Cobb is hardly a progressive utopia, but it is quickly becoming the front line in the battle to turn Georgia blue. Obama garnered 45% of the vote in Cobb County in 2008-up from John Kerry’s 37%-and 6 of Cobb’s 14 state house seats are now in Democratic hands. It goes without saying that Democrat Pat Dooley’s HD 38, Democrat Terry Johnson’s HD 37, and Maryline Blackburn’s challenge over in HD 34 will be hotly contested, but under the radar Democrats are challenging some entrenched Cobb Republicans. I have had the pleasure of volunteering some of my time with these candidates and I think they are going to make us proud.
Democrat Diane Lore is running against Sharon Cooper in HD 41(East Cobb). Cooper is facing a strong primary challenge from the right and she is likely to take victory for granted this fall. Obama broke 40% in Cooper’s district in 2008 and Diane Lore’s campaign team is already laying the foundation for a strong run in November. Up in HD 35(Kennesaw/Acworth area) Matthew Adams hopes to build on Jason Adams strong run in 2008 and retire Ed “Microchip” Setzler from public service. Jason received just under 40% of the vote in 2008 and Ed Setzler has received some bad press over the last two years for his not so mainstream views. Ed is one of the stars of this infamous incident.
Over in HD 32 Judy Manning has drawn her first Democratic challenger since 2000 in recent Kennesaw State graduate Kevin Hagler. Manning also faces a Republican primary challenge to her FAR right, but I do not think she has much to worry about on July 20. For your moment of Zen meet Manning’s GOP primary challenger Buddy Simpson. Just over the Chattahoochee in north Fulton my good friend Paul Kennedy is challenging Jan Jones in HD 46. Paul is a Peace Corps alum and he is currently working on his nursing degree at KSU. If you have a problem with Jan Jones you know who to write a check to!
Obviously, all of these challengers face an uphill battle, but Democrats have to pick up seats in less hospitable parts of metro Atlanta, or spend many more years in the minority. I hope one or more of these candidates can pull off an upset, but at the very least they will tie up a lot of GOP money that could be used against our more vulnerable Democratic incumbents. I sincerely believe that every door that we knock on and every call that we make in red house districts helps to lay the foundation for our future Democratic majority.
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