GA-SEN 2020 Class III Megathread: She Who Loeffs Last

[HarrisonL]

If this hasn't been posted already, McBath is not running for Isakson's seat: https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/lucy-mcbath-passes-johnny-isakson-senate-seat/wCEGrWiW3oFxXSnSehrb6I/. I assume she realized that it would be better for her to win reelection to her current seat, than to pursue a Senate bid in which she would be the underdog. As I've said before, if Perdue wins reelection (and I believe that he will), then Republicans will win the open Senate seat as well. And without the Georgia seats, and without Maine (where I think Collins is the favorite, and will win reelection by a Manchin-esque margin), Democrats will not take back the Senate next year.

That’s nice, Mr. Oracle, but the playing field a year out from the election never looks the same as it does on Election Day. In September 2015, Ohio and Florida were supposed to be the big Semate races of 2016 while Missouri was completely ignored. Or in 2017, AL was on no one’s radar, and neither was TX (at least by anyone serious) and TN while WV was supposedly pretty safe for Democrats

Florida was only cause Rubio wasnt expected to run again, and in Ohio  it was always viewed as Lean R.

Yeah Ted Strickland was a garbage candidate.

[Pollster]

I'm sure most higher-profile Dems are waiting to see who gets the appointment before jumping into this race, but if a trash candidate like Price could definitely bring in some Dem heavyweights.

[Heebie Jeebie]

Former US Attorney Ed Tarver is reportedly considering. He's black, a former State Senator and a Army veteran. Also he's from outside the Atlanta metro area like Tomilson.

https://twitter.com/DKElections/status/1176178177896570880

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Tarver

Any idea how old Tarver is?

[Rookie Yinzer]

Former US Attorney Ed Tarver is reportedly considering. He's black, a former State Senator and a Army veteran. Also he's from outside the Atlanta metro area like Tomilson.

https://twitter.com/DKElections/status/1176178177896570880

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Tarver

Any idea how old Tarver is?

According to the link below he was aged 50 when sworn in as a U.S. Attorney in December 2009:

https://www.augustachronicle.com/article/20091219/NEWS/312199973

[Heebie Jeebie]

https://twitter.com/PoliticsReid/status/1179022624665550848

[Lord Halifax]

Bad decision for McBath if true. She's WAY more likely to win re-election to GA-06 than to win statewide in an open senate seat. Also increases Republican odds in the 6th.

I wouldn't go that far. GA-06 fits the profile of a district that will move towards the Democrats next year. If the Senate/Presidential races are in any way competitive in Georgia next year, the Democratic nominees should provide sufficient coattails for the GA-06 Dem.

At the very least, McBath is definitely one of the better recruits for this race. She could probably come the closest to replicating the Abrams coalition, and her gun control message is also one that could resonate with a lot of voters - both African-Americans as well as some whites in the Atlanta metro. Also, I think if she were to enter other prospective Democrats would not run in deference to her - this is important because the Democrats would need to consolidate around one candidate if they want any chance to win the special on election night.

Yeah, but this message won't resonate outside of the Atlanta metro area and she will get absolutely trounced in small towns

Small town whites don't vote D anyway.

[libertpaulian]

Matt Lieberman (yes, of THAT Lieberman family) is the first to officially jump in:

https://www.gpbnews.org/post/matt-lieberman-first-democrat-enter-race-isaksons-senate-seat

Democrat Matt Lieberman, son of former U.S Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), is the first candidate to enter the race to fill retiring Sen. Johnny Isakson's (R-Ga.) seat in 2020.

In his campaign launch video, the small business owner, former teacher, non-profit founder and political newcomer said he is "fed up with the arrogance and cowardice of the politicians in Washington."

"Nothing... they can't come up with any way of doing anything," he remarks, kicking off a stream of laments and frustration at "these idiots in Washington."

Lieberman's platforms include protecting voting and reproductive rights, refusing corporate PAC money and gun reforms like banning assault rifles and pushing for background checks on every purchase.

[Rookie Yinzer]

I'm repulsed by people who have no history of speaking out or advocating for anything jumping in talking about how fed up they are and how they need to change their communities. Yuck.

[Storr]

Matt Lieberman (yes, of THAT Lieberman family) is the first to officially jump in:

https://www.gpbnews.org/post/matt-lieberman-first-democrat-enter-race-isaksons-senate-seat

Democrat Matt Lieberman, son of former U.S Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), is the first candidate to enter the race to fill retiring Sen. Johnny Isakson's (R-Ga.) seat in 2020.

In his campaign launch video, the small business owner, former teacher, non-profit founder and political newcomer said he is "fed up with the arrogance and cowardice of the politicians in Washington."

"Nothing... they can't come up with any way of doing anything," he remarks, kicking off a stream of laments and frustration at "these idiots in Washington."

Lieberman's platforms include protecting voting and reproductive rights, refusing corporate PAC money and gun reforms like banning assault rifles and pushing for background checks on every purchase.

Hard pass.

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

I’m supporting Lieberman 100%. I hope he runs a centrist campaign like his father.

[Pollster]

The heavyweight Dem candidates will jump in once it is known who gets the appointment. If it's Price, Kingston, Handel, etc. I expect a clown car.

[Heebie Jeebie]

The heavyweight Dem candidates will jump in once it is known who gets the appointment. If it's Price, Kingston, Handel, etc. I expect a clown car.

Whom would you consider the heavyweights?  Thurmond?  Jordan?  Nunn?  Carter?  I've for some time thought Sherry Boston would be the best pick, but then I stumbled onto her support for Stacey Evans in the 2018 primary and I wonder if that might compromise her support in the state's Democratic establishment.

[Rookie Yinzer]

The heavyweight Dem candidates will jump in once it is known who gets the appointment. If it's Price, Kingston, Handel, etc. I expect a clown car.

Whom would you consider the heavyweights?  Thurmond?  Jordan?  Nunn?  Carter?  I've for some time thought Sherry Boston would be the best pick, but then I stumbled onto her support for Stacey Evans in the 2018 primary and I wonder if that might compromise her support in the state's Democratic establishment.

The Democratic establishment didn’t want Abrams. LOL. They were obviously dead wrong and ended up with egg on their faces but Boston wasn’t alone in underestimating Abrams.

[Pollster]

The heavyweight Dem candidates will jump in once it is known who gets the appointment. If it's Price, Kingston, Handel, etc. I expect a clown car.

Whom would you consider the heavyweights?  Thurmond?  Jordan?  Nunn?  Carter?  I've for some time thought Sherry Boston would be the best pick, but then I stumbled onto her support for Stacey Evans in the 2018 primary and I wonder if that might compromise her support in the state's Democratic establishment.

All good picks, and I wouldn’t even rule out Evans. I agree with you re: Boston, her potential could be massive.

[Heebie Jeebie]

The heavyweight Dem candidates will jump in once it is known who gets the appointment. If it's Price, Kingston, Handel, etc. I expect a clown car.

Whom would you consider the heavyweights?  Thurmond?  Jordan?  Nunn?  Carter?  I've for some time thought Sherry Boston would be the best pick, but then I stumbled onto her support for Stacey Evans in the 2018 primary and I wonder if that might compromise her support in the state's Democratic establishment.

The Democratic establishment didn’t want Abrams. LOL. They were obviously dead wrong and ended up with egg on their faces but Boston wasn’t alone in underestimating Abrams.

Abrams was the minority leader in the Georgia House for eight years.  She was the establishment during that time, and she is certainly the Georgia Democratic establishment now.

[UncleSam]

This’ll be a clown car no matter who gets the appointment since there isn’t any R in Georgia who could scare off Dem challengers at this stage.

[Suburbia]

I think Kemp will appoint Austin Scott or Karen Handel.

[Tekken_Guy]

I think Kemp will appoint Austin Scott or Karen Handel.

Unlikely. Handel’s a dead politician walking and Scott’s last name may work against his chances.

[Rookie Yinzer]

Abrams was the minority leader in the Georgia House for eight years.  She was the establishment during that time, and she is certainly the Georgia Democratic establishment now.

Yeah, sure, now after she proved her stock as a statewide candidate. But the majority of legislators that endorsed in that primary endorsed Evans. All former statewide Dems that endorsed, endorsed Evans. Atlanta Mayors Franklin, Kasim Reed, and Keisha Lance Bottoms supported Evans. She was disliked by the majority of the black caucus and her heir apparent Carolyn Hughley was denied the Minority Leader position when Abrams resigned.

She was the leader because no one else wanted to do it. Georgia Democrats were demoralized and defeated by the time she took that role.

Few electeds under the Gold Dome believed a black woman would perform well statewide in Georgia and defaulted to Evans.

I said all that to say- Boston's support for Evans will not hurt her. LOL.

[Heebie Jeebie]

Abrams was the minority leader in the Georgia House for eight years.  She was the establishment during that time, and she is certainly the Georgia Democratic establishment now.

Yeah, sure, now after she proved her stock as a statewide candidate. But the majority of legislators that endorsed in that primary endorsed Evans. All former statewide Dems that endorsed, endorsed Evans. Atlanta Mayors Franklin, Kasim Reed, and Keisha Lance Bottoms supported Evans. She was disliked by the majority of the black caucus and her heir apparent Carolyn Hughley was denied the Minority Leader position when Abrams resigned.

She was the leader because no one else wanted to do it. Georgia Democrats were demoralized and defeated by the time she took that role.

Few electeds under the Gold Dome believed a black woman would perform well statewide in Georgia and defaulted to Evans.

I said all that to say- Boston's support for Evans will not hurt her. LOL.

Huh.

Okay, you convinced me.

[QAnonKelly]

Matt Lieberman (yes, of THAT Lieberman family) is the first to officially jump in:

https://www.gpbnews.org/post/matt-lieberman-first-democrat-enter-race-isaksons-senate-seat

Democrat Matt Lieberman, son of former U.S Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), is the first candidate to enter the race to fill retiring Sen. Johnny Isakson's (R-Ga.) seat in 2020.

In his campaign launch video, the small business owner, former teacher, non-profit founder and political newcomer said he is "fed up with the arrogance and cowardice of the politicians in Washington."

"Nothing... they can't come up with any way of doing anything," he remarks, kicking off a stream of laments and frustration at "these idiots in Washington."

Lieberman's platforms include protecting voting and reproductive rights, refusing corporate PAC money and gun reforms like banning assault rifles and pushing for background checks on every purchase.

That’s gonna be a hard pass from me

[skbl17]

The online application for the Kemp appointment closes Monday at 5pm. We're getting closer!

[Pollster]

Trump is urging Kemp to appoint Doug Collins

[Heebie Jeebie]

Trump is urging Kemp to appoint Doug Collins

Would Collins be a strong candidate?

[Tekken_Guy]

Trump is urging Kemp to appoint Doug Collins

I think Kemp is looking for someone who can win in 2020 rather than trying to find the Trumpiest candidate.