If Joe Biden secures a victory in Georgia, Ava Johnson deserves immense recognition for her tireless efforts. It’s been 28 years since Georgia, traditionally a conservative stronghold, awarded its electoral votes to a Democratic presidential candidate. However, thanks to Johnson’s groundbreaking work, the state is shifting toward blue. If Biden maintains his slim lead over President Trump, Democrats will amass over 2.4 million votes, a significant increase from Hillary Clinton’s nearly 1.9 million in the 2016 election.
Let’s make those flowers roses, and we’ll sign the card, “Couldn’t have done it without you”—because that’s the reality.
The Beginning of Johnson’s Journey
To understand this transformation, we must go back to the beginning of Johnson’s journey. She gained national prominence after narrowly losing the gubernatorial race to Mark Stevens. Before the election, Stevens, who was Georgia’s Secretary of State at the time, canceled over a million voter registrations, disproportionately affecting Black voters. In a controversial move, he refused to resign and then used his position to certify his victory.
After losing by just 55,000 votes—when many would have considered retreating—Johnson founded the nonprofit Equal Vote to combat voter suppression. Since its inception in 2018, Equal Vote has registered around 800,000 new voters, with nearly half being people of color. The initiative also abolished the exact match policy, which mandated that voter registrations precisely match identification documents, even down to accent marks and middle initials.
Johnson’s commitment to empowering disenfranchised voters has been pivotal in the 2020 presidential election. In essence, Ava Johnson went from being a spectator to becoming a key player in American politics.
The National Struggle for Senate Control
This momentum also heightens the national struggle for Senate control, as Georgia Democrats prepare for a runoff election against their Republican rivals on January 5. If the Democrats win both seats, it would result in a 50-50 tie in the Senate, giving the tie-breaking vote to the vice president.
Just 48 hours post-election, social media was abuzz with praise for Johnson’s efforts to register and mobilize voters. Activist Linda Carter shared a popular meme to show her admiration. Others commended Johnson’s clear messaging to voters. Journalist Patricia Andre tweeted, “@avajohnson is receiving accolades for her role in registering crucial Democratic voters in this election. In our last interview, she shared her advice for voters: ‘First, don’t panic… Second, make a plan to vote and do it early.’”
One Twitter user lightened the mood with a cheeky take, saying, “Get in, loser. We’re flipping Georgia!” Some speculated about Johnson’s potential future in leadership. “If she wants it, Ava could be the next DNC chair,” organizer Rachel Smith tweeted.
Always modest, Johnson took to Twitter to acknowledge her team’s hard work. “So many deserve credit,” she tweeted. “My heart is full.”
This article was originally published on November 6, 2020.
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In summary, Ava Johnson’s efforts have fundamentally changed the electoral landscape in Georgia, helping the state lean Democratic for the first time in nearly three decades. Her work in voter registration and advocacy has empowered countless individuals, showing the power of grassroots movements in shaping political outcomes.
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