Former Dougherty GOP chair announces bid as a Democrat for House District 153

ALBANY — A year ago Tracy Taylor was the chairman of the Dougherty County Republican Party. Today, he is seeking office in the Georgia House of Representatives as a Democrat while he insists that he will still continue to be true to his conservative ideals.

Taylor, who has previously mounted campaigns for Albany mayor, the Dougherty County Commission and for the state House, announced on Thursday that he is seeking the nomination in the Democratic Party for Georgia House District 153.

“I’m not a partisan politician,” he said. “I don’t oppose the Republican Party and I don’t oppose the Democratic Party. I represent the public and the people of House District 153.”

Taylor was the first African American to serve as the county’s GOP chair, a position he gave up in 2023.

An Albany Fire Department firefighter, Taylor said he sees it as a benefit that he has relationships with elected officials across the political spectrum. He said he considers Democratic U.S. House Rep. Sanford Bishop, who is himself a member of a conservative group of Blue Dog Democrats in Congress, a mentor.

“As a conservative Democrat, I can speak to the Republicans who care about the 2nd Amendment, the right to bear arms, and I can speak for the caring Democrats who are for the expansion of Medicaid and the legalization of marijuana,” Taylor said. “This is something that me and my family have reached a consensus (on), that this is going to be a blueprint to pull this community together and to start from a bottom-up approach and not a top-down approach.”

District 153 is the only state House district that is solely located within Dougherty County, with the other three districts including all or portions of a number of less populated southwest Georgia counties.

In Taylor’s consideration, even though he previously held a Republican affiliation, he is someone who is known for positive contributions to the community.

“The people know me and they know my track record, whether it’s from running in a burning building or pulling people from crashed cars or being a member of a committee,” he said. “People know I have done all I can do to advance Albany.”

The political relationships he has built over the years could be a plus in helping bring economic development to the Albany area, Taylor said.

“I am proud of my relationships with GOP members of the House and Senate and on the executive council,” he said. “I am proud to have been the first African American chairman of the Republican Party.

“In today’s political climate, as a county we can’t be so partisan as to miss out on opportunities to be bipartisan and bring about true change and manufacturing jobs and economic development for this community.”

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]