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Flipped: How Georgia Turned Purple and Broke the Monopoly on Republican Power
The untold story of the unlikely heroes, the cutthroat politics, and the cultural forces that turned a Deep South state purple—by a top reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Flipped is the definitive account of how the election of Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff transformed Georgia from one of the staunchest Republican strongholds to the nation’s most watched battleground state—and ground zero for the disinformation wars certain to plague statewide and national elections in the future. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein charts how progressive activists and organizers worked to mobilize hundreds of thousands of new voters and how Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia may shape Democratic strategy for years to come. He also chronicles how Georgia’s Republicans countered with a move to the far right that culminated in state leaders defying Donald Trump’s demands to overturn his defeat.
Bluestein tells the story of all the key figures in this election, including Stacey Abrams, Brian Kemp, David Perdue, Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, and Kelly Loeffler, through hundreds of interviews with the people closest to the election. Flipped also features such fascinating characters as political activist turned U.S. congresswoman Nikema Williams; perma-tanned baseball star turned lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan; and the volunteers and voters who laid the groundwork for Biden’s triumphant Georgia campaign.
Flipped tells a story that will resonate through the rest of the decade and beyond, as most political experts see Georgia headed toward years of close elections, and Democrats have developed a deep bench of strong candidates to challenge a still deeply entrenched GOP. Interest in the state only figures to increase if and when Stacey Abrams mounts a rematch against Governor Brian Kemp in the fall of 2022 and Trump promotes his own slate of candidates against Republicans who stood against his efforts to overturn Georgia’s election.
Flipped is the definitive account of how the election of Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff transformed Georgia from one of the staunchest Republican strongholds to the nation’s most watched battleground state—and ground zero for the disinformation wars certain to plague statewide and national elections in the future. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein charts how progressive activists and organizers worked to mobilize hundreds of thousands of new voters and how Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia may shape Democratic strategy for years to come. He also chronicles how Georgia’s Republicans countered with a move to the far right that culminated in state leaders defying Donald Trump’s demands to overturn his defeat.
Bluestein tells the story of all the key figures in this election, including Stacey Abrams, Brian Kemp, David Perdue, Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, and Kelly Loeffler, through hundreds of interviews with the people closest to the election. Flipped also features such fascinating characters as political activist turned U.S. congresswoman Nikema Williams; perma-tanned baseball star turned lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan; and the volunteers and voters who laid the groundwork for Biden’s triumphant Georgia campaign.
Flipped tells a story that will resonate through the rest of the decade and beyond, as most political experts see Georgia headed toward years of close elections, and Democrats have developed a deep bench of strong candidates to challenge a still deeply entrenched GOP. Interest in the state only figures to increase if and when Stacey Abrams mounts a rematch against Governor Brian Kemp in the fall of 2022 and Trump promotes his own slate of candidates against Republicans who stood against his efforts to overturn Georgia’s election.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 22, 2022
49 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 16, 2022
Every time I read one of these books--and I read them all--I'm so grateful for the talented journalists thoroughly documenting these unprecedented times. And not just documenting, but laying complex situations out in a clear and straightforward manner, so that readers can follow the truth behind the counterclaims, lies, and obfuscations. Greg Bluestein's book is a perfect example of this, as he focuses on a large cast of players on both the left and the right. His reporting is firmly planted in the present, but with an excellent grasp of the history that led us to where things are.
This is an excellent book for those wanting not only an in depth analysis of how and what has changed in the important state of Georgia in the past several years, but perhaps a map to effect change elsewhere in the country. The only reason for the loss of a single star in my rating is that I didn't feel like I learned much beyond what I already knew about these events.
This is an excellent book for those wanting not only an in depth analysis of how and what has changed in the important state of Georgia in the past several years, but perhaps a map to effect change elsewhere in the country. The only reason for the loss of a single star in my rating is that I didn't feel like I learned much beyond what I already knew about these events.
May 20, 2022
It's absolutely *WILD* the number of moving pieces that all contributed to Georgia turning blue and electing two Democratic senators in the 2020 election. I particularly liked reading the local-politic details and drama that those of us out of state wouldn't be aware of, as well as the strategy the Democrats used to reach voters and get them to come out AGAIN. Trump comes across as a complete PT Barnum, and it's amazing that Republicans are still scared to distance themselves from him 2 years later. I'd also forgotten that the Ossoff was just called hours before the insurrection at the Capitol in DC. Really fantastic recap of a very unique political situation.
April 28, 2022
So insightful! Even if you think you know a lot about the last election cycle, there is so much more! Reading the chain of events in chronological order (without the deluge of other news stories attached to the last election) paints a much clearer picture of how/why Georgia voted the way it did. From Stacey Abrams' push to register new voters to the rise of Marjory Taylor Greene to Trump's push to uncover 11k more votes, Flipped covers it all. Bluestein's years of reporting on GA politics give him incredible access to all of the key players and witnesses of the chaos making him the perfect teller of this story.
April 11, 2022
Bluestein is incredibly well-sourced in Georgia politics and it shows in “Flipped.” He brings you in the room for key 2020 decisions among Republicans and Democrats alike. More than that, he shows you the roots what looked a sudden shift from Red to Purple. It turns out that change was years in the making. This is a great read, and it’s very accessible.
April 11, 2022
I couldn't put this book down. Seriously. I thought I knew what happened in Georgia's 2020 election. I thought I knew the candidates and the major story lines. And I had no idea. I learned so much from this book - just in time for 2022. It couldn't have been better timed!
July 16, 2022
Perhaps the definitive book on the 2018 and 2020 election cycles in Georgia. This book is a great explainer for how Georgia went from a deep red state to one that elected Joe Biden and two Democratic senators. This book is great for people who don’t know much about Georgia politics and it’s one that folks who have been in the thick of it will equally enjoy.
November 27, 2022
Easy to read. Incredibly insightful. If you ever have any inkling of wanting to be in politics read this, then volunteer to knock some doors.
July 23, 2022
With so many of the events described in this book during Georgia's transformation from a red state to a battleground taking place within the span of my memory, I was excited to read Greg Bluestein's book on the subject. Bluestein doesn't disappoint: the book is packed chock-full with insider details from both sides of the 2018, 2020, and 2021 campaigns that even the most dedicated political nerds won't know. Insights into Kemp's choice of Kelly Loeffler for senator, an inside look at both Democrat and GOP war rooms before election day, an exploration of the 2017 Ossoff-Handel special election—all conveyed in an engaging style. Reading Flipped, one gets the impression that they've learned just about everything there is to be known about recent Georgia politics.
April 7, 2022
While time will tell how good this is as a history, it is certainly a well-written and engaging account of the election - told from the point of view of a journalist who covered it. I think it will certainly continue to be a great resource for future writers who are seeking insight into the 2020 election in Georgia.
March 7, 2024
Kindle non-fiction read. I gave this 3 of 5 stars.
I hoped this book would include details on the recounts
of the Georgia votes in the POTUS 2020 election and
more info on Secretary of State Raffensperger. But not
so much.
Stacey Abrams, Georgia state legislator, ran for Governor
but lost, & later was offered but declined a run for US
Senator for Georgia. She developed the non-profit Fair
Fight, to try to eliminate voter suppression. Her goal was
to register 800K new voters of color inside of 10 years. She
was/ is driven + she helped Biden win GA. Rev. Warnock &
Abrams both agreed that Georgian voters of color were
disillusioned, not disinterested.
Pres.#45 showed his vindictive nature toward S. Abrams,
also Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R).
President-elect Biden joked the Dems won Georgia 3 times
in the 2020 election: the first vote count, the hand recount
and the machine recount. (67% mark).
Trump had rallies to support US Senators David Perdue
& Kelly Loeffler in their runoff re-elections bids. #45
appeared pre-runoff in Dalton & Valdosta, the 2 regions
w/ the sharpest turnout drop-offs. (70%).
Democrats Rev. Raphael Warnick & Jon Ossoff were both
involved in 2020 runoff Georgia elections for US Senate
and both won! I enjoyed the 'inside scoop.' The Dems had
40K staffers+ volunteers in Georgia for the 2020 election &
they were put to good use.
ETA
I hoped this book would include details on the recounts
of the Georgia votes in the POTUS 2020 election and
more info on Secretary of State Raffensperger. But not
so much.
Stacey Abrams, Georgia state legislator, ran for Governor
but lost, & later was offered but declined a run for US
Senator for Georgia. She developed the non-profit Fair
Fight, to try to eliminate voter suppression. Her goal was
to register 800K new voters of color inside of 10 years. She
was/ is driven + she helped Biden win GA. Rev. Warnock &
Abrams both agreed that Georgian voters of color were
disillusioned, not disinterested.
Pres.#45 showed his vindictive nature toward S. Abrams,
also Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R).
President-elect Biden joked the Dems won Georgia 3 times
in the 2020 election: the first vote count, the hand recount
and the machine recount. (67% mark).
Trump had rallies to support US Senators David Perdue
& Kelly Loeffler in their runoff re-elections bids. #45
appeared pre-runoff in Dalton & Valdosta, the 2 regions
w/ the sharpest turnout drop-offs. (70%).
Democrats Rev. Raphael Warnick & Jon Ossoff were both
involved in 2020 runoff Georgia elections for US Senate
and both won! I enjoyed the 'inside scoop.' The Dems had
40K staffers+ volunteers in Georgia for the 2020 election &
they were put to good use.
ETA
April 22, 2022
In Greg Bluestein's "Flipped," the years-long odyssey of Georgia from deep-red to swing-tilted purple is charted in meticulous political detail, beginning with the campaigns of Stacey Abrams and concluding with the victories of Biden, Ossoff, and Warnock. In the years between Jimmy Carter and Joe Biden, what changed? Republicans picked up votes in rural, whiter areas, and Democrats gained momentum in Metro Atlanta, culminating with the ebbing of GOP support in suburbia. For years, Democrats "ran to the center," nominating moderate candidates in the hope of replicating the FDR-LBJ-Clinton coalition. The innovative design of Abrams and others laid waste to that theory - instead of tacking to the center, Democrats in 2018 and 2020 embraced liberalism, working class politics and full-throated support for healthcare, equality, and climate change legislation. Abrams didn't achieve victory in 2018, but she laid the path for Ossoff, Warnock and Biden in 2020.
Unfortunately, Georgia doesn't simply represent the hard-charging of Democrats; it also encapsulates the violent, lie-dripping mania of Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the free and fair election of 2020. For a political party so dedicated to a single political figure, it is fascinating to see Trump's dragging effect on the Senate run-off races. Narcissism, thy consequences are Georgia in 2020!
Unfortunately, Georgia doesn't simply represent the hard-charging of Democrats; it also encapsulates the violent, lie-dripping mania of Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the free and fair election of 2020. For a political party so dedicated to a single political figure, it is fascinating to see Trump's dragging effect on the Senate run-off races. Narcissism, thy consequences are Georgia in 2020!
May 16, 2022
I enjoyed the book by one of the AJC political reporters. For the most part, a very good review of the past few years of Georgia swinging from red to blue. Its as if he wrote a recap of the playbook that the Dems used to make this happen. I always wonder how some writers write about the closed doors and behind-the-scenes conversations without being a fly on the wall. This book is no different and makes me wonder how much creative license Bluestein added to his narrative to go along with some of the left-leaning hyperbole in this otherwise very well done book. If #GaPol interests you, this book will be well worth your time to read or in my case listen to.
February 21, 2025
I read this to prepare for an interview for a job I did not get (LOL) but it was super informative and interesting
April 13, 2022
Great Read!
This was a fascinating look at the chaos that was the 2020 election cycle. Even though I followed it pretty close and read a lot of Mr Bluesteins work as it was happening this more detailed look told so much more. Thank you Greg and I look forward to tomorrow’s AJC Jolt.
This was a fascinating look at the chaos that was the 2020 election cycle. Even though I followed it pretty close and read a lot of Mr Bluesteins work as it was happening this more detailed look told so much more. Thank you Greg and I look forward to tomorrow’s AJC Jolt.
April 18, 2022
If you’re interested in the purpling of Georgia, this is all you need to know. If you just want a great book on any topic that you won’t be able to put down, this works for that, too. I feel lucky to call Bluestein a colleague and friend, but I would say nice things about “Flipped” even if I thought he were a huge jerk. Seriously, well-done.
May 9, 2022
Easy five stars from me. Bluestein is one of the best journalists in the United States, and an expert on #gapol. Inspired as a budding reporter & writer.
May 21, 2022
Anyone interested party in the previous Presidential election would enjoy. Reads like a novel although all factual.
September 14, 2024
this book was written for girlies who were political staffers in the state of georgia from 2019-2022 (it’s me, i’m girlies)
January 1, 2023
The level of detail and reporting in this book are great. Local journalism is simply the best and I love how Bluestein painted such a complete picture of all the major players in Georgia politics
Read
June 20, 2022Having lived through these events the past 20:years in GA and up close as a campaign volunteer and activist, I loved hearing the behind-the-scenes stories by local political AJC journalist Greg Bluestein
March 12, 2022
I picked up an advance copy from a librarian friend and loved it. It was easy to read and full of juicy details and fascinating insight. I truly can’t wait for the sequel.
January 15, 2023
Detailed events leading to the election
June 15, 2023
This book was fascinating and a great read with a good background of all the players and info re all the behind the scenes conversations.
December 26, 2022
I may have had a little bias reading this book, but it was a great refresher of everything that’s happened in Georgia politically the past few years while providing context and insight why and how it happened.
November 25, 2022
Outstanding book… painted a vivid picture of how Georgia politics has changed over the last 4 years. Even more interesting in light of the recent GA elections and the upcoming runoff.
January 5, 2024
This was my first time reading nonfiction for fun and I really enjoyed it! It was interesting, informative, and written in a way that was very engaging and easy to digest. It did take me a while to finish it but I’d attribute that more to my being new to nonfiction than the book itself. Reading about the absolute clown shoes behavior Republicans had to navigate to align themselves with Trump was both a) really funny and b) really infuriating, since most of them also were aware it was clown shoes and did it anyway.
My only gripe with the book is that it was really easy for me to lose track of major players, because the book is fairly long and there are so many to keep track of, but I definitely recommend it overall! I used post-it flags for parts I found interesting but it probably would be helpful to flag introductions to the players as well for easy reference.
My only gripe with the book is that it was really easy for me to lose track of major players, because the book is fairly long and there are so many to keep track of, but I definitely recommend it overall! I used post-it flags for parts I found interesting but it probably would be helpful to flag introductions to the players as well for easy reference.
July 1, 2023
This is definitely one of the best books that I've read this year, so in fact that I read this all within one night.
I still marvel at the 2020 election results and seeing how Georgia flipped blue for the Vice President in the Electoral College during the election. The runoffs were just another set of story arcs worth telling. The author has clear ethos, and it's obvious that he knows what he's talking about from the research he's conducted.
From the Perdue household name in Georgia politics to Stacey Abrams and her team's groundwork organizing (which I hope to see mirrored in other states), it's impossible for me not to appreciate the story being told as well as the storytelling by the author.
These vignettes also say something else...that democracy is always something we are constantly reaching for, and that things aren't what's given. Jon Ossoff lost his first Congressional race but later became the first Jewish Senator from Georgia. But, guess what? He continued the fight after the Congressional race. The House seat he ran for years prior? A Moms Demand volunteer named Lucy McBath won it. Ossoff started the work that made its way to the finish line a year prior. Even the seat that Ossoff won in the 2020 runoff, that wouldn't have happened without the Abrams team's organizing. Even though Abrams lost in 2018 (and later in 2022), she continued the pipeline of organizing to combat voter suppression with a team of good people. Without that, I don't think Georgia would've flipped for President Joe Biden nor would we have elected both Ossoff and Raphael Warnock-the first Black Senator from Georgia. It's always been about how people are better as a team, and more about using our differences to create the world that is all of us.
With that said, the book simultaneously demonstrated how close we were to losing another pillar within our democracy. I thank the Republican officials who preserved the integrity of elections by rejecting the former president's false claims of "voter fraud" and slate of fake electors to the Electoral College.
Georgia politics is something that continues to amaze me, and I'm proud to have lived in the great city of Atlanta with all of its diversity. To see it being reflected in Georgia's government is for some kid somewhere out there, feeling unwanted, to see themselves exist in their leaders. For me, it's heartening to see coverage of familiar places I used to go to being covered in the political sense that apolitical me years ago was less aware of.
Anyways, to future years of watching Georgia prosper.
I still marvel at the 2020 election results and seeing how Georgia flipped blue for the Vice President in the Electoral College during the election. The runoffs were just another set of story arcs worth telling. The author has clear ethos, and it's obvious that he knows what he's talking about from the research he's conducted.
From the Perdue household name in Georgia politics to Stacey Abrams and her team's groundwork organizing (which I hope to see mirrored in other states), it's impossible for me not to appreciate the story being told as well as the storytelling by the author.
These vignettes also say something else...that democracy is always something we are constantly reaching for, and that things aren't what's given. Jon Ossoff lost his first Congressional race but later became the first Jewish Senator from Georgia. But, guess what? He continued the fight after the Congressional race. The House seat he ran for years prior? A Moms Demand volunteer named Lucy McBath won it. Ossoff started the work that made its way to the finish line a year prior. Even the seat that Ossoff won in the 2020 runoff, that wouldn't have happened without the Abrams team's organizing. Even though Abrams lost in 2018 (and later in 2022), she continued the pipeline of organizing to combat voter suppression with a team of good people. Without that, I don't think Georgia would've flipped for President Joe Biden nor would we have elected both Ossoff and Raphael Warnock-the first Black Senator from Georgia. It's always been about how people are better as a team, and more about using our differences to create the world that is all of us.
With that said, the book simultaneously demonstrated how close we were to losing another pillar within our democracy. I thank the Republican officials who preserved the integrity of elections by rejecting the former president's false claims of "voter fraud" and slate of fake electors to the Electoral College.
Georgia politics is something that continues to amaze me, and I'm proud to have lived in the great city of Atlanta with all of its diversity. To see it being reflected in Georgia's government is for some kid somewhere out there, feeling unwanted, to see themselves exist in their leaders. For me, it's heartening to see coverage of familiar places I used to go to being covered in the political sense that apolitical me years ago was less aware of.
Anyways, to future years of watching Georgia prosper.
November 4, 2022
This is an excellent review of the people and forces that helped change Georgia into one of the most important electoral states in the nation.
September 24, 2022
I wasn't sure why I wanted to read this, seeing as I lived through each and every day the author describes as it happened here in Georgia. He does a great job in humanizing each person and politician involved with the various campaigns. Living in Georgia during 2020 and the early months of 2021 went exactly as the author described: an overabundance of campaign mail and advertisement with a lot of non-Georgians getting involved. This is hardly a book to read in one sitting, especially if you find yourself reliving memories of the days and events you're reading about, but it's a great book on Georgia political history and sociology.
I would know. That's essentially what my job has been about for the last few months.
I would know. That's essentially what my job has been about for the last few months.
August 15, 2024
Worth a read! At first I feared that I wouldn't enjoy reading about 2020 in 2024, that it would be too outdated. But that wasn't the case at all. Flipped was thoughtfully written to be read years and years into the future. 2020 was such a whirlwind that this concise synthesis of the events of that election season is quite helpful. There is plentiful context given, and readers are re-reminded of who certain players are throughout the book. This also means that this book would easily lend itself to assigned reading - professors could easily assign just one chapter or non-consecutive chapters and everything would still make sense to students. Now I want to read a 2022 election postmortem from Bluestein, and eventually 2024. :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews