DeKalb County, GA

[ElectionsGuy]

Back in the 60's and 70's, this used to one of the most republican counties in Georgia. Fulton County regularly voted Democratic and the outside counties voted with the rest of the state. Now (and starting in the 1990's) it is heavily Democratic. My guess is that before it was largely a white, suburban rich area. But starting after the 60's, more blacks moved to the suburbs, and white people to places like Cobb and Gwinett. So today, it is very much a diverse (but majority black) suburban county that votes even more Democratic than Fulton. IF this is accurate, it is much like the process of major Texas counties (like Dallas) being more Republican before they turn Democratic.

[Abraham Reagan]

Being a Republican in DeKalb county is like being a Democrat in Utah. I would know, I live in DeKalb. The good thing though, is that Georgia is just a few blue (non-atlas) islands surrounded by a sea of red.

[MT Treasurer]

The problem for GA Republicans is not DeKalb County which the Dems and Obama have maxed out, but the fact that the suburbs around Atlanta (Cobb/Gwinett/Henry County...) are trending heavily Democratic. If this trend continues, the rural Republican voters won't be able to outvote the Atlanta Democrats and Georgia will become the next Virginia (a blue state because of more diverse suburbs).

[Sumner 1868]

The county is 54% black according to the 2010 census, which was the same percentage as 2000.

[Podgy the Bear]

The problem for GA Republicans is not DeKalb County which the Dems and Obama have maxed out, but the fact that the suburbs around Atlanta (Cobb/Gwinett/Henry County...) are trending heavily Democratic. If this trend continues, the rural Republican voters won't be able to outvote the Atlanta Democrats and Georgia will become the next Virginia (a blue state because of more diverse suburbs).

But the outer suburban counties such as Cherokee, Forsyth, Hall, and Walton are growing rapidly.  They are turning out huge Republican majorities that are easily countering the ongoing changes in the city of Atlanta and the nearer suburbs.  And they vote in much higher levels than the Democratic target voter does.

And the continued rural swing to the Republicans makes it hard for me to see Georgia change as rapidly as Virginia did.  The 2014 elections in Georgia reflected that.  As a Democrat, I'm disappointed!

[Sol]

There's also large Latin@ and liberal white populations.