--- title: See How an Atlanta Suburb Navigates Political Divisiveness description: In a new short film, TIME visits the town of Norcross, Georgia and captures the nuance of navigating neighbors with divergent opinions. canonical: https://time.com/5923106/georgia-suburb-election-video/ author: Ed Kashi article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2020-12-23T19:04:54.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-14T09:08:46.375Z article:section: Politics og:title: See How an Atlanta Suburb Is Navigating the Country’s Divisiveness og:description: In a new short film, TIME visits a Georgia town and captures the nuance of navigating neighbors with divergent opinions og:url: https://time.com/5923106/georgia-suburb-election-video/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt874dde03b4917c9f/698a1599096a9454c66a8f51/BITT_Norcross_060.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4032 og:image:height: 2268 og:image:alt: Norcross og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: See How an Atlanta Suburb Is Navigating the Country’s Divisiveness twitter:description: In a new short film, TIME visits a Georgia town and captures the nuance of navigating neighbors with divergent opinions twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt874dde03b4917c9f/698a1599096a9454c66a8f51/BITT_Norcross_060.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Georgia Has Become the Epicenter of America’s Political Landscape. See How an Atlanta Suburb Is Navigating the Country’s Divisiveness > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=0e3648ac-65d2-4ad6-824f-10566e59798b&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch: Here’s How an Atlanta Suburb is Navigating the Country’s Divisiveness [Watch (HLS stream): Watch: Here’s How an Atlanta Suburb is Navigating the Country’s Divisiveness](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/NhUwlmXr.m3u8) (11:00)  _Published 2020-12-23. In the town of Norcross, the changing demographic data only tells a portion of the story_ by [Ed Kashi](https://time.com/author/ed-kashi/), [Julie Winokur](https://time.com/author/julie-winokur/) and [Francesca Trianni](https://time.com/author/francesca-trianni/) Dec 23, 2020 7:04 PM UTC by [Ed Kashi](https://time.com/author/ed-kashi/), [Julie Winokur](https://time.com/author/julie-winokur/) and [Francesca Trianni](https://time.com/author/francesca-trianni/) Dec 23, 2020 7:04 PM UTC On Nov. 6, Georgia became [the epicenter](https://time.com/5910666/georgia-senate-runoffs/) of America’s complicated political landscape, voting narrowly to elevate now President-elect [Joe Biden](https://time.com/person-of-the-year-2020-joe-biden-kamala-harris/) and triggering two [runoff races](https://time.com/5912746/georgia-senate-races-state-economy/) that will determine the balance of the [Senate](https://time.com/5906966/2020-election-senate/). Georgia now holds the key to whether Biden gets to ride in the fast lane with his agenda, or be stuck on the side of the road. The state’s fast rise to political relevance can be explained by two forces: increased voter turnout and changing demographics. Atlanta’s suburbs have become international hubs with growing numbers of immigrants and more and more engaged first-time voters. Students in Gwinnett County Public Schools speak over 100 different languages—their families were bound to show up at the polls sooner or later. In a new short film for TIME, we visited Norcross, the town in Gwinnett that became majority minority within the past decade. We watched an Asian American first-time Democratic politician canvassing, met a Black American teacher who voted for Trump, and visited Alejandro Villasana’s Christos Community Church, an evangelical Presbyterian congregation where services are conducted in English and Spanish. Demographic data in fast-changing places like Norcross—which can be measured, tallied and visualized—only tells a portion of the story. Behind the statistics are individual people with complex, and often conflicting, beliefs. This short film captures the nuance and thoughtfulness of people with divergent opinions who live in concert at the community level. They are navigating the divisiveness of the moment by finding their true political voices, even if that means breaking ranks with their “tribes.” During the 2020 presidential election, [Latino voter turnout](https://time.com/5907525/latino-vote-2020-election/) in Georgia increased by 72% and Asian American Pacific Islander (A.A.P.I.) turnout increased by 91%. Now, the Senate runoffs are already breaking records for early voting. This electoral cliffhanger promises to be dramatic up until the last ballot is cast. Whatever the outcome, the reality of voters lives on the ground is still a transformational work-in-progress. From his pulpit, Villasana urged his congregation to celebrate the outcome of the presidential election, no matter who wins, and to support democracy above all else. “Before being a Republican,” he said, “I am a believer in the system.” ## Transcript Kind: captions Language: en Hello! Anybody home? Hi my name is Marvin. I'm the incoming state representative for the area. We were just talking to people about voting today. Well this next house has likely republicans. I'm running for the Georgia general assembly. The next one is 4 7 30. Hi there well my name is Marvin I'm the incoming state rep. Marvin, Marvin here take take a picture with your neighborhood. No please don't. This is so self-promotional, I hate this. Don't misrepresent. It is my first time running for office. I don't think they're gonna be home. Sorry which one do I leave? Did I do that incorrect or was that good? I wanted to listen first and by listening I thought I could actually figure out what people's immediate needs are and I felt that by doing that I could actually also increase voter turnout. All eyes are on Georgia. Georgia. Georgia has voted republican in eight of the last nine presidential elections changing demographics is turning the state purple. I am living in Norcross, Georgia. It is a suburb in the metro Atlanta area. Norcross has changed a lot over the past decade. It's certainly become more diverse and it's in Gwinnett county which is one of the most diverse counties not only in Georgia but also in the United States. The presbyterian church in America, it's mostly white and I will say mostly republican. Lately, the last couple years have seen changes even in my denomination, good changes, a diversity of opinions. But here in the states to some extent we are blessed and we need to have the question why. I'm originally from Mexico. I didn't want to come. I have a deep pride of being Mexican. When I came I had an H-1B visa which is a visa for technology workers. When I learned about the situation with abortion that's the reason I become a U.S. citizen. I saw citizenship as another pool to really show my engagement and my desire to help. Our churches split pretty sharply maybe 50 and 50 percent conservative, 50 percent more liberal. One of the best things about my church is that our pastor and elders really want people to have meaningful conversations even when there are things that we disagree on. Well I tell you like right now I think I'm kind of coming out of the closet. I did vote for Donald Trump in 2016. It was a tough decision. Over the past few years I've been increasingly disillusioned with the republican party and so that's pushed me more towards the left. So this is really my first time actually saying it out loud. I'm very conservative. I'm a Christian, I'm a writer and I would say also that I'm a Democrat. I wouldn't have said that four years ago but that's what I would say now. I fear what will happen if they get control of both houses. This country will be changed radically and quickly. Our god we are thankful for... We have the the Democrats who are fighting for a path to citizenship and that term just drive the republicans crazy and like no we don't want that and the people that I talk to there they say I don't care about being a citizen right now. I just want the freedom to go to Walmart without the fear of ending up in jail and then deported. Georgia State District Representative Marvin Lim I want to first find out from you Marvin what actually made you run? I was motivated by my experiences being an immigrant. I wanted to use my platform or this campaign to tell the stories of others. May I ask you what your what the most important issue is to you? What do you think is the most important issue? Are there any issues in this neighborhood that you're dealing with? Health care for older people. Is that right? My parents are also immigrants so There's a reason that this area is low turnout. People here feel underrepresented, under-resourced and especially under the present administration under attack. The most frequent issues I heard while on the campaign trail were not about these larger issues but again about the day-to-day concerns of people, the local economy, public transportation, local safety. All right Marvin so we're going to give you a little bit of an update on our canvassing. I created over 20 original resource guides it's sent to about 10,000 households things like know your rights on housing things like how to manage your health care costs and advocate for yourself and I felt that by doing that I could actually also increase voter turnout. Because you know we've deployed like a an emergency canvassing because our district turnout is relatively low and we're like halfway there. We're already halfway there? Yeah. The seat i'm running for is very safely a democratic so that might seem positive in one way but the history behind that is this was actually a product of gerrymandering to put as many minorities in one district as possible to dilute the power of their votes what is the percentage of voters who actually opened their doors or had contact. Well it's just as bad as you think it is. I think there's a lot of apathy here because government in general has not been responsive to the needs of the community. I think before covid we might have had like 20 percent-ish which is a little bit better but it's been kind of so-so and then I've had my canvasser tell me that people are so they're concerned to even talk about who they're voting for or how they're voting because they feel there's like hostility in the environment and that they may be facing like retaliation or something. I don't post in social media that I'm a conservative I don't really talk much about politics to people. I think democrats it's presumed that they look out for black interests but I think that that is only true whenever there's a time for blacks to vote When I was first introduced to politics the rhetoric was that republicans are a racist I just found that not really to be true and I saw that there are actual black conservatives like Larry Elder or Candace Owens. There was absolutely nothing that I cannot do as a Black American in this country that a white American can do if you can point to me... Come on in. Hi Lucy, how you doing? Heavenly father we thank you so much for providing so a great abundance for us and help us to share what we have with others who have so much less in Jesus name we pray amen amen. Four years ago I was in a quandary because socially I was leaning democratic and in some other ways I was still leaning more more republican. I was kind of torn. I've gradually come to realize that health care is the most important thing in terms of reducing abortion rates. It's important when I say pro-life I'm applying it to everyone and not just unborn children that was a really important thing for for me to work through. I have so many ideals that are in line with helping the environment and immigration reform and yes I can say I'm pro-life and I'm democratic. Miriam who was there last night I didn't realize she was a democrat until shortly along. In one bible study we had I said I don't see how any Christian can be a democrat and she was shocked I love them and i'm listen I can talk with her I don't think we'll come to any agreement because we're so divided on politics. The folks on the far right are reading the same bible that I'm reading but they're coming to very different conclusions about what that means my dad is the pastor of our congregation I know what the bible has to say about this and that's how I'm going to live my life I think the right is prioritizing their culture over service to others when you look at it hard it's really an american culture not a Christian culture putting that in front of service to others. Record-setting early voting turnout in Georgia. Stacey Abrams is getting a lot of credit for her work in turning the peach state blue. For minority communities there has to be consistent engagement. I have experienced what it's like to not be an active voter to not want to participate in the process. I like to think that my method worked and I like to think that the reasons I've had for running to increase turnout have borne fruit and I would like to continue doing that. I'm so glad it's over. Did you vote for any democrats? Yes I did. Okay me too I work for some democrats. It doesn't matter who wins today I'm gonna make tacos tonight it's taco Tuesdays. I hope you can join me in promising that you will celebrate the results... Before being a republican I'm a believer in the system I believe the american system of democracy is the best you must engage whatever team wins you must continue. Half of this congregation is happy and the other half is concerned remember who are your friends really they have shown that they are your friends they really love you we just think differently on politics. Amen, go in peace [spanish]. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5923106/georgia-suburb-election-video/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5923106/georgia-suburb-election-video/"},"headline":"Georgia Has Become the Epicenter of America’s Political Landscape. 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