systems, Field-based cybersecurity advisors and protective security advisors, Risk and vulnerability assessments, a 24×7 cyber incident response center, and information sharing through the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center. – DHS

September 28, 2016 – Brian Kemp testifies before the House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Information Technology. In his prepared remarks, Kemp says “It is not the time for inexperienced federal agencies to guess at changes that should be made.”

When asked by Congresswoman Robin Kelly what Congress could do to help secretaries of state, Kemp says “I would encourage Congress to let the states be flexible in what systems they’re using. I think there’s great value in that.” – US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

October 7, 2016 – DHS and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence warn they are “confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations.”

They also announce “some states have also recently seen scanning and probing of their election-related systems, which in most cases originated from servers operated by a Russian company.”

Again, DHS “continues to urge state and local election officials to be vigilant and seek cybersecurity assistance from DHS. A number of states have already done so.” – DHS

October 10, 2016 – DHS urges holdout states like Georgia to join 33 states and 11 county or local election agencies to take advantage of election cybersecurity services. – DHS

October 31, 2016 – By this date, 46 states had accepted DHS’s offer to scan their elections systems. Georgia remained one of four that still declined DHS assistance. – CNN

November 4, 2016 – DHS says they are “very concerned” by the possibility of a cybersecurity incident causing confusion on Election Day. – CNN

March 2, 2017 – Kennesaw State University notifies state officials of a data breach in at their Center for Election Systems. – AJC

March 3, 2017 – The Federal Bureau of Investigation opens an investigation in to the KSU breach. Reports state that as many as 7.5 million voter records were involved, also noting that the latest breach would be the “second time in as many years” Georgia voters have had their personal information compromised.

Governor Nathan Deal’s office says it asked the GBI to contact the FBI after learning of the breach.

Brian Kemp says very little, except that his office reached out to law enforcement upon learning of the incident.

KSU issues a statement that afternoon, stating they were “working with federal law enforcement officials to determine whether and to what extent a data breach may have occurred involving records maintained by the Center for Election Systems.” – AJC

March 13, 2017 – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter sends formal letter of request to Brian Kemp demanding he contact DHS immediately and accept their repeated offer to scan Georgia’s elections infrastructure, make public the extent of the latest breach, identify a process for assuring the security of all aspects of Georgia’s voting systems, and a request for a paper ballot process in the special election in the 6th Congressional District if Kemp is unable to assure a fair and accurate election.

Previously, the Office of the Secretary of State exposed the personal information and social security numbers of more than six million Georgia voters. – AJC

The two breaches in the span in two years have been a pattern of mismanagement and disarray at the Office of the Secretary of State under Brian Kemp’s leadership. – GeorgiaVRA.org

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DPG Statement on Trump’s SCOTUS Nominee

Release:  Tuesday, January 31, 2017           

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement on Donald Trump’s nomination of Neil Gorsuch to serve on the Supreme Court.

“Hardworking Americans should be frightened by Trump’s nomination of Neil Gorsuch to serve on the Supreme Court. He has a well-documented history of favoring CEOs and corporations over the very people who drive our country’s economy. Georgia Democrats are more determined than ever to protect the rights of workers and organized labor unions.

“Trump has boldly stated that his pick would overturn Roe v. Wade. And true to form, Trump’s choice-Gorsuch—seems a likely candidate to do just that given his record of fighting for employers wanting to avoid the ACA requirements securing women access to contraception through their insurance.”

“Congressional Republicans stonewalled President Obama’s nominee for hundreds of days, leaving a vacancy on our nation’s highest court for absolutely no reason. The GOP’s naked obstructionism prevented our country from having a fully-functioning Supreme Court. Georgians are watching Senators Isakson and Perdue to see just how swiftly they roll over in submission to push Donald Trump’s pick through the confirmation process, proving they could have done their job during the Obama administration and just flat out chose not to.”

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Questions Remain Unanswered From Price Ahead of Tuesday’s Senate Committee on Finance Hearing

Release:  Monday, January 23, 2017

Atlanta, GA – Tomorrow, Trump HHS pick and Georgia Congressman Tom Price will face a second round of questioning during a confirmation hearing with the Senate Committee on Finance. Price struggled to answer questions surrounding the hundreds of thousands of dollars in health care company stocks he traded while pushing bills that could have affected those very stocks during last week’s Senate hearing.

Price also failed to articulate both his own and the Trump Administration’s plan to replace the Affordable Care Act.

“Almost two months after being tapped to head HHS, we’re still waiting for answers from Rep. Price on these serious allegations of insider trading and his plan to replace Obamacare. What we do know is that Price has vowed to privatize Medicare within the first year of this administration. He’s vowed to repeal the ACA, leaving millions without health insurance. He’s voted to allow discrimination against employees for reproductive decisions and opposed LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws. Tom Price has a shady record, holds radical views on health care, and seems to be more concerned with his own bottom line than the wellbeing of Americans.” – Michael Smith, Communications Director

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Huffington Post – Democrats Want More Info On Tom Price’s Stock Accounts After Insider Trading Questions

Roll Call – HHS Nominee Tom Price, Staff Aided Donors in Agency Battles

Kaiser Health News – Trump’s HHS Pick Favored Drugmakers, Device Makers And Doctors

Washington Post – Why one expert says Tom Price’s stock deals ‘may very well have’ broken the law

 

New York Times – The Republican Health Care Con

DPG Statement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Release:  Monday, January 16, 2017    

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter issued the following statement commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“Today we honor the legacy of one of the world’s greatest humanitarians, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His life’s work of combatting injustice and inequality inspired people around the globe to better develop our moral conscience and gave us the courage needed to stand up for what is right through nonviolent means.

“On this Day of Service, we must not only recommit ourselves to Dr. King’s mission of forging a more perfect union. We must stand together and use every ounce of our strength and fortitude to ensure that the moral arc of the universe does indeed bend toward justice.”

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DPG Statement on Donald Trump’s Detestable Attack on Congressman John Lewis & the People of Georgia

Release:  Saturday, January 14, 2017          

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Communications Director Michael Smith issued the following statement in response to Donald Trump’s attack on Congressman John Lewis, Georgia’s 5th Congressional District, and the City of Atlanta.

“Donald Trump’s loathsome remarks on Congressman Lewis and the 5th District not only illustrate the President-elect’s classlessness—it further proves that Trump may be one of the most uneducated students of history to occupy the Oval Office. This is unacceptable on any day, but particularly offensive on the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“Congressman John Lewis has dedicated his life to ensuring that the United States lives up to its greatest expectations through nonviolence and grassroots activism. As a result of his and so many others’ sacrifices, our nation was transformed into a society where the scales of justice found more balance. Congressman Lewis’ legacy came at a steep price—he was jailed and beaten and bloodied. But he never gave up. He never gave in. And we as a nation are the beneficiaries of his commitment to getting into good trouble.

“Beyond these vulgar attacks, it is disheartening that Trump would rather sing the praises of Vladimir Putin than Georgia’s own living social justice legend and civil rights icon. Trump owes Congressman Lewis, the 5th District, the City of Atlanta, and Georgians more than just an apology. He owes us the respect found in working toward a more perfect union through inclusion, equality, and commitment to the strengthening of everyone’s civil and human rights.”

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BACKGROUND

Atlanta Journal-Constitution – Trump to John Lewis: Fix your ‘horrible’ Atlanta district

“Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results,” Trump said in a pair of Twitter messages ahead of the city’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations. “All talk, talk, talk – no action or results. Sad!”

Atlanta Journal-Constitution – Pastor of MLK’s church: Trump is a ‘small man’ for attacking Atlanta

The Rev. Raphael Warnock  of Ebenezer Baptist Church said Trump “continually demonstrates that he is too small a man for the big responsibility he now assumes.”

“John Lewis has spent his life serving others. Trump has spent his life serving himself,” said Warnock, whose historic Atlanta church is the spiritual home of King’s family. “Rather than sending nasty tweets, he ought to sit at John Lewis’ feet and learn what service, sacrifice and integrity look like.”

New York Times – ‘All Talk, No Action,’ Trump Says in Attack on John Lewis, a Civil Rights Icon

GA Together Road Trip Day 2 Schedule

                                                                                     

Congressman John Lewis, Former State Senator Jason Carter, Rep. Craig Gordon, Boston City Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley, US Senate Candidate Jim Barksdale, Actress / Activist Danai Guirira & Party Leaders Hit the Road for Georgia Together GOTV Road Trip Day 2

Democratic Leaders will campaign in all corners of Georgia for statewide GOTV events

 

Atlanta, GA – TODAY, Saturday, November 5th, Congressman John Lewis, Former State Senator Jason Carter, Rep. Craig Gordon, Boston City Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley, US Senate Candidate Jim Barksdale, Actress / Activist Danai Guirira & Party Leaders will hit the road for Day 2 of Georgia Together GOTV Road Trip. Democratic leaders will meet fellow surrogates for GOTV events across the state to discuss what’s at stake in the election and encourage Georgians to vote.

 

Details for Saturday’s events can be found below.

 

Media is asked to please RSVP to [email protected].

 

Georgia Together Savannah Canvass Kickoff with Rep. Craig Gordon, Jim Barksdale and Party leaders

WHEN: 10:00 AM – Saturday, November 5th

WHERE: Savannah Field Office, 105 Wheeler Ct Suite 200, Savannah, GA 31405

 

Georgia Together Athens GOTV Event with Congressman John Lewis, Rep. Spencer Frye, Actress / Activist Danai Guirira and Party Leaders

WHEN: 12:00 PM – Saturday, November 5th

WHERE: Athens Field Office, 1063 Baxter Street Suite B, Athens, GA 30606

 

Georgia Together DeKalb GOTV Event with Former State Senator Jason Carter, Boston City Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley, GA State Senate Candidate Tonya Anderson and Party Leaders

WHEN: 12:00 PM – Saturday, November 5th

WHERE: DeKalb Field Office, 619 E College Ave Suite E, Decatur, GA 30030

 

Georgia Together Gwinnett GOTV Event with Boston City Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley and Party Leaders

WHEN: 3:00 PM – Saturday, November 5th

WHERE: Gwinnett Field Office, 535 Indian TrailRd NW Suite I, Lilburn, GA 30047

 

Georgia Together Macon Canvass Kickoff with Jim Barksdale and Party leaders

WHEN: 3:00 PM – Saturday, November 5th

WHERE: Macon Field Office, 439 3rd Street Suite 101, Macon, GA 31201

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DPG & Hillary for GA to Host Statewide Women’s Early Vote Events

DPG & Hillary for GA to Host Statewide Women’s Early Vote Events

Elected officials to host events near early vote locations and lead Georgia women to vote early

 

Atlanta, GA – On Wednesday, October 26, Representative and House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, State Senator Nan Orrock, Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson, and State Representative Carolyn Hugley will join women from across Georgia in casting their ballots during Georgia Women Vote Together events in Decatur, Atlanta, and Columbus.

 

At the events, elected officials and supporters will discuss how Hillary Clinton has spent her entire life fighting to expand opportunity for women and how she will continue to fight for families in the White House.

 

With early vote continuing across the state, more Georgians are expected to vote in this election than any in history. Voters can find their early vote polling location at iwillvote.com/locate.

 

Media interested in attending one or more of these events should RSVP to [email protected].

 

DeKalb County Women Vote Together with Leader Stacey Abrams

WHEN: 12:30 pm Wednesday, October 26

WHERE: The Gallery at South DeKalb Mall – 2801 Candler Road, Decatur, GA

WHO: Leader Stacey Abrams and fellow Georgia Democrats

PUBLIC RSVP HERE

 

Fulton County Women Vote Together with Mayor Shirley Franklin and Senator Nan Orrock
WHEN: 5 pm Wednesday, October 26

WHERE: Buckhead Library – 269 Buckhead Ave NE Atlanta, Georgia 30305

WHO: Mayor Shirley Franklin, State Senator Nan Orrock and fellow Georgia democrats

PUBLIC RSVP HERE

 


Muscogee County Women Vote Together with Mayor Teresa Tomlinson and State Rep. Carolyn Hugley
WHEN: 6 pm Wednesday, October 26
WHERE: Columbus Public Library – 3000 Macon Road, Columbus, Georgia 31906

WHO: Mayor Teresa Tomlinson, State Rep. Carolyn Hugley and fellow Georgia Democrats

PUBLIC RSVP HERE

 

DPG & Hillary for Georgia to Hold Early Vote Kickoff Events

Rep. John Lewis and Rep. Hank Johnson to encourage supporters to vote early

Atlanta, GA – On Monday, October 17, on the first day Georgians can early vote, Congressman John Lewis and Congressman Hank Johnson will campaign for Hillary Clinton. Congressman Lewis will join Fulton County Chairman John Eaves and State Representative Park Cannon to host a Millennial March starting at Nelson Street Bridge and marching to the polls with college students. Earlier in the morning, Congressman Hank Johnson, Commissioner Mereda Johnson, and fellow democrats will head to the polls with supporters and cast their ballots.

“The vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful tool or instrument in a democratic society,”Congressman Lewis said. “For more than 50 years, I have marched so that every person can exercise their right to vote. I’ve been beaten, left bloody and unconscious, all so that each and every one of us can be full participants in our democracy.

“On Monday, I will join dozens of young people who are doing their part by marching to the ballot box and exercising their right to vote. In all my years, I’ve never seen an election like this one. It is more important now than ever before for Georgia’s young people to march to the polls so that generations yet unborn can continue to fulfill the promise of America.”

Millennial March with John Lewis
WHEN:  10:30 am – Monday, October 17
WHERE: Nelson Street Bridge – 309 Nelson St SW Atlanta, Georgia 30313
WHO: Congressman John Lewis, Fulton County Chairman John Eaves, and State Representative Park Cannon
PUBLIC RSVP HERE

Early Vote Event with Congressman Hank Johnson
WHEN:  9:00 am – Monday, October 17
WHERE: South DeKalb Mall, 2801 Candler Rd Decatur, Georgia 30034

WHO: Congressman Hank Johnson and Commissioner Mereda Johnson

PUBLIC RSVP HERE

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New York Times: “Republican polling has found that Mr. Trump is at dire risk of losing Georgia”

Release:  Wednesday, October 12, 2016                                                                 

“Mrs. Clinton’s campaign has concluded that at least two traditionally Republican states, Georgia and Arizona, are realistic targets for her campaign to win over. And Republican polling has found that Mr. Trump is at dire risk of losing Georgia, according to people briefed on the polls, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.”

Split Over Donald Trump Threatens to Tilt Republican States

NEW YORK TIMES // ALEXANDER BURNS and JONATHAN MARTIN

Donald J. Trump’s intensifying battle with his own party is tearing open the nation’s political map, pulling Republicans across the country into a self-destructive feud that could imperil dozens of lawmakers in Congress and potentially throw conservative-leaning states into Hillary Clinton’s column.

Democrats are moving swiftly to exploit Mr. Trump’s crumbling position in the presidential race, aiming to run up a big margin of victory for Mrs. Clinton and extend their political advantage into the congressional elections next month.

Mrs. Clinton’s campaign has concluded that at least two traditionally Republican states, Georgia and Arizona, are realistic targets for her campaign to win over. And Republican polling has found that Mr. Trump is at dire risk of losing Georgia, according to people briefed on the polls, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Mrs. Clinton now holds such a strong upper hand that Priorities USA, a “super PAC” backing her campaign, may direct some of its war chest into Senate races, two people said, and may begin broadcasting ads for those contests as soon as next week. Congressional Democrats also hope to persuade Mrs. Clinton to continue pouring money and campaign resources into states like Virginia and Colorado, where they believe her victory is assured, in order to lift other Democratic candidates.

In a signal of Democrats’ growing focus on the House and Senate, Mrs. Clinton used a visit on Tuesday to Miami to attack both Mr. Trump and Senator Marco Rubio, whom Mrs. Clinton blasted for what she described as his indifference to climate change.

“We need to elect people up and down the ballot, at every level of government, who take it seriously,” Mrs. Clinton said, adding, “It is an unacceptable response for Marco Rubio, when asked about climate change, to say, ‘I’m not a scientist.’”

Mrs. Clinton’s campaign chairman, John D. Podesta, told reporters that she would continue to call out down-ballot Republicans. Mr. Rubio is among the Republicans whom Priorities USA may seek to defeat, if the group decides to intervene in Senate races, one strategist said.

Increasingly anxious Republicans have not come up with a unified strategy for containing the damage from Mr. Trump’s embattled candidacy, and several strategists and party officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity said they were awaiting a new round of polling before settling on a course. But, in a sign that Republicans now view the presidential race as a lost cause, several Senate candidates are preparing ads asking voters to elect them as a check on Mrs. Clinton in the White House.

Yet Mr. Trump himself, having been rejected in recent days by dozens of Republican elected officials, has indicated that he will make any separation an exceptionally messy and painful ordeal for the party.

Mr. Trump lashed out publicly on Tuesday morning at two of his best-known critics: Senator John McCain of Arizona, who withdrew his endorsement of Mr. Trump over the weekend, and Paul D. Ryan, the speaker of the House, who informed congressional Republicans on Monday that he would no longer defend Mr. Trump.

Seething on Twitter, Mr. Trump attacked Mr. Ryan as “weak and ineffective” and described Mr. McCain as “very foul mouthed.” And in a Fox News interview, Mr. Trump mocked both men as disloyal, reserving special venom for Mr. Ryan.

“Paul Ryan opened borders and amnesty and bad budgets,” Mr. Trump said.

He declared himself a liberated man, writing on Twitter:. “It is so nice that the shackles have been taken off me and I can now fight for America the way I want to.”

Should Mr. Trump continue deriding the leaders of the institutional Republican Party, it could have profound consequences down the ballot, potentially depressing turnout by demoralizing the party or leading Mr. Trump’s ardent supporters to deny their votes to Republicans who abandoned him. But there is little Republicans can do to control Mr. Trump’s behavior: The party’s donors have no leverage over him, he is relying largely on small donors and, at 70, he is not mindful of any future campaign.

The emerging dynamic may be especially toxic for Republicans in swing states that are also home to competitive races for the House and Senate, where the party’s candidates must choose between two unpalatable options: alienating much of their party’s base, or standing behind a nominee who is unacceptable to most mainstream voters. The voting bloc that especially concerns Republican officials are the right-of-center, college-educated voters who usually favor Republican candidates but cannot abide Mr. Trump. These voters can make up anywhere between a quarter to a third of the party’s electoral coalition.

“That voter is clearly not going to vote for Donald Trump,” said Josh Holmes, a Republican strategist who is working on several Senate races. “But if they don’t vote at all, it’s catastrophic for us.”

The nightmare possibility for the party is that swing voters punish the party because of Mr. Trump, the anti-Trump Republicans stay at home and Mr. Trump’s base casts a ballot for him and then leaves the polls. Under those conditions, Senate races in places like Pennsylvania and North Carolina could fall to Democrats, while Senate and House races in places like Missouri, Arizona and Kansas could move to the center of the battlefield.

Already, Republicans view Mr. Trump’s sharp downturn in the presidential race as having jeopardized their majorities in Congress. A poll published on Tuesday by NBC News and The Wall Street Journal found Mr. Trump trailing Mrs. Clinton by nine percentage points nationally and drawing just 37 percent of the vote. No major-party nominee since World War II has received a smaller share of the vote. But in an illustration of the bind Republicans are in, the poll found that three-fourths of Republicans believed their candidates should stay loyal to Mr. Trump.

In Nevada, the Republican candidate for Senate, Representative Joe Heck, withdrew his support from Mr. Trump over the weekend, and is facing a furious backlash.

Sandie Kirwin, a Las Vegas retail manager supportive of Mr. Trump, said she might now vote for a Democrat over Mr. Heck in a critical Senate race.

“I think of Joe Heck the same I do of any Republican not supporting Donald Trump,” said Ms. Kirwin, 52. “I will never support any of them, and I will do what I can to get them out of office.”

But other Republican-leaning voters say they may punish those who fail to denounce Mr. Trump. Several Republicans in difficult Senate races have criticized Mr. Trump in strong terms without coming out in opposition to his candidacy, including Senators Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania, Richard M. Burr of North Carolina and Mr. Rubio.

In Pennsylvania, Jaye Steuterman, a registered Republican and a real estate agent in Doylestown, said she was still undecided on which presidential candidate to vote for. She said she was deeply unsettled by Mr. Trump’s past comments about forcing himself on women, but that might not be enough to stop her voting for him.

“I don’t know what’s more important to me — that, or the fact that Hillary is a liar,” Ms. Steuterman said.

In the Senate race, she is inclined to vote for Mr. Toomey because he is a Republican, but her decision could depend on whether he supports Mr. Trump.

Even the drastic step of denouncing Mr. Trump may not be enough to shield Republicans from his unpopularity. In a conference call on Tuesday with the Democratic caucus, Representative Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said that party polling found voters drawing scant distinction between Republicans who endorsed Mr. Trump and those who abandoned him out of political expediency, according to people who participated in the call, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it was supposed to be private.

On the same call, Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, the third-ranking House Democrat, expressed concern that Mrs. Clinton might abandon states that she is all but sure to win, but where Democrats are still locked in competitive races. Mr. Clyburn asked Representative Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader, to contact Mrs. Clinton’s campaign to ensure it would not withdraw resources from Virginia and Colorado.

“Most people think the House now could be in play,” said Representative John Yarmuth of Kentucky. “There’s a little bit of scrambling going on to identify races that could flip if the presidential race somehow gets to a 10-point margin.”

Like their Republican counterparts, Democrats do not plan to make final strategy decisions until they receive new polling. But they have already begun aggressively attacking Republicans, even as those officials retreat from Mr. Trump.

Three Democratic congressional candidates have started running ads this week that showcase footage of Mr. Trump describing sexual assault in graphic terms, from a 2005 recording. Gov. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, who is challenging Senator Kelly Ayotte, used the footage in a campaign video on Tuesday, saying Ms. Ayotte recently denounced Mr. Trump only to “protect herself.”

And outside groups supporting congressional Democrats have begun to reallocate their spending to take advantage of the shifting environment. The House Majority PAC, the principal outside group supporting House Democrats, this week made a $1.2 million reservation to contest the suburban Philadelphia seat held by Representative Michael G. Fitzpatrick, who is retiring.

In affluent, suburban areas, which were already trending strongly toward Democrats after the first presidential debate, Republican survival may depend on the willingness of voters to separate their feelings about the presidential race from their voting behavior in all other elections.

Outside a ski shop on Tuesday in Aurora, Colo., Sharon and Les Sparks said they were disappointed by Republicans pulling away from Mr. Trump, whom Mr. Sparks described as “spoiled little entitled brats.” Among those lawmakers is Representative Mike Coffman, a Denver-area congressman who has been critical of Mr. Trump for months and recently called on him to end his campaign.

Still, Mr. and Ms. Sparks said they would vote for Mr. Coffman, despite their frustration. “They need to unite,” said Ms. Sparks, 49, a project manager in the health industry. “If you’re going to be in the Republican Party, you need to start standing behind the party.”

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