Valdosta, Ga. – Georgia Democratic statewide candidates rallied in Valdosta last Saturday, October 24, 2026, urging residents to cast early ballots and support the entire Democratic ticket. The event at Big Nick’s Juke Joint on Baytree Road drew approximately 120 attendees, where speakers emphasized the importance of high voter turnout in the upcoming election.
Tamika Miller, chairman of the Lowndes County Democratic Party, introduced the candidates, wearing a T-shirt that read “Whole ballot energy.” Miller explained this phrase meant voting for Democratic candidates from the governor’s race down to local positions.
Gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms was the primary attraction, according to event organizers. She was joined by Secretary of State candidate Penny Brown Reynolds, Commissioner of Labor candidate Nikki Porcher, and State School Superintendent candidate Lydia Powell. Nanette Melton, the rural Georgia ambassador for the Democratic Party candidates, also spoke on behalf of Public Service Commission candidate Sheila Edwards. While each candidate discussed their specific races, they consistently reiterated two core messages: to encourage voter participation and to vote for all Democratic candidates on the ballot.
Candidates frequently referenced a statistic from eight years prior, noting that if Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams had secured an average of 21 additional votes in every Georgia precinct, she would have won the election. Most of those in attendance indicated they had already voted early, but the candidates encouraged them to reach out to friends and family to help achieve the goal of 21 more people at the polls.
Bottoms, after greeting supporters, outlined her policy proposals, beginning with healthcare. She highlighted the closure of nine rural hospitals in Georgia in recent years and shared an example of a pregnant woman in Jesup who needed to drive an hour and 15 minutes to receive ob/gyn care. Bottoms described Georgia Pathways, the state’s program for providing health insurance to individuals not eligible for Medicaid, as "a complete disaster," stating it has cost millions of dollars while enrolling only a few thousand people. She promised that if elected, Georgia would develop workable plans to insure this group, similar to systems in other states.
Bottoms also addressed the state’s strict abortion law, asserting it has prevented doctors from treating miscarriages. She recounted speaking with a doctor who delayed treating a woman experiencing a miscarriage for 24 hours due to fear of legal repercussions for aborting a dying fetus.
On education, Bottoms pledged to fully fund the state’s schools. She noted that the current funding formula, established in 1985, requires updating and has only been fully funded by the legislature three times since its enactment. Specifically, she aims to fully fund the state’s pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds and then work towards establishing a program for 3-year-olds. Bottoms stated, "The earlier we can get our students into a structured learning environment, the better they can build a strong foundation." She also mentioned hearing concerns from students across Georgia about the need for improved mental health care, with students reporting, "We’re not OK. Our family’s mental health is not OK, and we don’t even know where to go to get help." In response to a question from an audience member, she noted a shortage of approximately 6,000 teachers statewide and proposed ending income tax on teachers’ salaries while raising starting teacher pay from $48,000 to $60,000 annually.
Bottoms also commented on her opponent’s shifting stance regarding an appearance with President Trump, characterizing it as evidence that her opponent is a "puppet of Donald Trump." She stated, "When I hear my opponent say he wants to be Trump’s favorite governor, I think about whose favorite governor I want to be. I want to be your favorite governor." Concerns about potential influence on Election Day by President Trump were cited as adding to the urgency for Democrats to maximize voter turnout. Bottoms quoted a supporter, saying, "Our numbers have got to be too big to even rig."
Following an intermission, other Democratic candidates delivered shorter speeches. Penny Brown Reynolds, the candidate for secretary of state, focused on ensuring that voting is safe, secure, and accessible. She acknowledged Republican concerns about voting security and stated her intention to conduct a comprehensive review of the system and implement transparency. Reynolds noted that Georgia’s next secretary of state will assist the legislature in selecting a new voting system, a decision previously extended during a special session. She plans to allocate more resources to county polling locations, where votes are cast and counted. Reynolds also intends to address scams targeting seniors, increase resources for small businesses—connecting entrepreneurs with grants, investors, and opportunities—and streamline the professional licensing process, all of which fall under the Secretary of State’s Office.
Nikki Porcher, the candidate for labor commissioner, primarily urged voters to bring friends and family to the polls to boost Democratic turnout. Lydia Powell, running for state school superintendent, expressed disagreement with incumbent Richard Woods’ view that Georgia lacks a literacy problem. Powell asserted, "If any school district in our state is failing, we’re all failing." She advocated for a new school funding formula that accounts for local poverty levels, which the current formula does not. Powell also seeks funding for summer programs and STEM schools statewide and proposes placing assistant school superintendents in offices across Georgia to enhance accessibility of the office's resources for local school systems. Nanette Melton, speaking for Public Service Commission candidate Sheila Edwards, stated, "I’m tired of my utility bills being higher than my checks."
