Georgia Democrats defeated Donald Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp’s desperate attempt to rig the maps, erase Black representation, and cling on to power as lawmakers convened in Atlanta to kick off a special session. Today’s victory for voting rights comes in the wake of Georgia Democrats, legislative leaders, and an expansive coalition of advocacy, faith, and civil rights organizations launching a massive mobilization effort to pressure Republican legislators to back down from their power grab. Kemp called the special session just two weeks after the GOP-captured Supreme Court effectively killed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which generations of Black Americans fought for and won — opening the door for extremist lawmakers and governors to weaken the voice and representation of Black, Latino, AANHPI, and Native American voters.
In response to Georgia Republicans pulling their redistricting plans, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
“From Democratic state lawmakers and civil rights leaders to organizers on the ground, Georgians stood up and fought back against Donald Trump and Brian Kemp’s desperate attempt to rig the maps, cling on to power, and weaken the representation of Black, Latino, AANHPI, and Native American voters. The DNC is grateful that the people of Georgia have once again shown the nation what it looks like to organize and fight for voting rights and fair representation. While Republicans scramble to defend their deeply unpopular and harmful agenda that has skyrocketed costs and taken healthcare away from millions of families, Democrats will stay on offense. We will continue to organize on the ground, register and turnout voters, and win races up and down the ballot — in Georgia, throughout the South, and all across the country.”
REMINDER: Trump and Republicans’ corrupt, cost-raising agenda is deeply unpopular with Georgia voters who are being forced to pay more for groceries, gas, utilities, healthcare, childcare, and housing.
It’s no wonder that voters throughout the nation continue to turn against them. Since Trump took office, Democrats have won or overperformed in nearly 90% of key elections. The average Democratic overperformance in these special elections is around 14 points. With Trump’s approval rating continuing to fall, Democrats have also flipped 30 state legislative seats while Republicans have flipped zero.
