Democrats Said What Happened In GA-06 Would Impact The Future Direction Of Their Party And They Needed A Win There To Have Any Hope Of Taking The House

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Perez Said That The Georgia Special Election Is A "Bellwether For What The Democratic Party Is Going To Be About." "'It's [the Georgia special election] a bellwether for what the Democratic Party is going to be about,' Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez told the network, which described him as 'almost giddy about the prospects for the race.'" (Graham Vyse, "Don't Believe The Hype About Jon Ossoff," The New Republic, 4/11/17)

The Race Is The Democrat Party's "Last Opportunity To Score" A Victory That Its Base "Craves" And Will Be A "Major Test" To See If Progressive Energy Can Translate Into Actual Votes. "The race is setting up to be the party's last opportunity to score the kind of early electoral victory that its fervent base craves, and it will be a major test of whether progressive energy can translate into actual votes as Democrats seek to expand their midterm map." (Katie Glueck and Alex Roarty, "In Georgia, Democrats Feel The Pressure To Finally Win," McClatchy DC , 5/26/17)

The Executive Director Of The Georgia Democratic Party Said That The Special Election In Georgia Will Be "Instructive For The Democratic Party Moving Forward" And That It Is In States Like Georgia "Where The Democratic Party Is Going To Be Reborn." "'This race [Georgia Special] is going to be instructive for the Democratic Party moving into the future,' said Rebecca DeHart, executive director of the Georgia Democratic Party. 'It is states like this where the Democratic Party is going to be reborn. The horizon is nothing but blue.'" (Evan Halper, "Democrats' New Hope In Georgia; A Changing Electorate And Anti-Trump Fury Could Flip Tom Price's Old Seat In Congress," The Nation, 3/2/17)

Managing Editor Of Sabato's Crystal Ball, Kyle Kondik, Said That The Georgia District "Is The Kind Of District Democrats Need To Win Future House Majorities." "'This is the kind of district [Georgia Six] that Democrats need to compete in to win future House majorities,' Kondik said, noting that 'the Democratic Party has become not just urban-centric but suburban-centric.'" (Graham Vyse, "Don't Believe The Hype About Jon Ossoff," The New Republic, 4/11/17)

The Georgia District "Is Replete With The Kind Of Voters Democrats Must Attract To Reclaim A House Majority" And Win Other Races. "Leaders in both major parties agree the race offers a prime test run for 2018 elections, because the affluent, well-educated Georgia district is replete with the kind of voters Democrats must attract to reclaim a House majority and win more gubernatorial and Senate races." (Bill Barrow and Erica Werner, "Georgia House Race Heads To High-Stakes June Runoff As Trump Wades In," The Chicago Tribune , 4/19/27)

If Democrats Can't Win In Georgia, It Will "Stoke Doubt About Whether They Can Regain Majorities In Congress Next Year." "All of the openings result from Republican lawmakers being tapped for positions in the Trump administration. In Georgia, Ossoff and Handel are vying for the former seat of Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. If they can't win in the aftermath of the firing of FBI Director James B. Comey, or the revelation this week that Trump shared classified information with Russians, Democrats will stoke doubts about whether they can regain majorities in Congress next year." (Dave Weigel, "If Democrats Don't Win One Of Three Upcoming Special Elections, How Can They Take Back The Majority In 2018?" The Washington Post , 5/16/17)

It Was Do Or Die For Democrats In GA-O6

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough Said Democrats Have "Been Doing Nothing But Losing Since 2010 In These Legislative Races." "MSNBC's Joe Scarborough early Wednesday said Jon Ossoff's loss in the Georgia special House race should be a 'wake-up call' for Democrats. 'This should be a wake-up call for the Democratic Party, who has been doing nothing but losing since 2010 in these legislative races,' he said on 'Morning Joe.'" (Rebecca Savransky, "Scarborough: Ga. Election Results Should Be 'Wake-Up Call' For Dems," The Hill , 6/21/17)

Democrats "Need A Spark" To Prove That They Can Win The Elected Offices They Lost And Georgia's Sixth District Was Seen As "The Best Chance For That Spark." "Democrats, out of power in Congress and the White House, need a spark to convince themselves they can take back all that they had lost. Georgia's 6th district was seen as the best chance for that spark. It didn't happen on Tuesday night -- and now Democrats will have to wait almost two months to see if they can start to build momentum for the November 2018 midterms." (Chris Cillizza, "Democrats Needed A Win. They Didn't Get One In Georgia," CNN , 4/19/17)

Democrats "Are Facing Real Pressure" To Win Georgia's Special Election. "In the wake of a defeat in Montana, Democrats are facing real pressure to win a showdown next month in Georgia's 6th Congressional District." (Katie Glueck and Alex Roarty, "In Georgia, Democrats Feel The Pressure To Finally Win," McClatchy DC , 5/26/17)

Another "Moral Victory Won't Cut It" In Georgia. "Democrats have taken heart from three recent special elections, where a troika of candidates fell short of victory but still racked up votes in longtime Republicans districts. But another moral victory won't cut it next time. In the wake of a defeat in Montana, Democrats are facing real pressure to win a showdown next month in Georgia's 6th Congressional District." (Katie Glueck and Alex Roarty, "In Georgia, Democrats Feel The Pressure To Finally Win," McClatchy DC , 5/26/17)

"There Are No Moral Victories In Politics." "There are no moral victories in politics. No matter what the losing side says -- and they always say this -- the only thing that really matters when it comes to special elections is the 'W' and the 'L.'" (Chris Cillizza, "In Georgia, Close Isn't Nearly Good Enough For Democrats," CNN , 6/21/17)

Democrats See The Georgia Race As Their "Last Chance" To Prove A Backlash Against President Trump. "Democrats are under pressure to pull off a win in Georgia's open House race, seeing it as their last chance to use a special election as proof of a brewing backlash against President Trump." (Lisa Hagen, "High-Stakes Georgia Race Puts Pressure On Dems," The Hill , 6/4/17)

As Such, Democrats Went All-In For Ossoff

The Washington Post : "Democrats Went All-In In Georgia." "About the only indication it could be competitive was Trump's narrow, 1.5-percentage point win over Hillary Clinton that same day. This is why Democrats went all-in in Georgia. In the end, it was a bad and expensive bet. They tried hard and lost, and Republicans tried hard and won, period." (Aaron Blake, "Winners And Losers From The Georgia Special Election," The Washington Post , 6/21/17)

Democrats Poured Over $30 Million Into GA-06. "Ossoff's loss is still crushing for Democrats, who have so far been unable to translate anti-Trump sentiment into tangible political gains, including in two other close special elections in deep-red Kansas and Montana districts. But Ossoff's loss is made worse by the money involved - $24 million from the party and another $8 million from outside groups." (Carter Sherman, "The Most Expensive House Race In History," VICE , 6/20/17)

Democrats Have "Put It All On The Line" In Georgia. "Tuesday's election to replace Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price could be Democrats' best opportunity until the 2018 elections to demonstrate that their base's anti-Trumpmentum can be weaponized to kick Republicans out of office - maybe even to take back the House of Representatives for the first time since 2010. And Democrats have put it all on the line to make that happen." (Amber Phillips, "Georgia's Special Election Could Be A Big Moment For House Democrats," The Washington Post , 4/18/17)

Democrats Are "Straining To Throw Everything They Have" At The Race. "As a result, Democrats are now straining to throw everything they have at Georgia's Sixth Congressional District to push Jon Ossoff over the top against Republican Karen Handel, aiming to prove they can win the suburban districts that may pave the way to a House majority in 2018." (Gabriel Debenedetti, "Democrats Sweat The Details In Georgia Special Election," Politico , 6/19/17)

Democrats Engaged In "Furious Organizing, Fundraising And Spending…" "A loss in Georgia's special election here could leave the [Democrat] party demoralized, with little to show for all the furious organizing, fundraising and spending in a handful of congressional special elections in the early months of the Trump administration." (Gabriel Debenedetti, "Democrats Sweat The Details In Georgia Special Election," Politico , 6/19/17)

Democrats' Decisions To "Pour Money Into The Georgia Election…Ramps Up The Pressure Even Higher" For Ossoff. "Liberal grassroots groups are frustrated by national Democrats' decision to spend comparatively small amounts in Kansas and Montana races, opting instead to pour money into the Georgia election - now the most expensive House race in history. That ramps up the pressure even higher for Democrat Jon Ossoff to pull off a win on June 20." (Lisa Hagen, "High-Stakes Georgia Race Puts Pressure On Dems," The Hill , 6/4/17)

DNC Chairman Tom Perez Predicted A Win In The Georgia Special Election. "Republicans prevailed in the first two congressional special elections this year, but Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez predicts his party's candidate, Jon Ossoff, will win the Georgia race later this month. 'I'd rather be Jon Ossoff heading into June 20 than his opponent,' Republican Karen Handel, Mr. Perez told a gathering of Wall Street Journal reporters and editors Monday. 'I think we're going to win that race.'" (Reid J. Epstein, "DNC Chairman Predicts Win For Ossoff In Georgia Special Election," The Wall Street Journal , 6/6/17)

Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) Compared Ossoff To John Kennedy. "He's never held elective office and is in a tight special House election fight, but Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff has won a stunning comparison to former President John F. Kennedy by a civil rights hero and icon. To a crowd of Ossoff supporters, Georgia Rep. John Lewis made the tie about his one-time intern. 'I've met every president since President Kennedy. And I tell you, President Kennedy young, smart and gifted. John Ossoff is young, smart and gifted,' he said to cheers." (Paul Bedard, "Rep. John Lewis, Calls GA Candidate Ossoff The New JFK," Washington Examiner , 6/6/17)

Democrats Predicted A Loss In GA-06 Would Have A Devastating Impact On Their Party

"Anything Less Than Victory Could Dampen The Democrat Party's Torrid Energy And Cash Flow." "Their concern is that anything less than victory could dampen the [Democrat] party's torrid energy and cash flow, with the next round of House races still nearly a year-and-a-half away." (Gabriel Debenedetti, "Democrats Sweat The Details In Georgia Special Election," Politico , 6/19/17)

One Democrat Party Strategist Said, A Loss Would Leave A Feeling Of "When Do We Get This Done If It's Not This Race?" "'Just like any sporting event, however unlikely it is that you're close heading into the fourth quarter, a loss is bitterly disappointing and there will be some feeling of, 'when do we get this done if it's not this race?'' said longtime [Democrat] party strategist Dan Kanninen. 'You'll definitely see some hand-wringing from Democrats wondering when we're going to get over that hump.'" (Gabriel Debenedetti, "Democrats Sweat The Details In Georgia Special Election," Politico , 6/19/17)

Democrat Operatives And Lawmakers Expect A "Withering Round Of Internal Second-Guessing If They Come Up Short" After Pumping So Much Money Into The Race . "But behind closed doors, [Democrat] operatives and lawmakers expect a withering round of internal second-guessing if they come up short after pumping enough money into the pro-Ossoff effort to make it the most expensive congressional race ever." (Gabriel Debenedetti, "Democrats Sweat The Details In Georgia Special Election," Politico , 6/19/17)

The Race Could "Exacerbate Internal Divisions" Within The Democrat Party. "The race's potential to exacerbate internal divisions is one reason the DCCC has sought to remind its allies over and over about the district's conservative leanings." (Gabriel Debenedetti, "Democrats Sweat The Details In Georgia Special Election," Politico , 6/19/17)

National Democrats Worry That Competing And Failing In Elections "Can Be Deflating For Activists And Can Turn The Narrative Against The Party." "National Democrats are often concerned that competing in elections and failing can be deflating for activists, and can turn the 'narrative' against the party." (Ryan Grim, "Democrat In Georgia Falls Just Short Of Knockout Blow," HuffPost , 4/18/17)

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