Ranada Robinson is the Senior Director of Research & Strategy at Georgia Alliance for Progress. Robinson is at the forefront of research on Black voters’ sentiments, attitudes, and practices around voting and key issues in Georgia. You can reach her at Research@georgiaalliance.org | Photo courtesy of The Peach Pit

As another legislative session looks to end as suddenly as it began, one thing is clear: Georgia is far more progressive than many would believe. A recent survey conducted before the session shows that most Georgians—across race, class, and region—support policies that put people first. From expanding healthcare access to increasing wages, from protecting voting rights to investing in education, progressive values are, in fact, Georgia values.

• In all pre-legislative polls we’ve conducted in the last three years, we have consistently seen that at least three of every four Georgians (74.5 percent) support Medicaid expansion.
• An overwhelming majority of Georgians (85.6 percent) support increasing the minimum wage.
• Three-quarters of Georgians support rent control policies enacted by the state or local municipalities.
• A significant majority of Georgians (81.2 percent) support breaking up monopolies that hurt Georgia families and limit competition.
• Well over two-thirds of Georgians (71.2 percent) believe that public schools do not receive enough funding.
• A majority of Georgians (61.4 percent) stand against school book bans.
• Over 60 percent of Georgians support various efforts to expand voting rights, such as opening additional polling locations.
• Georgians across all sub-demographics agree that the state budget should prioritize affordable housing, healthcare, and education. Certain groups highlighted highway and road maintenance, Medicaid expansion, and job creation as additional priorities.

 In recent years, the progressive movement has faced considerable scrutiny and skepticism. 

This reaction often stems not from disagreement with progressive policies but from the contentious political discourse that has shaped the conversation around them. As Georgia evolves demographically and economically, it’s crucial we recognize that our terminology and approach should evolve as well. The uncomfortable truth is that the term “progressive” still makes some uneasy. It’s not because they disagree with the policies, but because of the political baggage the label carries. 

The reality is that even as Georgia’s population is shifting, we still need a multicultural and multigenerational coalition across economic realities to secure many of these people-first priorities and policies.

“No matter who is elected, we must also build two-way communication norms with our public officials to ensure that they are held accountable to people-first values and policies and remain accountable to the people they represent rather than to their party or corporate interests.”

To do that, we must be willing to rebrand and reframe how we discuss these policies.

Widening the Political Frame

We need to embrace that the way we message priorities must be palatable and accessible to the people who will most benefit from them. Research consistently shows that many Americans, including Georgians, support “progressive” policies when the outcomes of those policies are explained to them in a non-partisan way. We must lean into explaining the harmful impacts of policies that conservative leaders are pursuing while amplifying our right to enjoy the outcomes of people-first policies that are consistently ignored or fought by the opposition – who prefer to focus on benefiting corporations and the wealthiest among us. 

Building a diverse coalition that truly represents the fabric of our state, acknowledging the profound differences within our communities while celebrating the core values that unite us, is always the logical “next step.” Education, healthcare, affordable housing, and economic opportunity are priorities that resonate across cultures and generations. 

By framing our discussions around these shared values rather than around the “progressive” label, we can foster greater understanding and engagement. We must be willing to recognize, understand, and validate both the similarities and the differences between the diverse communities throughout this state so that we can not only ask them to vote but also build genuine and mutually beneficial relationships with them that result in heightened civic engagement beyond just voting. 

To build power, we cannot be so myopic in our view that we only focus on electoral power.  We must have an expansive long-term view of that power, including co-governance power. We cannot continue to focus primarily on electing people who reflect our values and support our policy desires. No matter who is elected, we must also build two-way communication norms with our public officials to ensure that they are held accountable to people-first values and policies and remain accountable to the people they represent rather than to their party or corporate interests.

Thus, we need to invest in the communities that we know have values that hold these policies in high regard. We also, frankly, need to invest in engaging communities that have been reliably supportive, no matter how this movement is labeled—namely, Black communities.

“Progressive” Power is Black Power

What the lack of investment in these communities comes down to is that there are issues that outweigh the obvious issues that we amplify in surveys. We consistently ask voters what their top issues and concerns are, but we overlook underlying factors that have as much or more influence on whom they select to represent them. Unfortunately, even now, whiteness and the proximity to whiteness seem to trump economic security, access to healthcare and quality education, and all of the issues we know that matter to people universally.

Though we may not be willing to say it out loud, we know that a swath of people, progressive or otherwise, are deeply uncomfortable with the idea of our country being led by, and sometimes even shared with, Black people.

At its core, the resistance to progressive policies—even those that would improve the material conditions of most Americans—represents a profound and ingrained relationship with anti-Blackness. It is an unspoken but undeniable force that shapes our politics, where even those who struggle under the weight of corporate greed and economic inequality would instead align with the status quo rather than embrace a movement in which Black leadership is centered. Time and time again, we see how racial resentment is weaponized to convince working-class and middle-class voters to oppose policies that would benefit them simply because those policies might also benefit Black people. 

From healthcare to education to wages, the fear of Black communities gaining economic and political agency has been a more powerful motivator than the promise of collective prosperity.

“This writing, in many ways, is a love letter to Black people.”

If we are serious about building lasting power, we must reckon with these uncomfortable truths rather than continue to disregard or overlook that they exist. It is not enough to advocate for policies that benefit the many if we refuse to acknowledge the underlying racial and historical dynamics that dictate who is seen as worthy of progress. 

Too often, political strategy prioritizes persuading those resistant to equity over-investing in those who have long been the backbone of transformative change–change that has benefited others more than those who fought for it. Black communities have, without a doubt, been the most reliable champions of justice yet are frequently sidelined when it comes to long-term political and economic investment.

As progressives, it is imperative that we not only amplify Black voices but also ensure that our policies and resources reflect a commitment to the communities that have been our staunchest allies at the ballot box and beyond. Investing in Black communities means prioritizing our needs and aspirations in every aspect of policy discussions—from education and healthcare to housing and economic development. This is about more than campaign rhetoric; it’s about creating pipelines for sustained support that empower these communities to thrive. When we invest in Black-led organizations and fund initiatives that address systemic disparities, we are investing in the very engine of progressive change.

Additionally, we must recognize that empowering Black communities is not just a moral imperative but a strategic necessity. By centering our policies on those who have historically mobilized for change, we can solidify a coalition that is not only inclusive but also undeniably powerful. 

A united front that respects and nurtures the contributions of Black voices will galvanize a movement rich in diversity and steeped in mutual respect.

To the Movement, with Love

Since polling Black Georgians in 2020, we’ve documented key trends. 

In 2021, my team led an autopsy of the 2020 election cycle. We found that information about the responsibilities of each elected position and about how their decisions can impact Black voters’ day-to-day lives increases the urgency of the upcoming election(When asked what the threats to Black political power are, 38 percent of the respondents selected “Black people not understanding enough about politics”). 

“Combining these elements, we have a recipe to activate the Black electorate. When we inform and educate Black voters, engage with Black voters during odd years, and show Black voters we are powerful, we will vote.”

By providing governance information, we learned that this information, even without specifically advocating for candidates, is indeed persuasive and can make the difference in increasing Black turnout. Imparting how an election of particular positions directly impacts their day-to-day lives is a critical component of making a compelling case for participating in an election.

Over the years, we have also identified that Black turnout correlates with perceptions of individual and community power, defined by their belief that through their vote, they have the ability to change the issues that matter most to them. When asking voters about their intent to vote in the 2024 elections, those who reported higher perceptions of power were more likely to vote.

We also learned that communication with voters cannot stop after elections. Voters want to be contacted with updates in the way that they were contacted to be encouraged to vote. We can connect the dots for our target voters through campaigns that are focused on thanking voters for their participation and crediting them for wins that have occurred; as a result, placing emphasis on the power of the people versus the power of the officials we collectively elect. In addition, these types of campaigns build rapport in communities, creating opportunities for engagement without asking voters for anything in return.

Combining these elements, we have a recipe to activate the Black electorate. When we inform and educate Black voters, engage with Black voters during odd years, and show Black voters we are powerful, we will vote.

 This writing, in many ways, is a love letter to Black people. 

Black communities have long been the backbone of progressive change in this state. Time and time again, we have mobilized, organized, and led movements that have transformed Georgia and the nation. Our vision for justice, opportunity, and equity has shaped the policies that a majority of Georgians support. 

Our labor, leadership, and lived experiences must be recognized—not just in election cycles but in every conversation about the future of Georgia and its progressive infrastructure.

To move forward, we need to be intentional about language—not just in branding our policies but in ensuring that the people affected by them see themselves reflected in the movement. We must commit to a sustained, year-round civic engagement strategy that extends beyond elections, forging real partnerships with communities rather than transactional relationships that last only until the ballots are cast. 

Above all, we must confront the biases that prevent truly inclusive coalition-building. This means recognizing that economic justice, healthcare, and education are not abstract issues but deeply personal, racialized struggles that require us to challenge the status quo in ways that make even our allies uncomfortable.

“To truly achieve justice, we must go further, embracing the difficult conversations and deep investments that will make progress not just a policy outcome but a lived reality for all—especially for those who have historically been denied it.”

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Georgia is changing, and with it, so must our strategies. If we can reframe our message to center the real-world impact of policies rather than ideological labels, we can unite the intersectional voices that make up our state. To truly achieve justice, we must go further, embracing the difficult conversations and deep investments that will make progress not just a policy outcome but a lived reality for all—especially for those who have historically been denied it.

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