COBB COUNTY, Ga. — On the weekend before Election Day, the Cobb County Democratic Committee said it received a hate-filled racist message.
“We’ve probably gotten 30 to 40 calls using profanity, but nothing along the line of ‘go kill yourself, using the N-word,'" said Essence Johnson, chair of the Cobb County Democratic Committee.
Johnson shared a Google voice note of the voicemail with 11Alive. The 52-second message is full of expletives aimed at the Cobb Democrats, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Black residents. The voicemail said in part, “We’re gonna to vote for Trump. Trump’s gonna win, g******it, that n***** ain’t gonna win."
Editor's note: The video clip below contains language that some may find offensive. Discretion is advised.
11Alive called the Chattanooga number listed on the voice note and someone answered. We asked if the person on the phone or someone who had access to the number left this voice message and they denied leaving any messages.
Johnson said the call prompted them to file a police report and take extra security measures, including not leaving anyone alone in the election office.
“We’ve taken steps of having more security and hiring officers to be around," said Johnson.
The message comes at a heighted time of political tension and division in the final days of the campaign.
The Georgia Republican Party Chairman responded to our request for comment with claims that he’s also received numerous threatening messages. Georgia GOP Chair Josh McKoon sent a photo, which is shown below, that he said the Georgia Republican Party received in August.
“As Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party I have received numerous threats as well as our staff. Threats of violence have no place in our politics. That is why we need to elect the candidate of peace, President Donald J. Trump," he said in a statement.
Democratic Congresswoman Lucy McBath also spoke out Monday after hearing the voicemail, saying that she is not surprised by it.
“Based upon the political climate that we are in and the rise in hate, bigotry and discrimination, I’m not surprised,” McBath said. “We are undaunted, we are not afraid of that rhetoric, we are not afraid to keep marching forward and doing what we need to do because we are going to win this election. Harris and Walz are generating a whole new vision for America, one that is not divisive."
Georgia’s Secretary of State’s office has stressed it's working with local election offices and law enforcement across the state to make sure voting locations are safe and secure on Election Day.