November 5, 2002 was indeed a historic night. The news of the first Republican governor in Georgia since 1868 has dominated the headlines and the news and the proverbial “talk around the water cooler”. Among political pundits, it is still unbelievable. The degree to which it will change the face of Georgia politics remains incomprehensible. Just the domino of defections from the Democratic ranks in the Georgia Senate signals a level of change that exceeds every political prognosis. And, by all appearances, there is much more to come.

As a start, before the election, Democrats were confident that they would have control of governorships by a large margin by the time election night was over. For example, in Georgia where incumbent Democrat Governor Roy Barnes outspent Sonny Perdue by a margin of nearly 7 to 1, Democrats felt good about the election. But it was not about who could raise or spend the most money.

With Sonny Perdue’s victory in Georgia leading the way, Republicans nationally were able to retain a majority of governors despite having to defend 23 of the 36 seats contested. And with Roy Barnes’ loss as a leading indicator of things to come, more Democratic incumbent governors lost on November 5, 2002 than incumbent Republican governors.

Yet, while the historic nature of the election started in the Georgia governor’s race, it did not end there. With victories in Georgia’s Eleventh and Twelfth Congressional Districts, Republicans accomplished that which had never been done before in a mid-term election by a Republican President. Republicans added to their majority in the United States House of Representatives. Speaker J. Dennis Hastert now enjoys the largest margin that he has ever had in the House. And, notwithstanding gerrymandering of the most dramatic kind, Republicans retained control of Georgia’s Congressional delegation.

Yet, while history was being made in the United States House of Representatives, it did not end there. With Saxby Chambliss’ victory over Max Cleland, Republicans accomplished that which has not been done since the direct election of United States Senators began. Republicans regained control of the United States Senate during a mid-term election under a Republican President.

No one doubts that history will continue to be made as Georgia enters largely uncharted political waters with a Republican governor, a post-election change in control in the Georgia Senate, and a new Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives. It will be anything but businesse as usual under the Gold Dome next year.

Like the Congressional Republicans in 1994, Georgia’s new political leaders must quickly transition from challenging to governing.

Undoubtedly, there will some bumps along the way. Building coalitions will require a significant amount of discipline, patience and understanding. After all, Rome was not built in a day. Changing the accumulated effects of single party rule that has existed in Georgia for one hundred and thirty-six years will not happen in one day. There are some obvious changes that require immediate action. Stronger ethics laws, open budget debates, and less partisan tones are good starting points. But real history will only be made by altering the agenda for the debate, the direction of policy, and the momentum of government through one decision at a time.