Report: Ossoff wants Rep. Nikema Williams to step down as GA Dems chair

[GAinDC]

Yikes. Seems like GA dems are pointing fingers after Trump won back the state.

https://twitter.com/bluestein/status/1856483530806591855

[GAinDC]

I'm torn on this.

On the one hand, Trump won all the swing states and GA wasn't as embarrassing a loss for Dems as say, Arizona. I don't know if the state party leadership should take all the blame.

On the other hand, I trust Ossoff's instincts, since he has won statewide. Williams represents a very blue district, so Dems may want to find someone who can help Dems do better in suburban and rural areas.

[Schumer can go f*** himself!]

He’s not wrong.  The fact she pretty clearly leaked this shows she has neither the discretion nor judgement for the position

[wbrocks67]

I'm torn on this.

On the one hand, Trump won all the swing states and GA wasn't as embarrassing a loss for Dems as say, Arizona. I don't know if the state party leadership should take all the blame.

On the other hand, I trust Ossoff's instincts, since he has won statewide. Williams represents a very blue district, so Dems may want to find someone who can help Dems do better in suburban and rural areas.

Also maybe this job should be for someone who isn't an active rep? Like it should be their *sole* job instead of a side job. Nothing against Williams, but she also has a day job. Should maybe be someone like Ben Wikler who its their sole purpose

[GAinDC]

I'm torn on this.

On the one hand, Trump won all the swing states and GA wasn't as embarrassing a loss for Dems as say, Arizona. I don't know if the state party leadership should take all the blame.

On the other hand, I trust Ossoff's instincts, since he has won statewide. Williams represents a very blue district, so Dems may want to find someone who can help Dems do better in suburban and rural areas.

Also maybe this job should be for someone who isn't an active rep? Like it should be their *sole* job instead of a side job. Nothing against Williams, but she also has a day job. Should maybe be someone like Ben Wikler who its their sole purpose

I agree, and apparently her position in congress limits her ability to fundraise

[GeorgiaModerate]

What about Stacey Abrams? She has a proven ability to organize and fundraise.

[GAinDC]

What about Stacey Abrams? She has a proven ability to organize and fundraise.

I love her, but GA Dems need to move on

She hasn't really accomplished much since 2018, but she keeps sticking around. They need to find a fresher face

[coloradocowboi]

Well, I actually think electeds should never serve as a party chair. It's an enormous conflict of interest and just invites corruption.

That being said, trying to fire a Black lady that doesn't work for him it an enormously stupid way for John Ossoff to kick off his campaign. Is there any way someone more serious could primary him? Even if from the center? It really sucks this (tbf gorgeous) male model stumbled his way into a Senate seat and now we have to defend his seat.

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

What about Stacey Abrams? She has a proven ability to organize and fundraise.

I love her, but GA Dems need to move on

She hasn't really accomplished much since 2018, but she keeps sticking around. They need to find a fresher face

The thing is you don't really need to be electable (or hell even visible) beyond avoid media ****-ups as a party chair. You need two things:

1. You can fundraise (which she can do)
2. You can run a statewide organisation with discipline, efficiency, and competence (remains to be seen but leaning toward no)

I think unless you can find someone who can do (1) and (2), she's not a bad bet.

[GAinDC]

Well, I actually think electeds should never serve as a party chair. It's an enormous conflict of interest and just invites corruption.

That being said, trying to fire a Black lady that doesn't work for him it an enormously stupid way for John Ossoff to kick off his campaign. Is there any way someone more serious could primary him? Even if from the center? It really sucks this (tbf gorgeous) male model stumbled his way into a Senate seat and now we have to defend his seat.

How did he stumble into his seat?

[GAinDC]

What about Stacey Abrams? She has a proven ability to organize and fundraise.

I love her, but GA Dems need to move on

She hasn't really accomplished much since 2018, but she keeps sticking around. They need to find a fresher face

The thing is you don't really need to be electable (or hell even visible) beyond avoid media ****-ups as a party chair. You need two things:

1. You can fundraise (which she can do)
2. You can run a statewide organisation with discipline, efficiency, and competence (remains to be seen but leaning toward no)

I think unless you can find someone who can do (1) and (2), she's not a bad bet.

Yeah, that’s a fair point

[South Dakota Democrat]

Well, I actually think electeds should never serve as a party chair. It's an enormous conflict of interest and just invites corruption.

That being said, trying to fire a Black lady that doesn't work for him it an enormously stupid way for John Ossoff to kick off his campaign. Is there any way someone more serious could primary him? Even if from the center? It really sucks this (tbf gorgeous) male model stumbled his way into a Senate seat and now we have to defend his seat.

Well that's an overreaction.

[coloradocowboi]

Well, I actually think electeds should never serve as a party chair. It's an enormous conflict of interest and just invites corruption.

That being said, trying to fire a Black lady that doesn't work for him it an enormously stupid way for John Ossoff to kick off his campaign. Is there any way someone more serious could primary him? Even if from the center? It really sucks this (tbf gorgeous) male model stumbled his way into a Senate seat and now we have to defend his seat.

How did he stumble into his seat?

He was not an A list recruit at all. Biden and Warnock's overperformance allowed him a shot to beat Purdue in the runoff. He's an accidental Senator.

Well, I actually think electeds should never serve as a party chair. It's an enormous conflict of interest and just invites corruption.

That being said, trying to fire a Black lady that doesn't work for him it an enormously stupid way for John Ossoff to kick off his campaign. Is there any way someone more serious could primary him? Even if from the center? It really sucks this (tbf gorgeous) male model stumbled his way into a Senate seat and now we have to defend his seat.

Well that's an overreaction.

It's not my reaction, so much as an observation of his public relations tactics. I dgaf who is Georgia party chair, but I do know that Jon Ossoff making arbitrary enemies instead of outlining a positive vision for his campaign is a sign he probably is not starting on the strongest foot.

[GAinDC]

Well, I actually think electeds should never serve as a party chair. It's an enormous conflict of interest and just invites corruption.

That being said, trying to fire a Black lady that doesn't work for him it an enormously stupid way for John Ossoff to kick off his campaign. Is there any way someone more serious could primary him? Even if from the center? It really sucks this (tbf gorgeous) male model stumbled his way into a Senate seat and now we have to defend his seat.

How did he stumble into his seat?

He was not an A list recruit at all. Biden and Warnock's overperformance allowed him a shot to beat Purdue in the runoff. He's an accidental Senator.

Well, I actually think electeds should never serve as a party chair. It's an enormous conflict of interest and just invites corruption.

That being said, trying to fire a Black lady that doesn't work for him it an enormously stupid way for John Ossoff to kick off his campaign. Is there any way someone more serious could primary him? Even if from the center? It really sucks this (tbf gorgeous) male model stumbled his way into a Senate seat and now we have to defend his seat.

Well that's an overreaction.

It's not my reaction, so much as an observation of his public relations tactics. I dgaf who is Georgia party chair, but I do know that Jon Ossoff making arbitrary enemies instead of outlining a positive vision for his campaign is a sign he probably is not starting on the strongest foot.

Trump was an accidental president in 2016 but that didn’t stop him from reshaping the GOP

Ossoff has been a good senator, and if he has a different vision for GA dems then I would listen to him

[coloradocowboi]

Trump was an accidental president in 2016 but that didn’t stop him from reshaping the GOP

Ossoff has been a good senator, and if he has a different vision for GA dems then I would listen to him

Cannot speak to this tbh.

My two concerns though remain: 1. Is Ossoff really in a position to advise anybody on how to win elections? Relatively, Georgia Dems held their own. 2. Do Democrats benefit from finger-pointing and finger-wagging right now? I would bet not but understand it's inevitable.

[GAinDC]

Trump was an accidental president in 2016 but that didn’t stop him from reshaping the GOP

Ossoff has been a good senator, and if he has a different vision for GA dems then I would listen to him

Cannot speak to this tbh.

My two concerns though remain: 1. Is Ossoff really in a position to advise anybody on how to win elections? Relatively, Georgia Dems held their own. 2. Do Democrats benefit from finger-pointing and finger-wagging right now? I would bet not but understand it's inevitable.

well, gee -- he won a tough election against an incumbent, so I'd say he might have some good instincts

[Cashew]

Well, I actually think electeds should never serve as a party chair. It's an enormous conflict of interest and just invites corruption.

That being said, trying to fire a Black lady that doesn't work for him it an enormously stupid way for John Ossoff to kick off his campaign. Is there any way someone more serious could primary him? Even if from the center? It really sucks this (tbf gorgeous) male model stumbled his way into a Senate seat and now we have to defend his seat.

What does her being a Black lady have to do with it?

[henster]

I think a lot of blame is wrongly placed on state party chairs who really don't make that much of a difference in the grand scheme of things. The Harris campaign was fully in charge and funded all of the GOTV efforts in GA, controlled the ad campaign etc. So how does this fall on Williams exactly?

[Rhode Islander First, American Second]

Well, I actually think electeds should never serve as a party chair. It's an enormous conflict of interest and just invites corruption.

That being said, trying to fire a Black lady that doesn't work for him it an enormously stupid way for John Ossoff to kick off his campaign. Is there any way someone more serious could primary him? Even if from the center? It really sucks this (tbf gorgeous) male model stumbled his way into a Senate seat and now we have to defend his seat.

We are done with 2020-style identity politics. It doesn't matter that she's a black woman - we need to make sure the best person is in the position.

[Ferguson97]

What about Stacey Abrams? She has a proven ability to organize and fundraise.

I love her, but GA Dems need to move on

She hasn't really accomplished much since 2018, but she keeps sticking around. They need to find a fresher face

She's bad at winning elections herself, but from what I can tell, she's a pretty effective organizer.

[100% pro-choice no matter what]

Well, I actually think electeds should never serve as a party chair. It's an enormous conflict of interest and just invites corruption.

That being said, trying to fire a Black lady that doesn't work for him it an enormously stupid way for John Ossoff to kick off his campaign. Is there any way someone more serious could primary him? Even if from the center? It really sucks this (tbf gorgeous) male model stumbled his way into a Senate seat and now we have to defend his seat.

A primary challenger if they somehow won would face immeasurably more difficult odds in the general election against Kemp.

Also, I don't want to play the identity politics card, but if Williams was White there's absolutely no way you'd be calling on Ossoff to be primaried.

[coloradocowboi]

Well, I actually think electeds should never serve as a party chair. It's an enormous conflict of interest and just invites corruption.

That being said, trying to fire a Black lady that doesn't work for him it an enormously stupid way for John Ossoff to kick off his campaign. Is there any way someone more serious could primary him? Even if from the center? It really sucks this (tbf gorgeous) male model stumbled his way into a Senate seat and now we have to defend his seat.

A primary challenger if they somehow won would face immeasurably more difficult odds in the general election against Kemp.

Also, I don't want to play the identity politics card, but if Williams was White there's absolutely no way you'd be calling on Ossoff to be primaried.

I didn’t call on Ossoff to get primaried ppl. lol I am a troll in a forum, I’m not in a position to do that.

I merely questioned his wisdom and it’s clear I was not wrong to. Like your question at the end is exhibit a. Could one not respond, “would he have asked for he resignation if she was white?” It’s obvious that this has the potential to open racial and gendered rifts at a time when the whole party is talking about abandoning identity politics. Which is good but has to come with circumspection. We need to keep our coalitions tight and optics matter. No matter how you cut it, Ossoff at minimum committed PR malpractice here. He shouldn’t have demanded anything, and if he wanted to avoid a headline there were a lot more expedient ways to get what he wanted with more political skill and patience.

Also, not to play identity politics myself, but rejecting identity politics can’t mean further empowering straight white people in our party to run it by fiat lol. That’s a sure fire way way to lose tbh. In this moment, Ossoff should be showing humility and grace and is instead acting entitled. I personally don’t find offense at the racial dynamic, but see it indicative as bad PR sense for one thing and an inability to demonstrate real leadership on the other. I would rather he offer a positive solution if he thinks this is a problem than immediately demanding her resignation the next day. I mean even if it’s justified, he should’ve had his team ready to go with a piece on her malpractice as party chair. Again guys, I’m not saying Ossoff is racist. But he is an amateur….            Documentary filmmaker lol

[Open Source Intelligence]

I'm torn on this.

On the one hand, Trump won all the swing states and GA wasn't as embarrassing a loss for Dems as say, Arizona. I don't know if the state party leadership should take all the blame.

On the other hand, I trust Ossoff's instincts, since he has won statewide. Williams represents a very blue district, so Dems may want to find someone who can help Dems do better in suburban and rural areas.

Also maybe this job should be for someone who isn't an active rep? Like it should be their *sole* job instead of a side job. Nothing against Williams, but she also has a day job. Should maybe be someone like Ben Wikler who its their sole purpose

The most important job of a major party state party chair is arguably to win the state's next Governor election. With her being in Washington D.C. I'm not sure Nikema Williams as much cares about who the next Governor of Georgia is.

[GAinDC]

It looks like Williams is preparing to step down:

From the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams is setting the stage to step down as chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia amid growing pressure from prominent donors, activists and officials who demanded she relinquish the role ahead of tough 2026 midterm elections.

Williams, first elected to the volunteer role in 2019, said Friday that she endorsed a new policy that makes the party chair a paid full-time job. If those changes are adopted by party activists, as expected, it would likely mean Williams would bow out as chair early next year rather than heed the more immediate requests to quit.

[Mr. Smith]

I'm torn on this.

On the one hand, Trump won all the swing states and GA wasn't as embarrassing a loss for Dems as say, Arizona. I don't know if the state party leadership should take all the blame.

On the other hand, I trust Ossoff's instincts, since he has won statewide. Williams represents a very blue district, so Dems may want to find someone who can help Dems do better in suburban and rural areas.

He lost to Karen Handel's Z-level campaign in 2017, and literally lost initially 2020, only bailed out  by a run-off, which he still only barely won.