East Cobb Democrats

10/18/2026

Ossoff, Bottoms eye momentum behind historic early voting turnout

With early voting off to a record-breaking start, Georgia’s top Democrats urged supporters to the polls saying they could make a pivotal difference in close races up and down the ballot.

“We need you to work,” U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff said at a Cobb County rally with former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is running for governor.

“Some people just happen to live in times and in places where history is made, and this year, once again, Georgia, that’s us,” Ossoff said.

More than 796,000 voters have already cast ballots during the first week of early voting as of Saturday at 6 p.m. More people voted on Tuesday than the first day of early voting in the most recent midterm election in 2022.

The incumbent senator this week reported a staggering fundraising edge over Collins. Ossoff reported roughly $26 million in the bank in the final stretch of his reelection campaign, a stockpile the campaign says it will continue to tap for TV advertising, canvassing and other grassroots efforts.

Ossoff used the rally Saturday to boost Democrats down the ballot, including Josh McLaurin, who is running for lieutenant governor, Tanya Miller running for attorney general and Penny Brown Reynolds running for secretary of state.

Bottoms is also working to link her Republican opponent to Trump in the high-stakes race for governor.

“There is a clear contrast on the ballot this year Georgia. A man who looks out for himself, or a woman who works for you,” she said.

The former Atlanta mayor has focused her campaign on highlighting affordability issues — particularly rising healthcare costs — caused by decision-making in Washington, D.C.

“(Trump) has told us that he wants us to imagine that he is on the ballot,” Bottoms said. “Well Georgia, we heard him loud and clear.”

Jackson had been distancing himself from Trump before appearing alongside him Friday in Dalton. He offered restrained remarks about the president and took aim at his Democratic rival.

https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/10/ossoff-bottoms-cobb-county-rally/?gift_article_code=bUFZNm5ReWdqTHEzQnIyZnJBVTFoaFF5SkQ0d0I5YWJVelJ6U2Rad2oxazoxNzk0OTI0NTE0OjE1ZWQxNmY1NzhhOTJlODI&utm_campaign=articlegifting

Cobb County Democratic Committee

Democrats Jon Ossoff and Keisha Lance Bottoms urge supporters to the polls with early voting underway in Georgia's midterm elections.

10/18/2026

One of the best political rallies we’ve seen in years with Keisha for Georgia and Jon Ossoff right here in Cobb County last night. Both candidates delivered strong visions for a brighter future for Georgia, and persuasive arguments why their Republican opponents are not fit to serve in office. They were introduced by Jason Carter from The Carter Center.

Mike Collins and Slick Rick Jackson are looking out for Trump and other billionaire donors, while Senator Ossoff and Keisha Lance Bottoms will serve the people of Georgia

Great to see so many other Democratic elected officials, candidates and friends, including Cobb County Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, Chris Harden for Congress, Peter Hubbard, Darcy Castro for Georgia Senate, Hettig for Senate, Laura Judge & Wendy Davis, GA Democratic Advocate.

Compared to Trump’s rally in Cobb County back in July, the competing visions between the parties could not be clearer. Plus:
- Trump used foul language; Democrats did not.
- Trump lied continuously for over an hour, while Senator Ossoff and Mayor Bottoms spoke the plain truth.
- Democrats followed the law by not illegally using taxpayer dollars to pay for their rallies, whereas Trump, Slick Rick & Ragsdale used school resources and taxpayer dollars to pay for their political rally in July.

Do not sit this election out. Go vote early this week! 🗳️💙

Cobb County Democratic Committee
Democratic Party of Georgia
Democrats
Democratic Governors Association (DGA)

10/18/2026

Early voting is underway in states across the country.

10/18/2026

10/18/2026

Two Follow Ups from the Cobb School Board Meeting:

A masterclass video on speaking truth to power, version Cobb County Georgia 2026; and

A response to the Ragsdale/MDJ false narrative that Cobb Democrats are "a small group of haters."

Topic 1 - On October 15, a dozen Cobb residents stood before the Cobb County Schools Board of Education and the superintendent, and made the case for transparency and accountability. They included a candidate for school board (Micheal Garza for Cobb County School Board), an elected state House member (Lisa for GA), and a student the board blocked from speaking.

The board voted over a year ago to exclude public comments from both the official video and the written record, so you won't find these on the district's channels.

Your guide to the public comment video, with start times:
• 9:50 – Keith McNulty: the secrecy around the $7M Servius contract, the Trump rally spend, and a call for an independent review
• 11:45 – Michael Garza: a parent and school board candidate on what this election is really about
• 13:50 – Lori Goldstrom: who paid for the Trump rally at a school that is supposed to be nonpartisan
• 16:10 – Jenny Daley Peterson: removal of a student and two adults from public comment, legal fees, the 2022 grand jury findings, and a $7M contract no one can show us
• 18:15 – Jesse Derevera: what silencing difficult subjects has to do with the board's stated anti-trafficking commitment
• 20:30 – Loray Martin: a grandmother on being labeled "anti-school" and what public schools actually need
• 22:45 – Barbara Powell: the Bluest Eye ban and the priorities behind it
• 25:05 – Sawyer Warren: a senior asks for consistency in what gets banned
• 27:10 – Rep. Lisa Campbell: a formal request for the full rally costs and an audit of the Servius contract
• 29:30 – Allie Marks Walker: services for students with disabilities must be delivered, not just written down
• 33:55 – William Hartman: a senior on civics education and the lowest graduation rates
• 35:55 – Joel Beker: the student the board blocked from delivering his comment

Deep gratitude to the Cobb County Courier for consistently recording public comment videos at Cobb School Board meetings, showing what is actually being said. You are doing something important for our community that our Board lacks the courage to do.

Topic 2 - A response to the accusation that critics are "a small group of haters." Superintendent Ragsdale used that phrase to attack his critics. The Marietta Daily Journal (MDJ) amplified his false framing in the title of their article about the meeting. Neither claim is true.

We are not a small group. The board majority won only 41% of the vote, while the minority won 59%, because of gerrymandered districts. The Board and Superintendent are serving a minority, while critics represent the voice of the majority.

We are not haters. The label is an ad hominem attack; a personal attack designed to avoid answering legitimate questions. It’s ironic because with Republicans, every accusation is a confession.

Like all Cobb residents, we simply want truth, transparency, accountability, and compliance with ethics and law. Two specific examples of concerns that the board has ignored include:

1. What did taxpayers spend on the Trump rally at Wheeler, and why are the records required by law being withheld?

2. What does the $7 million Servius contract say, what services were delivered, and what was the benefit from this spend?

These are basic questions, and the board should have answered them months ago.



Cobb County Democratic Committee
Watching the Funds - Cobb

October 2026 public comments from both the work session and regular...

10/17/2026

Some good news from the Cobb School Board from one of our great board members, Becky Sayler for Cobb County School Board Post 2.

10/17/2026

A Republican statewide candidate in Georgia stretching the truth (making up facts) about Cobb County schools? Why is this not surprising?