ATLANTA - This week, the Democratic Party of Georgia kicked off a sweeping statewide campaign to recruit hundreds of Democrats to run for local office. This initiative is part of the national movement led by Contest Every Race, which aims to ensure no Republican runs unchallenged, especially in the local races that shape daily life in Georgia communities.

The 2025 recruitment effort focuses on filling over 700 local offices across Georgia, including town councils, mayoral seats, and city commissions. The campaign is laser-focused on identifying and supporting new Democratic candidates before the August 22 filing deadline.

“Georgia Democrats are building power from the ground up,” said DPG Chair Charlie Bailey. “Every pothole fixed, every park funded, every school supported starts with decisions made at the local level. That’s why we’re helping everyday folks step up to run - to make sure every community has the representation it deserves.”

“There are no off years anymore,” added Zoë Stein, Executive Director of Contest Every Race. “We’re proud to partner with the Democratic Party of Georgia to recruit candidates who will take on MAGA extremism and bring common-sense leadership to their communities. When we contest every race, we win more than elections - we build a democracy that works for everyone.”

The program includes a comprehensive outreach and support plan for first-time candidates, including direct text outreach, training webinars, and one-on-one coaching. It places special emphasis on rural towns and small cities, where Republican candidates too often go unchallenged.

Since its founding in 2018, Contest Every Race has recruited over 11,000 Democrats to run for local office across the country. A 2022 analysis revealed that more than half of all partisan races went uncontested by Democrats, underscoring the critical need for grassroots investment and local leadership.