As The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday, two longtime Republican strongholds – Gwinnett and Cobb counties – swung to Democrat Hillary Clinton in this year's presidential election. But Republicans prevailed in local elections.
But Gwinnett Democrats say they'll be back in two years to try to win the party's first County Commission seat since 1986.
“The Democratic Party is alive and well in Gwinnett County,” party Chairman Jim Shealey said this week. “We just need to stay structured and keep working.”
Shealey was one of two Democrats who tried and failed to unseat incumbent Republican commissioners. Chairman Charlotte Nash defeated Shealey by a margin of 52.7 percent to 47.3 percent. In District 3, incumbent Commissioner Tommy Hunter defeated Democratic challenger Jasper Watkins III by a margin of 51.1 percent to 48.9 percent. District 1 incumbent Republican Jace Brooks faced no opposition.
Meanwhile, Clinton won 51 percent of the Gwinnett vote, while Republican Donald Trump won 45.2 percent and Libertarian Gary Johnson received 3.8 percent.
Clinton was the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Gwinnett since Jimmy Carter in 1976. Shealey sees that as evidence the party can do well in Georgia’s largest county in the future.
Nash said she was pleased with her victory.
“I appreciate every voter who chose to cast a vote for me and look forward to continuing to work hard for them and for Gwinnett,” she said.
Nash declined to comment on the political implications of Clinton’s Gwinnett victory.
“I will leave that sort of analysis to folks who know more than I do about politics,” she said.
About the Author
