Permanent sprawl Surrounding Atlanta, Georgia’s capital city, and perhaps the entire South, newcomers from all over the country, drawn by hope and possibility, have driven the city’s rapid growth.
Georgia, long a Republican stronghold, has recently emerged as a battleground state due to demographic changes in its rapidly diversifying suburbs. President Biden won the state in 2020, but his prospects there this year are dim.
Then Vice President Kamala Harris emerged and the energy shifted. Voters who had been unenthusiastic about Biden are now excited and optimistic. This new dynamic may be Georgia’s biggest test yet of its battleground status.
Over the course of several weeks, we spoke to voters across the suburban counties that make up metro Atlanta and found opinions as diverse as the region itself.
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Blake McClellan
Blake McClellan
Melinda Hicks
Melinda Hicks
Blake McClellan
Blake McClellan
Reverend Cynthia L. Hale
Reverend Cynthia L. Hale
Blake McClellan
Blake McClellan
Yesenia Mohammed
Yesenia Mohammed
Reverend Cynthia L. Hale
Reverend Cynthia L. Hale
October The Hou
October The Hou
Yesenia Mohammed
Yesenia Mohammed
Bruce Leonard
Bruce Leonard
Melinda Hicks
Melinda Hicks
Yolanda Alvarado Sanchez
Yolanda Alvarado Sanchez
Blake McClellan
Blake McClellan
October The Hou
October The Hou
Yesenia Mohammed
Yesenia Mohammed
Bruce Leonard
Bruce Leonard
October The Hou
October The Hou
“When I ask people, ‘Where are you from?’
“When I ask people, ‘Where are you from?’
“Oh, I’m from Atlanta.”
“Oh, I’m from Atlanta.”
But most people think that we
But most people think that we
Surrounding the perimeter of a road
Surrounding the perimeter of a road
It is on the outskirts of the city.”
It is on the outskirts of the city.”
“The suburbs have changed.
“The suburbs have changed.
It’s just going to be explosive growth.”
It’s just going to be explosive growth.”
“I call it a small, cookie-cutter suburb.
“I call it a small, cookie-cutter suburb.
Here, bubbles are produced,
Here, bubbles are produced,
And I love it.
And I love it.
We feel safe.”
We feel safe.”
“Atlanta is really about inclusivity.
“Atlanta is really about inclusivity.
We are really progressive.”
We are really progressive.”
“Sadly, I haven’t been to Atlanta since COVID.
“Sadly, I haven’t been to Atlanta since COVID.
Crime is out of control.”
Crime is out of control.”
“I see a lot of people moving here.
“I see a lot of people moving here.
From various places,
From various places,
Some places like California and New York are very liberal.
Some places are very liberal, like California and New York.
I think the demographics are changing.
I think the demographics are changing.
It will turn purple.”
It will turn purple.”
“I’ve always been a Democrat.”
“I’ve always been a Democrat.”
“I have a Trump bumper sticker on my car.”
“I have a Trump bumper sticker on my car.”
“I have the right ideas on some issues.
“I have the right ideas on some issues.
Other issues remain.”
Other issues remain.”
“I would say I’m politically isolated.”
“I would say I’m politically isolated.”
“Most of my neighbors are Republicans.
“Most of my neighbors are Republicans.
“I miss you.”
“I miss you.”
“That’s how I get my news.
“That’s how I get my news.
That’s a good question.”
That’s a good question.”
“I get my news mainly from social media.”
“I get my news mainly from social media.”
“I tend to use X as a news medium.”
“I tend to use X as a news medium.”
“I watch Newsmax.”
“I watch Newsmax.”
“Joe Rogan”
“Joe Rogan”
“Typical NPR.”
“Typical NPR.”
“Really
“Really
It’s a conversation in which there are two facts.”
It’s a conversation in which there are two facts.”
“I wish we knew the same facts.”
“I wish we knew the same facts.”
The main issues were the same as those expressed by voters nearly everywhere: the cost of living. Security on the southern border. Access to abortion.
But voting rights, the integrity of our elections, and the health of our nation’s institutions also mattered here. That was a direct result of 2020.
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