Georgia Democratic leaders brim with optimism at annual fundraising dinner

Hundreds of Georgia Democrats eyeing 2020 as the year when they might finally end the GOP’s grip on the levers of state government gathered for a dinner fundraiser in downtown Atlanta that reeled in more than $365,000 in donations.

Democratic leaders and political pundits project Georgia to be a battleground state during the 2020 state and national elections. Democrats are working to seize control of the Georgia House of Representatives, wrest two U.S. Senate seats from Republican control and peel votes away from President Donald Trump.

“We know that the future is right here in Georgia and the path to the White House runs through Georgia,” said state Sen. Nikema Williams of Atlanta, who chairs the Democratic Party of Georgia.

The Georgia Republican Party held its annual fundraising gala earlier this month and raised $360,000. State Republican leaders are working to reclaim or protect state House districts where Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams fared well in her unsuccessful 2018 campaign for governor.

“Providing the necessary resources to hold targeted seats and support our statewide candidates remains the top priority for both (GOP Chairman David Shafer) and the State Party,” said the party’s executive director, Stewart Bragg.

Democrats need to flip 15 suburban Atlanta seats to claim a majority in the state’s 180-member House. Party leaders are homing in on several districts they deem vulnerable for Republicans after gaining 11 seats in the House during the 2018 midterm elections.

All four Democratic candidates trying to secure their party’s nomination for a chance to unseat U.S. Sen. David Perdue attended Tuesday night’s fundraiser.

Georgia is set to host the next Democratic presidential primary debate on Nov. 20.

Abrams, who gave the keynote speech at Tuesday’s dinner, claimed the party’s 2018 midterm gains served as a wake-up call for Republicans, despite her own loss to Gov. Brian Kemp. Fresh off launching her new voter registration group, Fair Fight 2020, Abrams on Tuesday urged state Democrats to ride the momentum of 2018’s state House gains in next fall’s elections. She also reinforced efforts to make sure the 2020 Census counts as many Georgians as possible.

“We are a purple state,” Abrams said. “No more of this deep-red stuff.”

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