Meanwhile, in Cobb County

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.

Comments

21 responses to “Meanwhile, in Cobb County”

  1. Jonae Wartel Avatar
    Jonae Wartel

    Great Article Jason! Thanks for highlighting the races that have flown under the radar thus far. I echo Trevor’s sentiments, I am very proud of all of the democrat activity that we have going on in Cobb. A great time to be a democrat in GA for sure! 🙂

  2. Zaid Avatar

    I’m just saying Ed’s had some brighter-than-average-Republican instincts, but of course I’d want a progressive. I can’t think of the last time I didn’t support a more progressive person for a seat when that was viable 🙂

  3. Jen B. Avatar
    Jen B.

    Soo.. The CCDC fundraiser isn’t being held in Cobb? What the hell.

  4. JerryT Avatar
    JerryT

    Far out man.

  5. JerryT Avatar
    JerryT

    She should take all the money he will give her!

    To assume the quid pro quo is pretty cynical, isn’t it?

  6. JerryT Avatar
    JerryT

    For God’s sake don’t dis-invite anyone!

  7. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    Here is a nice video from the NAACP Candidate forum, featuring candidate Wilkerson

    http://www.mdjonline.com/pages/popup_vid?whichmovie=7838932

  8. parker404 Avatar
    parker404

    A little OT, but it looks like Rep. Alisha Thomas-Morgan is facing a pretty strong primary fight in Cobb. Probably well-deserved for her helping the voucher folks meddle in other legislative races. And taking Eric Johnson’s money.

  9. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    This saturday, 9:00 am Cobb Dems meet for breakfast & talk politics.

    Piccadilly Cafeteria
    536 Cobb Parkways SE, Marietta, GA, 30060 US

    Guest this month are
    Carl Camon running for Gov.
    Ken Hodges running for AG.

    Next Saturday is their annual fundraiser, Cobb JJ dinner with guest speaker Mayor Kasim Reed.

    details here

    http://www.cobbdemocrats.org/events/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Day&sm=6&sy=2010&sd=19&h=11801

  10. From the Burbs Avatar
    From the Burbs

    Hopefully all of the candidates mentioned will be at Cobb Young Dems BBQ on Saturday

    11:30-1pm Walton Vinings Club House 4949 Oakdale Road, Smyrna, GA, 30080

  11. C Borgia Avatar

    I just ran into Paul and he seemed stoked about running. Even if it’s too soon to win there he may be able to cause some much needed trouble. Our legislators have to be made to suffer the consequences of these abysmally stupid episodes by being held up to public ridicule whenever possible.
    One positive note from the famous microchip incident: we now know why these people stick their heads into such unusual places. They are looking for microchips. Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom. Driil, baby, drill. I have no complaints.
    Jason: What are the odds that the looming and longed-for exit of Guvner Sonny ‘The Damned’ Perdue will produce a much worse chief executive? I’ve got to think it’s at least 50-50. We have the insurance ‘industry’ candidate, the election fixing Katherine Harris-wannabe candidate, and of course we got Nathan Deal, who sounds like he should be in Guys and Dolls, acts like a crook, and votes like a Neanderthal (http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/Nathan_Deal.htm). Who knows what rough birther from beyond the moon will shamble from the pines, microchip in place, to lead Georgia forward into the past?

  12. Trevor Southerland Avatar
    Trevor Southerland

    Can he now reform the microchip implant law or whatever it’s called and make it less ridiculous?

    I mean, I’m sure everyone has some good aspects about them and I’m sure Ed loves his family, etc, etc, etc… but anyone who serves his constituents as poorly as Rep. Setzler does needs to go, be they Republican, Democrat or whatever…

  13. JMPrince Avatar

    Certainly almost a brodak moment there Z. We’ve got to wonder about his bitchin’ boots now too.

  14. Zaid Avatar

    Setzler helped reform the statutory rape laws and make them less ridiculous, he has a good Libertarian streak I can admire.

  15. Trevor Southerland Avatar
    Trevor Southerland

    As a resident of the 35th State House district, I’m so glad I get to vote against Ed Setzler.

    As a member of the Cobb County Democratic Party, I’m proud of everything we have going on in Cobb. We may have some parts of our county that are blood red, but we’re working on it… and not too far away from turning our State House delegation blue.

  16. JMPrince Avatar

    Typical Z, Ever the 5th columnist!

  17. Zaid Avatar

    I actually like Ed Setzler a lot, and I’m supposedly at the nexus of the global liberal conspiracy. Hopefully we retire our other Republican friends first.

  18. Jen B. Avatar
    Jen B.

    Nobody ever knocks on my door, but I imagine I live in a pretty red part of the county.

  19. JMPrince Avatar

    Will F. carries around a full color coded ‘cheat sheet’ just to keep him straight about the goings on & races in Cobb. But up here in NWGa.? All we’ve got are GOP districts! JMP

  20. Mel Avatar

    I always admire Democrats who run in Republican dominated districts. It takes a lot of courage to go it alone or best case, with limited support. There’s a lot more going on in Cobb than I knew.

  21. Jason Avatar
    Jason

    Could not agree with you more.

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