Politics
Politics

Georgia Democrats turn left ahead of primaries. Can it work in a GOP-led state?

Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans address the Young Democrats of Georgia.
Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans address the Young Democrats of Georgia.
By
May 14, 2018

The gulf between the top Democrats and Republicans in Georgia is as wide as it has been in decades.

No matter who emerges in the May 22 race, Democrats will nominate someone who pledges to adopt broad new firearm restrictions, oppose socially conservative legislation, pump tens of millions of dollars into a Medicaid expansion and take steps to decriminalize marijuana.

And a Republican victor is poised to push for looser gun laws, “religious liberty” legislation and tougher restrictions on immigrants who came to to the country illegally.

Candidates always race to their base in primaries, but the maneuvering toward the flanks is sharper than ever. And it will make it more difficult for whoever emerges next week to dart back toward the center in November.

Read more: Shifting political ground pushes Georgia candidates away from center 

About the Author

Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.

Follow Greg Bluestein on facebookFollow Greg Bluestein on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock addresses supporters at his election night watch party at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Warnock: Political violence, hate speech could kill democracy

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock delivered a speech on the Senate floor condemning political violence one day after the death of Charlie Kirk.

What Tennessee fans think of their old coach, Derek Dooley, running for U.S. Senate

As their former head football coach, Derek Dooley, runs for Senate, most Tennessee fans in Georgia didn’t even know he was in the race.

Clark Dean preps outsider-themed GOP run for Georgia governor

The business executive files paperwork to join a Republican field that includes several prominent candidates.

The Latest

Derek Dooley wasn't very successful as football coach of the Tennessee Vols. He's hoping for better results in his campaign for U.S. Senate. (File 2012 AP)

Credit: AP

What Tennessee fans think of their old coach, Derek Dooley, running for U.S. Senate

Clark Dean preps outsider-themed GOP run for Georgia governor

Early voting begins for special state Senate runoff election

Featured

Delta employees are under investigation because of content “related to the recent murder of activist Charlie Kirk” that “went well beyond healthy, respectful debate,” CEO Ed Bastian wrote in a companywide memo Friday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez

Delta suspends employees for social posts related to Charlie Kirk’s killing

Delta joins a list of employers, including an NFL team and news network MSNBC, that have punished employees for posting inflammatory comments about Kirk’s death.

As Tech, UGA celebrate, a historic first for state’s Division I teams

All seven of the state's FBS and FBC teams — Georgia, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Mercer and West Georgia — prevailed Saturday.

Suspect arrested after North Georgia officer shot in line of duty

Capt. Brantley Worley remains in critical condition after incident in McCaysville, which is near the Georgia-Tennessee border.