MARIETTA, Ga. — Jen Cox bit her tongue for years about her progressive views for fear of hurting her real estate business.
“I felt very concerned about talking about my politics in any way, shape or form,” said Ms. Cox, who lives and works in a Republican-heavy suburban milieu north of Atlanta, where people don’t confess to being Democrats until after a couple of glasses of Pinot Grigio at a dinner party.
That changed with the election of President Trump. Once-shy liberals were jolted. Some joined women’s marches in January, and many here have become active in grass-roots groups, galvanized by a special election this month to fill a vacant House seat that has long been in Republican hands.
Ms. Cox co-founded the group PaveItBlue to mobilize volunteers to elect the leading Democrat in the race, Jon Ossoff. Within three weeks, 1,000 people joined.
. . .
“There was just this stigma of being a Democratic voter in Georgia,” she said. There was also a reluctance to broadcast her support because of the strong hostility toward Mrs. Clinton. Mr. Trump’s election ended that.
“I’m all for balance, I’m just not for crazy,” Ms. Jones said.
Ms. Cox asked if she would like an Ossoff yard sign. Yes, said Ms. Jones. She pointed to a spot near the mailbox.
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