That's a great question Reg. One of the Democratic candidates running for Marge's seat said something that I really liked. Shawn Harris is a retired Army Brigadier General who is originally from a conservative district south of Atlanta. He is a farmer now and his hometown district is a big farming district. Both that district and the 14th are rural Georgia districts. The other district, conservative as it is, is represented by Democrat Sanford Bishop. He won that seat by telling the farmers and ranchers hey your current rep is not bringing home money for you. He is not getting legislation passed that is helping you. I will make sure that you get the support, money, and programs that you need here to help the farmers and ranchers (and other rural needs as well). Marge has not done ANYTHING for our district. She is NOT bringing home programs, money, or support for anyone, let alone farmers, ranchers, veterans, etc. Shawn is not running as a Democrat but is running on issues.
This is something that we are really trying to do more and more. Taking the party out of it and just talking about issues. All veterans, Dems and Republicans, want to have health care that is more conveniently located than having to travel hours to Atlanta. That's just not a red or blue issue. It's a veterans' issue. We have had trainings given by a young adult, Kathleen Minor from one of the NW Georgia Counties who is really an expert on coaching people about how to talk to people on issues versus sides. David attended one of her sessions, I've been to several and I'm sure that we can have her do at least one as we engage young people, and other populations in NW Georgia.
The other thing to keep in mind is that every single election, our district, and especially Paulding County, increases the democratic percentage of the vote. I can't put my hand on my exact Dem percentages right now but something like 2016 Presidential 28, 2018 Stacey Abrams Gubernatorial 32, 2020 Presidential 36, 2022 Warnock Senate Runoff 38 percent. Around the district, the Dem vote was mostly increasing as well. Cobb County, part of Metro Atlanta where the Braves play was where we are now 10 years ago and we are headed in the direction to become blue like they are now. Anyway, an independent won't help us grow our democratic base. Every time we have an event and a new person comes to it, we hear the same thing that I said at my first Paulding Dems event the week after the 2016 election Wow! I thought I was the only Democrat in Paulding County. I had no idea there were other Dems here. That's why we continue to get the word out all over the 14th District that Dems are here so everyone can finally come out of hiding!
Heres website for the guy I think will win Dem primary and who is a good candidate, but we shall see. https://www.shawnforgeorgia.com/
