# 4/18/2017 GA-6 Special Election **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 15, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907 "2017-02-15T15:31:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/41 "2017-03-19T17:08:02Z")
Is anyone else getting deluged with Ossof fundraising emails? Some are from others, requesting for him, 8 yesterday alone. I donated early on and since then, eventually began dragging them into a junk folder, 55 in the last 11 days. As I was thinking about this, that maybe it’s a dirty trick by an opponent :dubious:, I was dragging the latest, and mail quit. Repeated multiple times afterwards, and with another Ossoff email, all quitting, but not with any others, _so far_. Hmm… I’ll check it further with others email, and more inevitable Ossofs. The quitting may be just a coincidence or needs a system restart but still wondering if anyone else gets ISTM, a lot of these? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/42 "2017-03-19T17:16:22Z")
I doubt it’s the email’s content that’s causing the problem. This race is solidly on the Daily Kos crew’s radar. I am not surprised you are getting a lot of forwarded or third party pleas. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/43 "2017-03-19T20:26:30Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I doubt it’s the email’s content that’s causing the problem. Not necessarily the content, but the email itself. I opened and deleted several others, tried dragging that one into the junk folder again and mail quit again. The email after it was from a Dem organization and may or may not have been for Ossof, but just clicking on it made mail quit. I solved it by simply selecting both and deleting. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/44 "2017-03-20T06:04:11Z")
I’m seeing a lot of yard signs for Ossoff; more than I saw for Hillary. I see about twice as many signs for him as I see for Gray and Handel put together. That said, this is a red part of a red state. His chances aren’t good. I agree that his strategy should be to shoot for no-runoff, because if it does go to a run-off then the usual voters will wake up and he’ll lose in a landslide. I expect him to do so anyway, much to my sadness. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/45 "2017-03-20T14:11:26Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > Is anyone else getting deluged with Ossof fundraising emails? I haven’t gotten a single one. But I’m kinda stingy about giving out my email address to assorted fundraisers and causes. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/46 "2017-03-20T15:04:20Z")
Interesting article [here](http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2017/02/21/looking-behind-a-poll-that-shows-gasp-a-democrat-leading-in-sixth-district/) on how polls can be used. The TLDR version is that it was a poll matching the top-running Democrat against the six top-running Republicans, and Ossoff came out ahead. IOW if you don’t split the Democrat vote, but you do split the Republican vote, then we are still headed for a run off where the Republican vote won’t be split. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Kiber](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiber/32/317_2.png) [@Kiber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiber)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/47 "2017-03-23T13:04:38Z")
Here’s an interesting [video](https://news.vice.com/story/this-30-year-old-democrat-is-riding-the-anti-trump-wave-to-flip-a-conservative-georgia-stronghold) Vice HBO put together on the campaign. As an aside, it includes video from the meeting I attended, with an interview of a friend of mine and a brief shot of me in the background. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/48 "2017-03-24T17:55:57Z")
[GOP-supporting PAC dumps an additional $1.1M into anti-Ossoff ads](https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/649684?unlock=8ZR6CW0MVP9XH3LN) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/49 "2017-03-27T23:54:12Z")
Early voting starts today. I used to live in Orloff’s district and the GOP thought to provide a single, one, only one, early voting location in predominately black DeKalb County. Map: [Georgia’s 6th Congressional District - GA-06 Representatives & District Map - GovTrack.us](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/GA/6) Voting Locations: [6th District Race: Early Voting Began Monday At These Locations | East Cobb, GA Patch](http://patch.com/georgia/eastcobb/6th-district-race-early-voting-begins-monday-these-locations) 4 in Fulton. 2 in Cobb. 1 in DeKalb. DeKalb: 55% African American Cobb: 27% African American Fulton: 44% African American BUT… Fulton encompasses the city of Atlanta, and the part that is affected is overwhelmingly white: > [@](#): > > The demographic make-up of Fulton County has changed considerably in recent decades. **The northern portion of the county, a suburban area that is mostly Republican, is among the most affluent areas in the nation and is majority white.** The central and southern portion of the county, which includes the city of Atlanta and its core satellite cities to the south on the other hand, is overwhelmingly Democratic and majority black. It contains some of the poorest sections in the metropolitan area, but also has wealthy sections, particularly in the neighborhoods along Cascade Road beyond I-285. Cascade Heights and Sandtown, located in the southwest region of Fulton County, are predominantly affluent African American in population.[5] > **[Fulton County, Georgia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_County,_Georgia)** > > 33°47′N 84°28′W / 33.79°N 84.47°W / 33.79; -84.47 > > Fulton County is a county in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 1,066,710, making it the state's most populous county. Its county seat and most populous city is Atlanta, the state capital. About 90% of the City of Atlanta is within Fulton County; the remaining portion is in DeKalb County. Fulton County is part of the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GA Metropolitan St... ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/50 "2017-03-28T01:51:14Z")
In case there’s doubt as to the above, let’s note that the voting locations for North Fulton and Cobb counties are all located in the 6th district, but the 1 location allocated for DeKalb county is \*5 miles south \*of the southernmost border of the 6th district. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/51 "2017-03-28T15:36:40Z")
I’m in Mableton, so can’t vote in the election. However, if you need assistance getting to your polling place call [Alyssa Milano](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/alyssa-milano-wants-to-drive-you-to-the-polls-in-georgia_us_58d97c2be4b018c4606a48b8?section=politics). ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/52 "2017-03-29T13:02:34Z")
Very early days, but there looks to be a lot more interest among Democratic voters. From the New York Times: > [@](#): > > So far 55 percent of early voters in the special election - either in-person or absentee - have most recently participated in a Democratic primary, while just 31 percent have most recently participated in a Republican primary. > > For comparison, just 23 percent of voters in the district in the 2016 general election had most recently participated in a Democratic primary, compared with 46 percent in a Republican primary." ---
**Author:** ![Yersenia\_Pestis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e495f1/32.png) [@Yersenia\_Pestis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yersenia_Pestis)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/53 "2017-04-14T18:57:28Z")
This part of GA is rapidly changing - a lot of white collar folks here, relatively well educated population, a diversifying population, all good things for a democratic candidate. Will this be enough? No clue… Lets hope for something good happening here!! ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/54 "2017-04-18T13:24:29Z")
[The plot sickens](http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/cobb-county/voting-equipment-stolen-days-before-special-election-sec-of-state-unacceptable/513453377): > [@](#): > > …critical voting machines were stolen just days before polls will open for a special election… > > Kemp’s office says Cobb County Elections waited two days to tell his office about the theft of the machines… ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/55 "2017-04-18T14:15:20Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > [The plot sickens](http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/cobb-county/voting-equipment-stolen-days-before-special-election-sec-of-state-unacceptable/513453377): From your link, these aren’t voting machines as such, but rather the machines that are used to check in voters at the polls, and check off those that have already voted. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/56 "2017-04-18T14:16:40Z")
Is anyone seriously expecting this to result in something other than a weeding out that produces a Republican and a Democrat for a run-off election? ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/57 "2017-04-18T14:17:40Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > From your link, these aren’t voting machines as such, but rather the machines that are used to check in voters at the polls, and check off those that have already voted. Gotta make sure that all the dead relatives are still registered. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/58 "2017-04-18T14:17:45Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Is anyone seriously expecting this to result in something other than a weeding out that produces a Republican and a Democrat for a run-off election? There’s a chance Ossof gets to 50%. Polls have him close, but we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/59 "2017-04-18T14:24:31Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Is anyone seriously expecting this to result in something other than a weeding out that produces a Republican and a Democrat for a run-off election? > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > There’s a chance Ossof gets to 50%. Polls have him close, but we’ll see. Which is pretty much Ossoff’s only chance at the election. If it gets down to just two candidates and the dem was even close, I predict the local conservatives will show in droves and make it a landslide in the runoff. There were a LOT of people in person just outside polling locations (GA law says they have to be 100ft away from the entrance, and there’s a sign marking where that is, and these people were about 5 feet away from the sign) waving Ossoff signs, wearing Ossoff shirts and buttons, and chanting slogans. A lot of Dems are fired up. I’m still going to predict that Ossoff makes the runoff and loses there, but I hope I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907/60 "2017-04-18T14:43:31Z")
I’m not clear on how the runoff would be any harder than hitting 50% in the first election. Either way, he has to appeal to 50% of the total electorate. The total electorate will probably be smaller in the runoff, but that’ll affect both candidates, and I’m not sure that it’s a given that it’ll affect him more than the Republican. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-18-2017-ga-6-special-election/779907.md?page=4)