I’m back on the road again, this time canvassing in my hometown of Darien, Georgia. In the midst of COVID, this might seem unwise to some, but the stakes are just too high. With razor-thin margins in the Georgia Senate runoff races, every conversation and every door knock counts. Winning both Senate seats would give Democrats control of the Senate, which means Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff must win. If the November election results taught us anything, it’s that this race will be tight, and the outcome could hinge on voter turnout in rural South Georgia—areas that lean heavily Republican.

I began canvassing on Saturday, January 2nd, focusing on the north side of Darien, a small borough of about 2,000 people. Under a steady drizzle, I knocked on nearly 100 doors. My biggest challenges? Keeping my phone dry and protecting the campaign flyers from becoming soggy. I handed out flyers to residents who answered the door and left them behind for those who didn’t. The rain, combined with my face mask and a stack of political flyers on a Saturday afternoon, understandably startled some people.

The campaign’s logistics reminded me of working for DoorDash. An app on my phone listed each address, the assigned voter’s name, and their contact history. If I discovered errors—like someone having moved—I updated the database. Not all the listed addresses existed anymore; some homes were under renovation, while others were mobile homes that had been relocated.

Even if the assigned voter had moved, I made an effort to speak with current residents. I’d ask if they planned to vote on January 5th and subtly gauge which way they leaned. In this deep-red county, many were staunch Trump supporters. Conversations were often polite but firm, their minds made up.

One visit near my mother’s house stands out. A homeowner was working outside when I approached. “Is Jimmy here?” I asked, relieved I wouldn’t need to knock.

“He’s not here,” the man replied quickly.

I introduced myself and explained I was canvassing for the Democratic Party to support Warnock and Ossoff. I handed him a flyer, which he accepted with a smirk, promising to give it to Jimmy. Something about his demeanor made me pause. After chatting for a moment, I realized he was Jimmy. Despite his initial misdirection, we ended up having a 20-minute conversation about politics. Although he was committed to voting Republican, our discussion was cordial and enlightening.

Later that afternoon, I visited a woman who used to play the organ at my high school church. She hadn’t seen me in over 30 years and was thrilled to reconnect. Moments like these made the experience feel personal and rewarding, even when the outcome of the visit was uncertain.

On day two, I moved to the east side of Darien, canvassing a predominantly white neighborhood where most residents were staunch Republicans. Still, I managed to reach a dozen African American families along Black Road. Half had already voted; the other half assured me they planned to vote on January 5th.

Day three took me deep into rural areas, including Eulonia, Townsend, and Shellman’s Bluff. These communities, located west of Highway 99 and north of Highway 17, were what my field organizer called “the middle of nowhere.” This proved to be my most productive day. Many Black voters here were solidly Democratic. My role was to remind them of the election date and ensure they had transportation to the polls. Some roads were impassable, and without a 4×4 vehicle, I had to find alternate routes to reach certain homes. As in earlier days, many addresses were abandoned or nonexistent, but the effort was worth it for the connections I made.

On election day, I didn’t canvass. Instead, I served as a poll watcher in neighboring Long County, stationed outside Ludowici City Hall from 6 a.m. until the last vote was cast. I was the only poll watcher present, as no Republicans had been assigned to this location. Unfortunately, as an outside poll watcher, I wasn’t allowed inside the polling station. I spent the day in my car, monitoring the steady trickle of voters—about 50 per hour—until polls closed at 7 p.m. Afterward, I waited for officials to post the results on the front door.

Turnout in heavily Republican Long County was weak, a possible indicator of why the GOP incumbents underperformed.

After four exhausting days, I left Georgia feeling accomplished. The exhilaration I felt the next day, hearing that Warnock and Ossoff had swept their races, was unparalleled. Georgia had made history, not just locally but nationwide.

Thanks to these victories, President-elect Biden would have a Democratic majority in the Senate, paving the way for critical legislation, including his relief bill. This moment wasn’t just a win for Georgia; it was a turning point for the nation.