Georgia Democratic State Convention

The Georgia Democratic State Convention is a quadrennial convention of delegates from county committees across the state. It is held in gubernatorial election years, one of a few state Democratic parties which holds quadrennial conventions. For most of its history, the state convention has been held well after the primary, usually in the late summer or early fall. The location is rotated between cities across the state. It is convened largely to approve revisions to the party platform and resolutions by Democrats.

At some points in the presidential election years preceding 1868 and again from 1877 to 1941, the State Convention was held once or twice in the same year to elect delegates to the Democratic National Convention (for nomination of the presidential candidate), to elect the permanent chair of the Georgia Democratic State Executive Committee, to elect presidential electors, and to formally endorse the candidates previously nominated in the statewide primary. After 1941, when the governorship was extended to four-year terms (renewable once), statewide conventions were held quadrennially in gubernatorial years to endorse the gubernatorial and other statewide candidates.

Conventions

 * 1978
 * 1982
 * 1986
 * 1990
 * 1994
 * 1998 Georgia Democratic State Convention (Atlanta)
 * 2002 Georgia Democratic State Convention (Macon)
 * 2006 Georgia Democratic State Convention (College Park)
 * 2010 Georgia Democratic State Convention (Athens)
 * 2014 Georgia Democratic State Convention (Dublin)
 * 2018 Georgia Democratic State Convention (Atlanta)

1978 State Convention
Incumbent chair Marge Thurman was elected by the State Committee in the first election for state chair.

1982 State Convention
Following the death of Marge Thurman and the interim chairship of Art Holloway, Bert Lance was elected chair.

2002 GDSC
The 2002 Convention was held on Saturday, September 21, 2002 at the Macon Centerplex from 10:00am to 3:00pm.
 * Press release
 * Convention agenda

2006 GDSC
The 2006 State Convention was held on Saturday, September 16, 2006 at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta, Georgia from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Selection of delegates for the convention was held in all counties on July 22, 2006 at 9:00 a.m.
 * Press release
 * Information including DOC files for Agenda, Rules, Hotel Plans
 * Videos:
 * Rev. Jim Nelson speaking at the convention for his run for CD01

2010 GDSC
The 2010 Convention was held in Athens at the Classic Center on August 14th, 2010 from 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
 * Landing page with convention information, resolutions, agenda and more
 * Videos:
 * Overview of events at the convention
 * Carol Porter speech
 * Michael Thurmond speech (Part 1, Part 2)
 * Keith Moffett speech
 * Ken Hodges speech
 * Roy Barnes speech (Part 1, Part 2)
 * Georganna Sinkfield speech
 * Mary Squires speech
 * Joe Martin

2014 GDSC
The 2014 Convention was held at the DuBose Porter Regional Business and Industry Center in Dublin on Saturday August 9, 2014.
 * Press release
 * Resolutions
 * Videos:
 * Speeches by party leaders and candidates for Congress and most statewide offices
 * African-American Caucus meeting
 * Jason Carter and Michelle Nunn speeches

2018 GDSC
The 2018 Convention was held at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta on Saturday, August 25, 2018. The acting chair for the Convention was former Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin.

The honorary convention co-hosts were Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Sanford Bishop, Congressman Hank Johnson, Congressman David Scott, and State Senator Nikema Williams.
 * Working Agenda
 * Seating Chart
 * Convention Rules as approved by the State Convention Rules Committee on August 14.
 * Delegate Packet
 * Videos:
 * Speech from State Rep. Miriam Paris and Rules Committee on admission of challenged delegates
 * Jason Carter speech on Coordinated Campaign
 * Speeches from statewide and congressional candidates
 * More speeches by statewide candidates, including Stacey Abrams and Sarah Riggs Amico