Athens – Athens Mayor Nancy Denson has been a member of the local Democratic party for more than three decades. She identifies as a Democrat, and she's held a string of fundraisers for prominent party figures at her Athens home over the years.

And at a testy meeting on Thursday at an Athens library, Denson was ousted from the local party's committee for an affront many fellow Democrats considered unforgivable: She openly supports Republican Houston Gaines, a candidate for an open House seat up for grabs on Nov. 7 who was her campaign manager.

Keep reading: In Athens, a strained test of bipartisanship in a deep-blue stronghold

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Braves first baseman Matt Olson (left) is greeted by Ronald Acuña Jr. after batting during the MLB Home Run Derby as part of the All-Star Game festivities on Monday, July 14, 2025, at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz/AJC