Tom Crawford: / What future is in store here for Georgia’s Democrats? | The Blackshear Times

If you’re still a Democrat in Georgia, there are reasons to feel optimistic about the future.

The state’s changing demographic mix would normally bode well for the party, as the percentage of white voters has dropped below 60 percent and the numbers of black and Latino voters who are more likely to vote for a Democrat continue to grow.

There is still a substantial base of Democratic support in this conservative, Republican-leaning state. Barack Obama drew 47 percent of Georgia’s vote in 2008 and nearly 46 percent in 2012.

Other indicators are not so encouraging.

Republicans occupy the governor’s mansion and hold every statewide office, as well as controlling two-thirds of the seats in the General Assembly and the congressional delegation.

For major races on next year’s election ballot, strong Republican candidates are already lining up for each office. The Democratic bench is much thinner.

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