Democrats Break Two-Decade Winning Drought in Georgia’s Public Service Commission
In a significant political shift, Georgia’s Public Service Commission, which has been dominated by Republicans for 20 years, welcomed two Democrats following a recent election. Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard emerged victorious in their statewide races, marking a momentous occasion for the state’s Democratic Party.
These wins by Johnson and Hubbard are particularly noteworthy as they are the first Democrats in two decades to secure a position in a statewide office in Georgia. Their election results in a more balanced Public Service Commission, now consisting of three Republicans and the two newly elected Democrats. Peter Hubbard, however, will face reelection in the upcoming year.
The elections were heavily influenced by public sentiment regarding utility costs. Athens Democratic Party Chair Shellby Branch highlighted this concern, stating, “The working class was not happy with Georgia Power and the amount of times they raised their rates giving them some really large electricity bills, and I think we also saw that frustration with the Republican party and what’s been going on nationally.” Branch expressed enthusiasm about the recent victories, adding, “I am excited that we flipped both of those seats to Democrat, and we’re also going to flip House District 121 [in the] special election on December 9th about five weeks from now.”
The December special election for Georgia House District 121, which includes Oconee and Clarke Counties, is set to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Marcus Wiedower. Branch remains optimistic about future Democratic successes in upcoming elections.
