JD Jordan

An awesome dad, killer novelist, design unicorn, and cancer survivor. Also, I’m charming AF and I’m running to better represent Georgia’s senate district 56.

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

Thank you for your attention, for volunteering, for donating—and to 45,557 of you, for voting!

18 months ago, when Ellie and I made the decision to run for State Senate, we couldn’t imagine the journey we’d set ourselves upon. It’s been frenetic and stressful at times but it’s also been more fun and more rewarding than expected … and an unanticipated combination of things I’ve learned over the years as a designer, as a consultant, and as a parent.

The national and local outcomes were not what we'd hoped. But I'm incredibly proud of what our team accomplished in the 56. We brought together hundreds of volunteers and donors and collaborated with some wonderful campaigns and definitely moved the needle for better representation in East Cobb, Roswell, and Woodstock.

But if you're having trouble today—in the 56 or anywhere in the Republic—let me share one last story before I take a break from the campaign and social media for a few weeks to plot my next move:

When I was dying of cancer and bedridden on chemo, delirious and unable to work, Ellie got me an Amazon Echo so I could just ask for songs and news and stuff since I was frequently too weak to get up.

Ellie hooked up the echo and started an audiobook for me and left me to sleep. Restless and despairing, I recall asking, “Alexa, tell me everything is going to be ok."

She responded by playing "Alright" by Kendrick Lamar:
"𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘦, 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘮𝘦? 𝘞𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘯' 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵"
https://t.co/QboaZ5zvvE

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

Jennifer Phillippi of Roswell thinks #56CanDoBetter:

"My daughter recently told me that a school shooting is her biggest fear. At school she evaluates how safe she is by how close she is to the school entrance.

"JD Jordan will support common sense gun laws to help keep our children safe. I support JD because he cares more about our kids than an A+ rating from the NRA."

You can find Jennifer's community endorsement and more at:
https://t.co/014EGpDWQa

—

Do you think #56CanDoBetter?
Use our hashtag and tell us why you’re voting for JD Jordan for
the 56 to better represent East Cobb, Roswell, and Woodstock.

#forthe56 #56CanDoBetter #endorsement #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockga

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗕𝗕, 𝗥𝗢𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗔 𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗬.

When John Albers learned that a leading Roswell businesswoman contributed to our State Senate campaign, he tried to intimidate her.

But because he's also a coward, he mailed an anonymous letter to her workplace lying about our campaign and demanding, “𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘪𝘨?”

And when she hosted a meet & greet for our campaign, he intimidated other Roswell business people so they wouldn’t attend.

John Albers thinks this election is all about him. But it's not. It's about you. It's about your voice. And you deserve an state senator who's interested in listening.

—

Find out more about John Albers at:
https://t.co/lgEpxGjdyq

#forthe56 #senatoralbers #senatorjohnalbers #creepy #wrongforgeorgia #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockga #childadvocatesagainstdeadbeatparents

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

Ashley Glass of Roswell thinks #56CanDoBetter:

"I will be voting for JD Jordan!

"I’m a step mother to a trans child. I will always protect her and fight for her rights!

"Wouldn’t you fight for your child?

"Albers will make sure she has no rights.

"VOTE as if YOUR child’s rights are at stake!!!"

You can find Ashley's community endorsement and more at:
https://t.co/014EGpDWQa

—

Do you think #56CanDoBetter?
Use our hashtag and tell us why you’re voting for JD Jordan for

the 56 to better represent East Cobb, Roswell, and Woodstock.
#forthe56 #56CanDoBetter #endorsement #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockga

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

To say that our government is a technical laggard is generous at best. Not only is our constituent experience far behind private-sector customer-experience best practices, we’re way behind the curve compared to other wealthy and developed democracies. And the sad truth is, the vast majority of our elected representatives would fail any reasonable customer-experience assessment—just try to have a discussion with our opponent about a legislative issue and you’ll see how bad it can be.

I’m a veteran design leader with over 25 years experience working with some of the biggest creative agencies, consultancies, and brands in the Southeast and beyond. And throughout my career, I’ve used a user-centered, iterative problem-solving process called design thinking that emphasizes empathy, creativity, and collaboration to deliver effective solutions for almost any audience in almost any industry—even government. And I think it’s high time such a constituent-first approach was brought to bear in Georgia’s legislature.

Because it’s incumbent on our elected officials to listen to their constituents, provide all of them equal access to representation, and to communicate clearly and proactively with us about the job they’re doing on our collective behalf.

I recently had the chance to sit down with Mia as part of Georgia Conservation Voters' “Meet the Candidate” series. We discussed a wide variety of climate topics, including economics development, our regional water quality and water war issues, energy grid diversification, and incentivizing dual land use and solar buybacks. We also discussed some personal topics, including my family, my experience surviving stage-three colon cancer, and my passion for improving constituent engagement.

Check out my full conversation with GCV at: https://t.co/F1Pz5TuuZt

—

Find out more about our campaign at: https://t.co/gNZK0JBQHJ
And support us at: https://t.co/teorZaJeI0

#forthe56 #CX #constituent #constituentexperience #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockgavcg

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

Chris & Judy Skaer of East Cobb think #56CanDoBetter:

"We proudly endorse JD Jordan for his unwavering support of LGBTQ rights and women's healthcare choices.

"Unlike the incumbent Senator Albers, who opposes these crucial issues, JD Jordan stands for the values that impact our family and every family in Georgia. It's time for new leadership that champions individual and family rights."

You can find Chris & Judy's community endorsement and more at:
https://t.co/014EGpDWQa

—

Do you think #56CanDoBetter?
Use our hashtag and tell us why you’re voting for JD Jordan for

the 56 to better represent East Cobb, Roswell, and Woodstock.
#forthe56 #56CanDoBetter #endorsement #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockga

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

Note: This is 100% real.

In a Nextdoor exchange over Labor Day weekend, when John Albers first accused me of being a deadbeat dad, he also made the above endorsement. I sought clarification twice and received no correction. Since he and I worked together at Slalom Consulting and since he’s my neighbor and has met my wife and children, I’ll appreciate his endorsement.

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

On the eve of the election, don't forget that even our opponent, John Albers, thinks #56CanDoBetter:

"[JD Jordan] prioritizes their children, family, & home above politics."

You can find John's community endorsement and more at:
https://t.co/014EGpDWQa

—

Do you think #56CanDoBetter?
Use our hashtag and tell us why you’re voting for JD Jordan for
the 56 to better represent East Cobb, Roswell, and Woodstock.

#forthe56 #56CanDoBetter #endorsement #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockga

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

I'm a father, a UX designer, a candidate, and a stage-3 colon cancer survivor.

Cancer is sh*tty. At best, it's a dump truck crashing through your life that leaves trauma in its wake—for the patient, their spouse, their family, their friends and colleagues. And as a small businessperson, surviving cancer goes hand in hand with our state's terrible healthcare access and insurance ecosystem.

I was lucky. I had a good job, some of the best doctors, and a team of people ready to help me and my family through it all. But we also had our insurance canceled halfway through chemo. And seven year later—and cancer free—the situation is not improved here in Georgia.

I recently had the chance to sit down with Mia as part of Georgia Conservation Voters' “Meet the Candidate” series. We discussed a wide variety of climate topics, including economics development, our regional water quality and water war issues, energy grid diversification, and incentivizing dual land use and solar buybacks. We also discussed some personal topics, including my family, my experience surviving stage-three colon cancer, and my passion for improving constituent engagement.

Check out my full conversation with GCV at: https://t.co/F1Pz5TuuZt

—

Find out more about our campaign at: https://t.co/gNZK0JBQHJ
And support us at: https://t.co/teorZaJeI0

#forthe56 #cancer #healthcare #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockga

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

Mark Peterson of Alpharetta thinks #56CanDoBetter:

"I served in the US Navy for 26 years, upholding the traditions and core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment.

"JD Jordan embodies the values I hold dear for my family and for Georgia. His commitment to these principles is unwavering.

"The right for a woman to have dominion over her own body without asking permission from the state.

"The right for parents to have control over their children’s healthcare decisions.

"The right for our children to go to school and not be subjected to gun violence.

"All of these things John Albers has actively worked against, and it’s for this reason it's imperative that we elect JD Jordan as Georgia’s State Senator for the 56th Senate district in the upcoming election."

You can find Mark's community endorsement and more at:
https://t.co/014EGpEuFI

—

Do you think #56CanDoBetter?
Use our hashtag and tell us why you’re voting for JD Jordan for

the 56 to better represent East Cobb, Roswell, and Woodstock.
#forthe56 #56CanDoBetter #endorsement #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockga

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

𝗪𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡, 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗡, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗜𝗥 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦.

When local educator and businesswoman Daryl O’Hare emailed her state senator, John Albers, about legislation she was concerned about, he didn’t like her tone.

So, before he blocked her and refused to communicate with her for almost 10 years (a move that prompted the ACLU to criticize him for violating her First Amendment rights), he threatened to come to her workplace and to correct her.

—

Find out more about John Albers at:
https://t.co/lgEpxGjdyq

#forthe56 #senatoralbers #senatorjohnalbers #creepy #wrongforgeorgia #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockga #childadvocatesagainstdeadbeatparents

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

Betsy Matteis of Woodstock thinks #56CanDoBetter:

"JD Jordan has my vote because I know he'll make healthcare a priority.

"As a disabled woman, access to affordable healthcare is essential. He also trusts women to make their own healthcare decisions. I believe that JD will listen to his constituents and will fight for us."

You can find Betsy's community endorsement and more at:
https://t.co/014EGpEuFI

—

Do you think #56CanDoBetter?
Use our hashtag and tell us why you’re voting for JD Jordan for the 56 to better represent East Cobb, Roswell, and Woodstock.

#forthe56 #56CanDoBetter #endorsement #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockga

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

Yesterday, the Jordan for Georgia team closed out our canvassing season with a really unique Roswell-based canvass (symbolically, of course because we're still canvassing today and tomorrow 😁).

A few months back, we were contacted by a former Georgian and UGA grad—now living in San Francisco—who found themselves with a 12-hour layover in Atlanta on the eve of the election. By way of Georgia Equality, he discovered our campaign and asked if he could celebrate his birthday by bringing out his family and friends to canvass with us in the 56!

Charles and his team were fantastic—and a delight to brunch and knock doors with! The novelty of this canvass event captured many of the most encouraging characteristics of these last two months: Our campaign's wide appeal, grassroots support, and final-mile momentum. And every door we knocked reinforced those metrics.

You're gonna hear this a lot from me over the next few days, but 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 to everyone who's supported our campaign for the Georgia State Senate—from volunteering and donating to encouraging texts and quiet votes. Before the polls close tomorrow night, I hope you'll join me in taking a few minutes today and tomorrow to appreciate how unique this moment is. And however tomorrow turns out, I hope you know how much my team and I appreciate all y'all.

—

Find out more about our campaign at: https://t.co/gNZK0JBQHJ
And support us at: https://t.co/teorZaJeI0

#forthe56 #electionday #canvassing #getinvolved #knowtheassignment #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockga

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

Gemini Kaushik of Duluth thinks #56CanDoBetter:

"JD Jordan is working to legitimately protect Georgia, his family, and reproductive rights.

"He knows that gun-safety laws reduce school shootings. That thought seems obvious, but John Albers has vetoed every gun safety bill that comes his way. 48 school shootings since Albers became chair of the Public Safety Committee is horridly unacceptable!

"I believe in JD Jordan and his ability to improve district 56 and Georgia in general. JD is good for business, safety, and education."

You can find Gemini's community endorsement and more at:
https://t.co/014EGpEuFI

—

Do you think #56CanDoBetter?
Use our hashtag and tell us why you’re voting for JD Jordan for the 56 to better represent East Cobb, Roswell, and Woodstock.

#forthe56 #56CanDoBetter #endorsement #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockga

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

Flashback to a few short weeks ago when Stacey Abrams helped Micheal Garza and me kick off our Day of a Thousand Doors mass canvassing even in East Cobb and Roswell.

Flash forward to today when our team is meeting up with an inspired volunteer from California who's using their layover in the ATL to help us canvass his former hometown.

This campaign has been full of fantastic experiences like these. And some tough ones, too, for sure. But we're not leaving anything on the table in these last 2.5 days before the polls close. So if you see us out and about in the 56, please say, "Hi." And don't forget to vote.

—

Find out more about our campaign at: https://t.co/gNZK0JBQHJ
And support us at: https://t.co/teorZaJeI0

#forthe56 #staceyabrams #canvassing #getinvolved #knowtheassignment #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockga

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

Yesterday, my campaign team and I had our last all-hands meeting ahead of Election Day. It's was a bittersweet celebration of just HOW MUCH our lean-and-scrappy team has been able to accomplish over the past few months. Thankfully Matt was home to get a pic of the whole crew. And, thankfully, Mo and Alex brought some amazing homemade cake.

When Ellie and I started on this journey, we definitely didn't imagine ourselves working with such an experienced and passionate crew. Alex and Mo of FTR Political Strategies lent our first-time candidacy some real professionalism and innovative thinking. Lyndsey Coates, Noël Heatherland, and Jennifer Phillippi formed one hell of a veteran leadership team that kept us sharp, connected, and very busy. And Gemini Kaushik and Mark Peterson pounded a mountain of pavement as our field-team fellows, leading our effort to canvass over 13,000 homes across three counties!

Thanks to everyone who's gone on this journey with us! This campaign has been an experience like no other and we'd never have gotten this far without y'all!

—

Find out more about our campaign at: https://t.co/gNZK0JBQHJ
And support us at: https://t.co/teorZaJeI0

#forthe56 #CampaignTeam #leadership #volunteers #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockga

[JD Jordan @forthe56]

As an interactive product designer, I’ve learned that large-scale problems rarely enjoy simple solutions. And if we really want to address do more than make a political statement and actually address public-safety reform—including jail & prison overcrowding, officer shortages, runaway costs, etc—then we need to acknowledge that work of repairing so complex a system will necessarily be the work of many additive corrections across many touchpoints with many stakeholders.

Thankfully, there are a number of tested methods we can consider:

- Eliminate cash bail. You shouldn’t lose your job, home, or children because you’re unnecessarily detained for a non-violent crime—that’s pre-trial punishment.

- Invest in diversion programs. Individuals with mental health issues, substance abuse problems, or low-level offenses can be diverted into treatment or support programs.

- Expand the use of citation in lieu of arrest. For minor offenses, issuing citations instead of making arrests can reduce the number of people entering the jail system.

Almost three-quarters of people held in Cherokee, Cobb, and Fulton jails are being held, pre-trial. Imagine the difference a diversified and more just approach could make on the flow of people into our jail & prison systems.

I recently had the chance to sit down with Mia as part of @GCVoters' “Meet the Candidate” series. We discussed a wide variety of climate topics, including economics development, our regional water quality and water war issues, energy grid diversification, and incentivizing dual land use and solar buybacks. We also discussed some personal topics, including my family, my experience surviving stage-three colon cancer, and my passion for improving constituent engagement.

Check out my full conversation with GCV at: https://t.co/F1Pz5Tv2P1

—

Find out more about our campaign at: https://t.co/gNZK0JCoxh
And support us at: https://t.co/teorZaJMxy

#forthe56 #publicsafety #criminaljustice #roswellga #eastcobb #woodstockga