Gay political strategist launches historic run for Georgia office – Project Q Atlanta
Democratic strategist, author and entrepreneur Kolbey Gardner wants to become the next lieutenant governor of Georgia. A win in November 2022 would make him the first openly LGBTQ statewide official in state history.
Gardner, 30, said that elected officials in Georgia should represent the population.
“Georgia over the course of the last decade or more has become one of the most diverse states in the nation,” he told Project Q Atlanta. “It’s important we have people of all backgrounds in our statewide elected officials to make sure we have the best solutions for everyone in the state of Georgia.”
Gardner is a Cleveland, Ohio, native who graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing. He began his political career as an organizer for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, followed by stints as field coordinator for Peter Aman’s 2017 race for Atlanta mayor and as legislative staffer for the Georgia House Democratic Caucus in 2018.
Gardner also saw another campaign for lieutenant governor in Georgia up close. He was political director for Sarah Riggs Amico in her 2018 run for the position.
“The thing I learned most is you have to go into communities and listen to the issues that matter the most,” he said. “We learned so much about the issues that working class people face every day. We need to care enough to make those policy positions our priority.”
Gardner lives in Piedmont Heights in northeast Atlanta.
Gardner jumped into the lieutenant governor’s race in April. He believes the position presents the best opportunity to do “the greatest good.”
“It’s a very unique position and it’s the only one that works with the executive branch and legislative branch as well, so you have an opportunity to be a listening ear for all 159 counties in the state as well as working with our governor to make her agenda get through,” he said.
The “her” Gardner hopes to see in the top spot is Stacey Abrams, who is widely expected to launch a rematch against Gov. Brian Kemp.
Gardner wants to empower marginalized communities as lieutenant governor.
“I believe the role of government is to ensure that people have the ability to achieve their greatest dreams, and we have to understand where the gaps are in terms of where we are now in terms of affordable housing and poverty and ensuring our schools are fully funded and making sure we get them to where they need to be,” he said.
He would also raise the minimum wage and expand Medicaid.
Gardner jumped out to an early lead over his Democratic opponents for lieutenant governor. He reported raising $112,000 with $110,000 on hand in the latest filing period ending in June.
“As a first-time candidate, I’m extremely grateful to my family, my amazing partner and the entire community that has supported me up until now,” he said.
Gardner is followed by state Rep. Erick Allen ($106,000 with $100,000 on hand), state Rep. Derrick Jackson ($73,000 with $71,000 on hand) and physician Jason Hayes ($42,000 with $39,000 on hand). Entrepreneur Ben Turner launched his campaign in May but has not filed any campaign finance reports. Nonprofit leader Bryan Miller jumped in last month after the latest reports were filed.
Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan is not running for re-election. Four candidates have launched campaigns to take his spot in the Republican primary. State Sen. Butch Miller leads the fundraising pack with $2 million and nearly the same amount on hand. Activist Jeanne Seaver follows with $17,000 raised with $5,000 on hand. U.S. Marine veteran Mack McGregor joined the race in July and state Sen. Burt Jones joined in August.
Gardner is now president of United Strategies Group, which provides support to political candidates, businesses and nonprofits. He’s also treasurer for the LGBT Caucus of the Georgia Democratic Party. He was one of four-dozen people named by Joe Biden’s presidential campaign to its Georgia LGBTQ Leadership Council in 2020.
Gardner also wrote a book in 2017 about growing up in inner city Cleveland with an abusive parent.
State Rep. Matthew Wilson is also trying to make history as Georgia’s first openly LGBTQ statewide official. He launched his campaign for insurance commissioner in April.
Qualifying for all statewide races is in March 2022.