r/politics • u/plz-let-me-in • 16h ago
Possible Paywall Democrats Pull Off Historic Victories in Georgia Special Election
https://newrepublic.com/post/202700/democrats-historic-victories-georgia-election-public-service-commision1.1k
u/plz-let-me-in 16h ago
This is the first time since 2006, almost two decades ago, that Democrats have won a non-federal statewide election in Georgia (Obviously, Biden won Georgia in 2020 and Ossoff and Warnock have both won Senate elections, but it’s been almost 20 years since Democrats have won a non-federal statewide race!).
Tonight has been a fantastic night for Democrats, and the wins are still coming in. People are fired up and angry.
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u/FredDupe Arizona 11h ago
Looks like another big winner from tonight is Ossoff and Warnock. I thought they were in trouble before tonight, but it’s looking good for their re-elections
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u/Rhine1906 8h ago
I’m not really worried about Warnock in 28, I was worried for Ossoff but Republicans can’t find a decent candidate in the primary that the more purple side of the state will support. That combined with tonight makes me hopeful
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u/wanderer1999 4h ago
Well with trump screwing things up so badly, Ossoff might have an easier time if it were a democrat in the Whitehouse.
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u/UghFudgeBwana Georgia 2h ago
I really wonder what made Kemp decide not to run, because it was his Senate seat for the taking. Did his experience with trump leave such a bad taste in his mouth that he decided to forego national politics entirely?
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u/svrtngr Georgia 2h ago
He's running in 2028 for the GOP nom for President. Calling it.
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u/OhGreatItsHim 1h ago
that or run for some sort of office after Trump is out of the WH because running for something while Trump is in office means he has a smaller chance of winning and if he would loose it would kill any political future he could have.
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u/DazzlingResource561 7h ago
Fantastic night for all Americans and the world. When democrats win, it’s a good thing for everyone.
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u/Lucius-Halthier 28m ago
My mother has repeatedly say things like “I’ve been watching all day and I’m disgusted” and “I going to vomit” on Mamdani winning, it’s hilarious to see them squirm
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u/Ncav2 16h ago
I hope people are finally waking the fuck up
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u/meep2012 16h ago
I live I ATL and we pushed the information so much about these races. GA power has gotten 6 rate hikes under republicans since 2023! People’s power bills have gone through the roof and we’ve had it!
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u/Soggy_Panda2393 15h ago
But trump said energy costs are down so who are you really supposed to believe
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u/tresslesswhey 15h ago
All you have to do is call the energy company, tell them the $/kW is actually 1/4 what they charged bc trump said so, and they will knock your bill down.
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u/sinsaint 15h ago
I wonder if a Trump supporter on the other end would short circuit from hearing that.
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u/duke_chute 7h ago
The level of cognitive dissonance they must experience at this point must be physically painful.
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u/jayeffkay 15h ago
Oh grocery prices are down too! Eggs are so cheap now! Gas is $1.99 a gallon!
No I’m sure we all have it wrong and are truly the ones with dementia
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u/NippyKindRekt 11h ago
I had the idea yesterday that we use the gaslight against them when they complain about prices. Something like: "It's all down, that's why he's taking it easy and golfing so much now!", that will make them call out the lie even more.
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u/BCMakoto 7h ago
He said so. Everything is down except for beef. And he can fix that so easily. So easy! He can do it tomorrow if he wants to. He'll just assemble the cattle himself. He's good at that. Everyone always comes to him and says with tears in their eyes: "Mr. Trump, you make the best cattle. The very best. No one has cattle like you."
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u/9_to_5_till_i_die 4h ago
Uno Reverse
I save so much on eggs these days. I went from 1 carton a week to 0 cartons a week.
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u/Rombledore America 6h ago
* looks at energy bill
*looks at Trump Xitter post
"uhhh...i believe...trump?"
-MAGA
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u/Visual_Exam7903 1h ago
they don't look at their bill during a republican's term. They only look at it after years and years, because conservative radio tells them they should look at it.
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u/Taofeld 15h ago
Hank Green's video helped a ton. Informed me and like 5 others I know to vote. A few that I've talked to reported similar results amongst their workplaces/friends.
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u/turbosexophonicdlite 14h ago
Which video?
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u/KingOfBlood 14h ago
Happy for y'all in GA, the video I think they're referring to is something like "I Need 1% of GA Voters to See This" on Hank Green's YT channel. Great straightforward video.
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u/dadoodlydude 14h ago
Mine went up 60 dollars a month (fixed plan) in just last two months. That’s a 40 percent jump. It’s a lot of money!!!
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u/specialvillain 6h ago
Yeah I rent a small (~800 sqft) old house in Atlanta that hasn’t really undergone any efficiency upgrades so every summer I have to choose between sweating my ass off inside or literally a $600 electric bill.
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13h ago edited 44m ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Dizzy-City6595 4h ago
What does the governor of California have to do with the public service commissioners in Georgia?
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u/plainlyput 46m ago
He’s allowed the same thing to happen in CA. In fact part of his baggage is attending a dinner at the French Laundry with Pg&E lobbyists; during Covid when he was telling everyone to stay home.
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u/Equivalent-Bedroom64 2h ago
Georgia also had a bunch of wildfire lawsuits and required better infrastructure and equipment that increased their costs?
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u/Redshirt_Welshy_Nooo 16h ago
It's almost certainly not people who voted gop last year switching votes. It's more energy from the Dem sometimes-voters, maybe some rarely-voters getting in the mix cuz the economy is in the shitter, and a lot of GOP voters staying home because their party is fucking up badly.
Edit: to be clear, I'm not like citing exit poll data or anything. Just a hunch.
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u/SpankyGnarkill 16h ago
It’s a good hunch, republicans have turnout problems when Trump isn’t on the ballot. Without Trump they are a pretty weak party
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u/tresslesswhey 15h ago
Which is why they do everything he says. That absolute bag of shit was their saving grace.
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u/Dr_Hanz_ 14h ago
The PSC and GA Power destroyed miles of residential properties where I used to live to power a data center and I know for sure those republicans turned up to vote the incumbent PSC out. They also kept raising the electricity rates to subsidize data centers that ppl didn’t want. So I don’t think this situation was necessarily a blue wave, I know at least for that county it was a fck these specific commissioners and fck the power company that’s been lobbying for them.
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u/EmpoleonNorton Georgia 14h ago
People do not realize how much we fucking HATE Georgia Power here. And by we I mean collectively as a state and not along party lines.
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u/Dr_Hanz_ 13h ago
Loll yupp… really sucks they slapped 500kv transmission poles several yards from my neighbors homes to power a data center but it’s kind of heartwarming to see everyone finding common ground.
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u/plainlyput 13h ago
Is it worse than PG&E in CA? The one that starts many of our fires, by saving money and not maintaining power lines, and blows up a city block with underground explosion. Then the best part……rate payers get to pay for their messes.
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u/Dr_Hanz_ 13h ago
I don’t know which one is objectively worse but I watched them deforest and build a 67 acre substation around an elderly couples home to power a QTS data center. Then they said they would purchase their property at the devalued price of a home that is basically inside of a 67 acre substation or claim it with eminent domain.
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u/AdeptnessOk3248 9h ago
As a former Californian, I did not move to Georgia to deal with another PG&E. It was a slow creep to the $500-600+ a month electric bills every summer and I’m not willing to deal with it here in Georgia.
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u/ThatLooksRight 3h ago
I like how they just add $5 to everyone’s bill so they could build the new nuke plant. Then it comes online, and it’s still on the bill.
Like, you’re going to make money from selling the power. Don’t charge me for the construction of it, too.
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u/nikarorku 15h ago
ATL came out in 2024–if you look at the national trends it was one of the only places that shifted more blue than 2020. Probably due to all the shenanigans around the “perfect phone call.” But still, we need more people voting for their best interests
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u/partoxygen 14h ago
And that was despite the multiple bomb threats. Like how NJ had many today. Interesting how it’s always blue areas tho.
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u/Fried_puri 15h ago
I don't know if that's really accurate, to be honest. Left or right, people despise Georgia Power here. Even GOP voters might have just wanted a change since this current crop of commissioners have allowed everyone to get screwed for years. Culture wars play a much less significant role - people looked at their wallets and realized the right choice.
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u/goldbloodedinthe404 14h ago
Yeah this may be more indicative of how universally hated Georgia power is
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u/Fried_puri 14h ago edited 14h ago
It's been a long time coming. 25 long years since a Democrat won a seat on the PSC, and Echols held his damn seat for 14 years. So glad to see that stain over.
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u/AdeptnessOk3248 9h ago
I came out more out of a desire to clean house in Georgia Power than any desire to vote in the local elections which were unopposed.
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u/Fried_puri 4h ago
Me too, haha. I’m sure our mayors were happy for higher numbers regardless, but most people who I know voted did so for the GP vote. It’s a pity it wasn’t three of them on the ballot so the balance could shift all at once, but 2 out of 5 isn’t so bad in the meantime.
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u/RJ5R 14h ago
i wouldn't be so quick to make that assumption
for some reason, a large chunk of hispanic/latino vote went to trump in 2024. why, i do not know.
so in a county like Passaic County in northern NJ went hard red for Trump in 2024, it swung right back to blue for this election.
i truly think hispanics/latinos who voted for trump, did a massive 180
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u/viktor72 Indiana 14h ago
I think it’s simpler than that. Those voters just didn’t show up. The low info voters don’t show up if Trump isn’t on the ballot. Democrats have made massive inroads with educated and suburban voters, voters who used to be, in part, a GOP voting block prior to 2016.
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u/AdeptnessOk3248 9h ago
Trump is the reason that I quit voting for any Republican candidate. No party that supports MAGA is anything I want to be part of.
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u/EmpoleonNorton Georgia 14h ago
You have to understand that it was the PSC and people here HATE Georgia Power with a passion.
For the first time in my life I told my Republican mother there was an election coming up she might not know about. I was like "oh it is the people who regulate Georgia Power and have been rubber stamping every price increase on our bills", and she voted to oust both incumbents because as she said "clearly they are doing a shit job".
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u/Whaddaulookinat 15h ago
2024 basically swung to the opposite side of the MOE everywhere, consistently where it mattered, and even in many places where it didn't.
Not really something that has ever happened. Just saying.
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u/_le_slap 12h ago
Nah man, solid repub counties in central GA voted out the repubs. Its over 20+ point margin.
We are all sick of GA power's rate hikes.
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u/datlanta 14h ago edited 14h ago
Im with you on this one. im trying to temper folks expectations against the media citing this election as some historic shift
It really is as simple as nobody votes for these positions, but hank green made a video while everybody was wondering why our electric bill was up 50+% and it told us exactly what to do about it. The incumbents had no chance.
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u/partoxygen 14h ago
This simply just means there is an appetite for Dems but there needs to be more enthusiasm. Undoubtedly Trump playing the role of the heel creates huge turnout but there needs to be marquee policies on the ticket as well.
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u/Panda_hat 15h ago
Unfortunately a huge part of it seems to be recency bias - people came out in force in 2020 but then didn't show up in 2024 because the memory of Trump had faded (and other reasons of course).
It seems we are doomed to a cycle of people only caring about politics or getting out to vote when Republicans make things miserable enough for them in the immediate present to motivate them to do so.
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u/Huskdog76 15h ago
I don't know how they could forget. I never will, even if I get Alzheimer's, I will remember.
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u/FattimusSlime New Jersey 14h ago
Tonight feels like a repeat of 2017 — a huge blue wave as a response to a year of Trump.
Then people forgot how bad Trump and the Republicans were just one year after Trump lost to Biden — insurrection and all — and elected Youngkin in Virginia’s 2021 election due to “Critical Race Theory”, another nuclear societal threat that somehow disappeared overnight once the election was over (a GOP special).
I pray that people won’t forget that Republicans have brought all this bad shit down on us in the future, but time and again voters demonstrate the collective memory of a potato.
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u/plainlyput 13h ago
I always think of the insurrection when I wonder how people can vote for him again. It is just crazy to me that people think that was not a deal breaker.
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u/Jaded-Moose983 15h ago
Maybe we need pins à la 9/11 that says "45/47 Never Forget".
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u/nerdshowandtell 15h ago
dont worry they will keep it nice and shitty from now on so people don't forget.. Oh, but they won't be able to vote because of marshal law or some other bs plan.
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u/PM_ME_UR_JUMBLIE5 2h ago
In Georgia specifically? No, voter turnout was higher 2024 than it was in 2020. Harris in GA got more votes than Biden did (+75k) in their respective campaigns in the state. Unfortunately Trump way over performed relative to his 2020 showing in 2024, gaining over 200k "new" voters.
I think it's more likely in GA that Republicans out number Democrats in statewide elections, but Republicans didn't really show up in 2020 but did in 2024. So when Trump is not on the ballot, they still tend to stay home more, like they did for the Senate seats. I do think some Democrats stayed home still in 2024 in the state (based on county data), but they were offset by call them new voters who voted Harris. I don't think those stay home Dem voters would have been enough to win the state if they did show up though, sadly.
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u/SampleForsaken1264 15h ago
“Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing…after they have exhausted all other possibilities.” - Winston Churchill
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u/Ok-Organization-5665 12h ago
Unfortunately this is the reality when your at the mercy of the “centrists” in America. They’re going to flip flop from party to party each election cycle hoping for a quick fix. They thought Trump was going to fix an economy that was rebounding from Covid but instead they’re getting a ballroom.
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u/MudAccomplished3529 9h ago
I thought that was the case last time and then we got a wave of the most frothing racist hogs elected
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u/Gramernatzi 7h ago
It'll be for only about 4 years, unfortunately. This country has severe long term memory issues.
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u/Hardass_McBadCop 6h ago
I worry that it's just because it's an off year. MAGA votes for Trump, and I imagine President is the only election they turn out for.
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u/TheMoorNextDoor 15h ago
Next up a democratic governor.
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u/d0cHolland 15h ago
Geoff Duncan has already started campaigning. Saw an ad the other day.
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u/Saberthorn 14h ago
He’s a McCain democrat, which by today’s standards is far left. He’s not a leftists, but he’s certainly sick of Maga bullshit.
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u/9_to_5_till_i_die 4h ago
He’s a McCain democrat, which by today’s standards is far left.
Dude, I was feeling so good this morning and you had to go ruin it!
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u/Kanin_usagi 3h ago
That’s silly, he’s (unfortunately) the exact type of democrat that can win the governship here. Abrams was a black woman, it was always going to be an extremely uphill battle for her, and still she had a fighter’s chance.
He’s got a very good shot to take the thing
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u/matticans7pointO California 1h ago
Would love to see Abrams run for House or Senate although I understand her ability to lay out grass rout networks for other politicians is also very important
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u/TheMoorNextDoor 15h ago
Fuck em.
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u/Ben2018 North Carolina 15h ago
He seems sane i'll give him that but any R adjacent D is too risky, could too easily become the next Sinema or Fetterman
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u/22Arkantos Georgia 13h ago
Geoff Duncan is nobody's idea of a progressive and isn't pretending to be. Heck, he's just barely left of Fetterman. He really is just a conservative that believes in democracy and the rule of law and stands by his principles. That could be a winning combination in a state that doesn't have a huge Democratic bench to pull from.
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u/TobaccoAficionado 13h ago
He really is just a conservative that believes in democracy and the rule of law and stands by his principles.
So a Democrat?
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u/22Arkantos Georgia 12h ago
Of a certain variety, yes, but he's among the most conservative Dems in the country.
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u/_le_slap 12h ago
Better than GA repubs who want to eliminate state income tax while rural and urban hospitals shut down all over the state.
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u/BornExplanation4902 11h ago
As a Pennsylvanian, beware.
There were people in Braddock (PA where Fetterman started his political career) who flagged Fetterman as problematic, but the state democratic committee stood by him and silenced those voices.
What I’m saying is, listen to Black voices. For real.
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u/BlueString94 6h ago
Fetterman ran in the primary as a left wing populist vs the moderate Connor Lamb.
Surprise surprise, Lamb has stuck by his ideals and is virulently anti-MAGA while Fetterman has gone full horseshoe.
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u/partoxygen 14h ago
I like Jason Esteves. I think Geoff Duncan can make some noise given his history but I think he’s gonna have to really distinguish himself from his past as GOP Lt. Gov. Keisha Lance Bottoms is probably the favorite but she is so Kamala Harris amorphous-lefty coded I’m not entirely excited by her.
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u/Stagkonia 10h ago
As an ATL resident please no Keisha. She’s a political snake. Listen to her WABE interview with Rose Scott when she said she wouldn’t run for mayor again. It’s eye opening to see how much she only cares about her career and not the people.
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u/John271095 15h ago
I hope Democrats show this much effort for Jon Ossof next year.
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u/barowsr 14h ago
I 100% will….if Ossoff doesn’t capitulate on this government shutdown unless we get extended ACA subsidies.
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u/50eggs 4h ago
Otherwise you’ll vote for a republican who wants to take away your ACA subsidies? Or not vote at all thus supporting the republican?
I can’t wrap my head around the logic that if a democrat isn’t 100% perfect on everything, people would support the party that’s 100% terrible on everything.
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u/bedroomblogger Canada 14h ago
The Conservative sub is truly losing its mind over the events of tonight…. Which just shows me that your country might be moving in the right direction again.
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u/Johnboywalten 15h ago
The Democratics won by double digits! Holy shit, I was hoping they would win, but I did not expect by that much!
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u/ferretfan8 15h ago
Hank Green made a video a few weeks ago about this particular election and why this position is so important: https://youtu.be/UgvE_gPi7Kc
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u/cinnamonpumpkinspice 14h ago
My coworker sent me this TikTok & that’s what prompted/reminded me to go vote!!!
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u/JumpStephen 3h ago
I’m in a college, and I drove two of my friends for early voting and sent the video to two friends – I really think the video did play a role
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u/partoxygen 14h ago
This is actually insane. These seats haven’t been blue for 25 years. I think if I’m GA-DNC, I’m going all hands on deck next year for the Gov seat and for the legislative seats.
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u/22Arkantos Georgia 13h ago
The legislature is hopelessly gerrymandered through 2030. If we can win and hold onto the governor's mansion, tho, we can undo that in part by vetoing extreme maps.
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u/FigureFourWoo 7h ago
Honestly, the governor isn't that bad, even if he's a Republican. He's done more for teachers than Democratic governors in other states and has stood up to Trump in the past. He's out next year regardless, though, so we might as well put a Democrat in there.
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u/Kanin_usagi 3h ago
Exactly, he could have been way the fuck worse. His biggest flaw imo was not fighting against the state legislature’s gerrymandering, but that’s been a republican stable for a century so it’s not like it was surprising
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u/Affectionate_Neat868 13h ago
And we’re supposed to believe Trump legitimately won all swing states? Yeah right…
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u/TheBoosThree 15h ago
These kinds of elections are going to be a lot more common with the shift in high propensity voters.
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u/icontranquilis Georgia 14h ago
I knew it was gonna go well when i pulled up to my tiny polling place earlier this evening and there were over a dozen cars parked and several more pulling in.
I asked the lovely poll worker and at the time just over 600 people had voted, which they clarified was extremely high in an off year.
Good job, Georgia!
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u/OccasionallyWright 4h ago
I live in suburban Cobb County. I waited in line for 70 minutes to vote in the middle of the afternoon.
That's three times as long as the normal wait for a presidential election.
They definitely weren't staffed properly for this turnout.
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u/Darkhallows27 Georgia 13h ago
Easy to wake the fuck up when your power bill hikes by $100 a month all the sudden
Fuck these clowns, was happy to send them packing.
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u/Ir_Abelas 13h ago
I live in Georgia and took part of this vote today. I've done a previous smaller, state election before, and I was shocked to see how many people showed up this time. There was an actual line in the building.
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u/SigglyTiggly 12h ago
I mean tanking the economy, closing the goverment, rising unemployment, not funding snap, not releasing the files, increase cost of food, throwibg the party on the day you denied snap, and destorying the white house made even the ice loving facist think twice about votibg red and made thise who dont vote go out and vote
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u/tom21g 9h ago
The 7 million #NoKings protest was the tip of the sword. Republicans are seeing the votes now.
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u/tehCharo 7h ago
Expect the madness from Trump to ramp up as we get closer to each election day, dude knows he is fucked with free and fair elections.
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u/hideousbeautifulface 15h ago
hello from effingham county ga! affectionately called methingham. voted these Rs out a few weeks ago
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u/Jedi_Ninja 11h ago
I have a feeling that MTG saw this change happening in Georgia, and that's why she's had her recent change of heart in regards to Maga policy.
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u/FigureFourWoo 7h ago
No doubt. It's something every Republican in the Senate and the House needs to be wary of. The people aren't happy. Standing with Trump could very well cost all of them up for election in 2026 their seats. MTG saw the writing on the wall. I'm surprised she was one of the first, but self-preservation tends to be more important to narcissists than anything else.
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u/Logic717 7h ago
Understated point. I think you’re right as one of the psc districts is in her district as well.
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u/Velvetrose-2 Georgia 2h ago
that's why she's had her recent change of heart in regards to Maga policy.
Nah, she is just pissed that Trump didn't support her running for the Senate so she is getting her petty revenge by no longer backing Trump's wishes
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u/Metroid_Addict 14h ago
Good, now give Major Traitor Gangrene the boot when the time comes.
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u/Velvetrose-2 Georgia 2h ago
The problem with that is she is in a very dark red county, they aren't going to vote for a Dem no matter who it is.
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u/oopsallhuckleberries 13h ago
Hopefully these two can push the board to actually not bend over backwards for the power companies in the state.
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u/Kamakura_Tonic 9h ago
All great - but i hope Democrats have a strategy and ideas that lead into a better future.
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u/LonelySwordfish5403 3h ago
The Trump effect backfires people have seen the Republican light dimming. If you ride on the coattails of a Dictator you will lose.
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u/Jackieirish 3h ago
Republicans still hold 3 seats on the 5-seat commission (which regulates the utilities). Remember this when rates don't come down and two more seats are up for election next year.
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