A new non-profit organization in Georgia, strongly supported by Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, has one primary objective — “to preserve and protect the Republican majority in the State Senate.”
Advance Georgia, Inc. kicked off its efforts in September with a fundraiser at SunTrust Park. Organizers have already raised over $300,000 in their efforts to “focus on protecting potentially vulnerable districts and looking for ways to build the caucus.”
“This (initiative) gives me the opportunity to focus like a laser on ensuring a handful of GOP Senators in metro Atlanta return to the Gold Dome or elect Republicans in the districts they leave behind,” Duncan said. “This effort will work strategically to remind voters – especially women in the suburbs – of the great things we have done as a conservative body to help them and their families including cutting taxes and giving teachers a much-deserved pay raise.”
Duncan went on to say: “When reminded of our agenda that includes improving education for every child and making the state the technology capital of the East Coast, we believe these voters will gladly continue to cast Republican votes.”
Advance Georgia targets some of the state Senate’s most competitive districts. All of the funds raised through this initiative will go to efforts to defend four Republican incumbents, to hold two seats currently held by Republicans who are resigning to run for the U.S. House, and to win back two seats recently flipped by Democrats.
At this time Advance Georgia has the following eight seats on its target list:
Senate District 6 – (Jen Jordan-D)
Senate District 9 – (P.K Martin-R)
Senate District 17 – (Brian Strickland-R)
Senate District 21 – (Beach -R – Open)*
Senate District 32 – (Kay Kirkpatrick-R)
Senate District 45 – (Renee Unterman-R)*
Senate District 48 – (Zahra Karinshak-D – Open)
Senate District 56 – (John Albers-R)
Advance Georgia has already drawing a lot of attention on social media, and on the internet. Wednesday, Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted, “Under the bold leadership of Lt. Gov. @GeoffDuncanGA, @AdvanceGeorgia will work to share our story, vision, & success with Georgia voters. Together, we will build a grassroots army that can deliver victory for conservative candidates up & down the ballot! #gapol #advancegeorgia”
The state’s top Democrat in the Senate, Minority Leader Steve Henson, said he wasn’t surprised when he saw the new initiative.
“They have been pushing policy that is not moving Georgia forward, so now they are trying to win the elections by putting a lot of money into them. I believe it’s apparent that the leadership knows the policies they’re pushing – not expanding Medicaid, under-funding education – is eroding support for their party. I believe we will be successful in the end.”
Republicans currently hold a 35-21 majority in the chamber and Democrats would have to pull off multiple upsets to flip seven Senate districts.
Even so, Duncan said Republicans don’t want to take any chances next year.
