More than 1,000 Georgia Democrats gathered in Savannah Saturday to organize for November, rallying behind gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms and U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff’s reelection campaign.
The daylong state convention brought candidates, delegates and activists to the Savannah Convention Center. Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Charlie Bailey argued rising costs, job insecurity, and frustration with Republican leadership have created an opening for Democrats.
The party is pairing that message with a larger turnout operation. Its 2026 coordinated campaign will include 30 field offices, 60 full-time field organizers and more than 100 staffers working with statewide and legislative candidates.
Bottoms used her keynote speech to target Republican nominee Rick Jackson and his alliance with President Donald Trump. She said Jackson wants to become Trump’s “favorite governor,” while she is running to represent Georgia families. Bottoms emphasized Medicaid expansion, jobs, veterans and affordability.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Jackson has reserved nearly $90 million in general-election advertising after spending more than $108 million of his fortune to win the Republican nomination. Bottoms pointed to Democrats’ nearly 150,000-ballot primary turnout advantage as evidence money alone will not decide the race.
Ossoff and Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock did not attend. Party officials cited scheduling conflicts, leaving Bottoms as the convention’s headliner even as Ossoff’s Senate contest remains a national priority.
Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon dismissed the gathering as a celebration of an “out-of-touch agenda.” He argued Republican leadership has delivered economic growth, safer communities, secure elections and responsible government.
The convention showed Democrats entering the final campaign stretch with enthusiasm and expanded organization. Their challenge is turning both into victories for Bottoms, Ossoff and candidates down the ballot.
