Following the Democratic Party of Georgia’s 2026 State Convention in Savannah this weekend, where more than 1,000 Democrats gathered to prepare to get out the vote this November, Georgians across the state are hearing Democrats’ message of lowering costs, making health care affordable, and ending 23 years of failed Republican rule. See what Georgians are reading and watching from the Georgia Democratic Convention below.
WJCL Savannah: Georgia Democrats see a path back to power. It runs through affordability — and rural Georgia
Key excerpts:
- Georgia Democrats gathered in Savannah on Saturday for the party’s state convention, mobilizing supporters and outlining a midterm strategy centered on affordability and voter outreach.
- Party leaders pointed to Democratic participation in the May primary as evidence of voter enthusiasm. Charlie Bailey, chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, argued that “voters are already showing they’re fed up.”
- Democrats also highlighted their victories in two Public Service Commission races last year. Party leaders attributed those gains in part to a focus on affordability and said they hope the issue will resonate with voters again this fall.
- “The issue of affordability affects anybody,” Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said. “The issue is not red or blue. The issue is green.”
WJCL Savannah: Georgia Democratic Convention
- Kirsten Maselka, WJCL: “Georgia Democrats say they are leading with a message of affordability and want to broaden candidates’ reach beyond the party.
- “After Democratic wins in 2025 and high primary turnout in May, leaders say they believe its candidates have a winning message and can accomplish something the party hasn’t in over 25 years: electing a Democratic governor.”
- Charlie Bailey, DPG Chair: “Democrats that are focusing on that, focusing on what they can do to make people’s lives better, and to expand that opportunity, they are going to find success.
- “Just as important as it is to increase margins in a Fulton County or a Clayton County or a Chatham County, it is also very important to cut into margins in Effingham County and Long County.”
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Changing political winds? Democrats make midterms case at state convention.
By Adam Van Brimmer and Greg Bluestein, August 1, 2026
- Making a case for electing the “adults in the room” in November’s midterm elections, state Democrats rallied the partisan faithful Saturday at the Georgia Democratic Convention.
- The speeches touched on issues long core to the party’s platform — Medicaid expansion, reproductive rights, gun control, voting access — but office seekers focused heavily on the cost-of-living challenges everyday Americans are facing under Republican leadership.
- The time has come “to put some Democrats in charge,” said Charlie Bailey, the state party chair.
- “Times are hard, and it’s tempting to become cynical,” Bailey said. “But democracy is not broken. It’s stronger than one old fool in the White House who is trying to thwart it. Georgia is still the greatest state in the union, it just needs a state government worthy of its people.”
- For Democrats gathering at their state convention, there are plenty of reasons for such an optimistic pep rally.
- Trump’s approval ratings are sagging. Republicans are so worried about their chances of unseating Ossoff that some have taken to guessing the margin of the Democrat’s win.
- Just last year, Democrats easily flipped two Public Service Commission seats and clawed away a GOP-friendly state House district. And this year, the party is building one of the biggest turnout machines the state has ever seen.
- Saturday at the state convention, Democratic leaders assured party members the GOP can’t buy their way to victory. Bottoms noted the primary election turnout in May, when Democrats voted in far greater numbers than Republicans despite being significantly outspent. Nearly 150,000 more Democratic ballots were cast than Republican ballots.
- “And do we all know what happened the last time the Democrats had a margin, that margin, of primary? Georgia sent a Democrat to the governor’s office,” Bottoms said. “I can feel that momentum in this room.”
The Current: More than 1,000 Georgia Democrats meet to strategize for November election
Craig Nelson and Robin Kemp, August 1, 2026
- More than 1,000 Georgia Democrats gathered in Savannah Saturday for a pep rally and strategy session, brandishing their determination to put a Democrat, Keisha Lance Bottoms, into the governor’s seat for the first time in a generation and to re-elect Jon Ossoff to the U.S. Senate.
- The state Democratic party’s daylong convention kicked off with speeches offering a united message: Winds of change are sweeping Georgia, driven by people fed up with the rising cost of living, job insecurities and anxieties that the American dream is slipping away.
- “Something is happening in our state. The country is taking notice. This is our year,” declared Charlie Bailey, chair of the state party. Democrats, he said, are offering solutions.
- The state party announced last week it will staff 30 field offices, 60 full-time field organizers and 100 staffers to coordinate with Democratic candidates from the top of the ballot, other statewide offices and local state lawmakers.
- Savannah Mayor Van Johnson took the podium after Bailey spoke. “We’re on the edge of something great,” he said in a rousing speech, bringing attendees to their feet: “Are we ready to make history? . . . Let’s make things happen.”
WABE: State Party Chair Charlie Bailey at the Georgia Democratic Convention
Key excerpts:
- Rahul Bali, WABE: “Here is State Party Chair Charlie Bailey speaking during the Georgia Democrats convention in Savannah over the weekend.”
- Chair Charlie Bailey: “Something is happening in our state and the country is taking notice. The pundits and the pollsters are saying that the Georgia Democrats have the momentum.”
11 Alive: Georgia Democrats Gather for State Convention
Key excerpts:
- Ron Jones, 11Alive: “Georgia Democrats are now taking their message to Savannah today, focusing on issues important to voters ahead of the 2026 elections.
- “Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was there, meeting with residents and talking about concerns that she says Georgia families are facing.”
- “Democratic leaders said they are going to continue bringing their message to communities all across the state.”
FOX 5 WAGA: Georgia Democrats are Unveiling Their Biggest Campaign Operation Yet
- Lori Geary, Fox5: “Georgia Democrats are unveiling their biggest coordinated campaign operation yet: 30 field offices and more than 100 staffers set to be in place by early August.”
- Melita Easters: “They’re working very closely with all the down-ballot candidates … they are all very impressed by the coordinated efforts and how the top-of-the-ballot candidates and canvassers are working with the down-ballot candidates to improve the messaging for everyone, and to make sure that voters know about all the democrats on the ticket.”
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