The rise of apartment-based politics in north metro Atlanta (Sandy Springs: apartment complexes, condominium)

[Born 2 Roll]

Veteran Atlanta Journal-Constitution political journalist Jim Galloway examines how, in the 2018 gubernatorial/mid-term elections, Georgia Democrats appear to have started to tap into a large bloc of voters who live in the numerous apartment complexes that are spread throughout Atlanta's expansive and domineering northern suburbs.

It appears that in the 2018 elections, Georgia Democrats were able to successfully generate an astonishingly increased level of voter turnout on their behalf by targeting potential voters in the numerous apartment and condominium complexes in heavily-populated core Northside metro Atlanta areas like Cobb, North Fulton, North DeKalb and Gwinnett (including in key Northern Arc cities like Sandy Springs and Dunwoody).

Targeting irregular potential and likely voters in densely-developed apartment and condominium complexes in these heavily-populated core Northside areas appears to have been a key component in the Democrats' somewhat surprising success of winning more than a dozen GOP-controlled state legislative seats and a notable congressional seat (the long GOP-controlled and dominated Georgia 6th Congressional District) in the closer-in parts of Atlanta's expansive and domineering northern suburbs.

And while Democrats appear to have had much success in tapping into a bloc of voters that up until 2018 seems to have been largely ignored in favor of homeowners and voters in detached single-family dwellings, one major downside to depending heavily upon a large bloc of apartment voters is that apartment dwellers can often be a heavily transient group that moves a lot... Something that creates many notable issues with voter registrations.

"The arrival of apartment-based politics in north metro Atlanta" (Political Insider/Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

[arjay57]

Very interesting, B2R.

This could have a huge effect on local politics as well.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Very interesting, B2R.

This could have a huge effect on local politics as well.

That is a really good point that generating heavy voter turnout from the numerous apartment and condominium complexes located in the key parts of the North metro Atlanta suburbs (like Cobb, North Fulton, North DeKalb and Gwinnett counties) potentially could have a huge effect on local politics in those areas.

Generating heavy voter turnout from the numerous multi-family housing developments in the more densely developed parts of the Northern Crescent appears to have the potential to make Democratic and progressive candidates and political factions more competitive in areas like:

> Cobb County (including in municipalities like Marietta proper, Smyrna proper, Powder Springs proper, Kennesaw proper, Acworth proper, etc)...

> North Fulton County (including in municipalities like Sandy Springs proper, Roswell proper, Alpharetta proper and Milton proper)…

> North DeKalb County (including in municipalities like Dunwoody proper, Chamblee proper, Brookhaven proper and Doraville proper)…

> Gwinnett County (including in municipalities like Peachtree Corners proper, Norcross proper, Duluth proper, Lilburn proper and Lawrenceville proper).

It appears like the development of so much multi-family housing throughout the Atlanta suburbs (including throughout much of the Northern Crescent) potentially might have unintentionally helped to change metro Atlanta's and Georgia's political makeup in favor of progressive Democrats in a state that has long been dominated by conservative voters... Conservative voters who live in detached single-family housing.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Born 2 Roll

That is a really good point that generating heavy voter turnout from the numerous apartment and condominium complexes located in the key parts of the North metro Atlanta suburbs (like Cobb, North Fulton, North DeKalb and Gwinnett counties) potentially could have a huge effect on local politics in those areas.

Generating heavy voter turnout from the numerous multi-family housing developments in the more densely developed parts of the Northern Crescent appears to have the potential to make Democratic and progressive candidates and political factions more competitive in areas like:

> Cobb County (including in municipalities like Marietta proper, Smyrna proper, Powder Springs proper, Kennesaw proper, Acworth proper, etc)...

> North Fulton County (including in municipalities like Sandy Springs proper, Roswell proper, Alpharetta proper and Milton proper)…

> North DeKalb County (including in municipalities like Dunwoody proper, Chamblee proper, Brookhaven proper and Doraville proper)…

> Gwinnett County (including in municipalities like Peachtree Corners proper, Norcross proper, Duluth proper, Lilburn proper and Lawrenceville proper).

It appears like the development of so much multi-family housing throughout the Atlanta suburbs (including throughout much of the Northern Crescent) potentially might have unintentionally helped to change metro Atlanta's and Georgia's political makeup in favor of progressive Democrats in a state that has long been dominated by conservative voters... Conservative voters who live in detached single-family housing.

Good article.

It supports what I have said to Democrats who say suburbanites are switching votes. Its not people that are switching. Its that the closer in suburbs are changing.

There was an interesting comment in there about how well the Democrats did in the $3 million homes in Sandy Springs. I do think there has been a switch with the truly wealthy. Lawyers and people who have software businesses are less likely to be conservative than other small business owners and engineers.