State Democratic Party Opens New Headquarters

The Democratic Party of Georgia on Wednesday held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for its new headquarters, located on Trabert Avenue in West Midtown.

The event drew hundreds of supporters and top party leaders including Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz who spoke at the event.

"We are going to continue to quietly organize," Schultz said.

She said even though Georgia has traditionally been a "red state," meaning the majority of voters historically support Republican candidates, "we are slowly turning it purple on the edges."

Schultz told the crowd: "We are not going to concede any region of our country."

U.S. Rep. David Scott, former U.S. Senator Max Cleland, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin also were in attendance.

"We have a new energy," Reed said.

The new headquarters is located in an industrial space off Howell Mill Road near the Atlanta Waterworks. The state Democratic party formerly was housed at the building at Spring and 12th streets.

The new space is "brighter, bigger" and has free parking, said Eric Gray, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Georgia. Other features include a stage for performances and gatherings, as well as specially-designed artwork on the walls, Gray said. 

"I think the space is awesome," Decatur resident Perry Goodfriend said at the event. "You come in here and you think everything is doable."