Charlie Bailey will become the new Chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia, after winning Saturday’s elections. The former candidate for Georgia Lieutenant Governor and assistant Fulton County District Attorney beat out five candidates for the position. Ultimately, Bailey beat out Rome City Commissioner Wendy Davis in the runoff.
Bailey was endorsed by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff during the campaign period. Saturday, Bailey also had the backing of U.S. Representative Lucy McBath, who campaigned for Bailey during Saturday’s meeting.
Davis stressed in the meeting that her more than 30 years of service to DPG was more than commensurate for the role. However, Bailey pledged during a recent town hall in Albany that the methods of the past are not enough to meet the present needs of the party.
“You know, I love all those old stories of New Deal politics and civil terror and the 1968 campaign. Everytime you talk to a young person about that, you’re totally telling them about ancient Egypt,” Bailey said April 22nd. “We have got to have a plan and a message that talks in plain language about their livelihoods.”
Saturday, Bailey promised to raise money and spend it “directly, strategically and efficiently”.
How did they get here?
The Democratic Party of Georgia elections are usually an internal affair. After the stinging defeats in the 2024 Presidential Elections, DPG’s disagreements spilled into the public square. There were letters calling for the resignations of party leadership, including U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams. Those individuals that signed their names to the petitions believed the DPG chair should no longer be a volunteer role and transformed into a full-time position.
Organizations like the Young Democrats of Georgia, and others, felt like DPG was not meeting the current moment. They believed Williams could not serve as party chair and be a member of Congress at the same time. Also, a number of candidates for legislative seats and sitting members of the Georgia General Assembly, issued statements suggesting they weren’t supported in a requisite way during the 2024 elections.
Williams stood down on March 31st after the party decided to make the party chair’s role a compensated and full-time position. Williams cannot accept a salary by DPG due to ethics rules while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
What’s next?
Georgia Democrats have hosted town halls throughout the state in the last few weeks ahead of Saturday’s election. Constituents are expressing anger, fear and discontent with Democrats while pushing for swift and decisive action. While State level legislators spell out the ways they’re acting on behalf of Georgians, the base is primed to push forward.
“Republicans have controlled this state for 22 years, and in that time, 12 rural hospitals have closed and 18 more are at risk of closing because they refuse to expand Medicaid, and Democrats, Republicans and Independents have full cause to be angry about it,” said Bailey. “We’ll make sure all voters know that electing more Republicans in Georgia means more billionaire tax cuts, corporate giveaways, and a host of other distractions that will not reduce prices for Georgians, and we’re going to hold them accountable, re-elect Senator Jon Ossoff, and elect more Democrats up and down the ballot this year and beyond.”
