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DNC hosts 'IWillVote' fundraiser in Atlanta, as eyes look to key November elections

The gala featured a lineup of party leaders and speakers meant to drive home one important point for Democrats: Getting people to vote.

ATLANTA — Hundreds of party supporters for the Democratic National Committee held a major fundraising event in Atlanta in efforts to drum up support among Democratic voters before key elections this fall.

The "IWillVote" gala, set against the background of the Georgia Aquarium, featured a lineup of party leaders and speakers meant to drive home one important point for Democrats: getting voters to show up to the ballot box and voting with the party in the upcoming 2018 midterm elections.

Among the speakers at Thursday's gala – the first outside of the Washington area and the second gala since the spring – included DNC Chair Tom Perez, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Sen.r Cory Booker, Congressman John Lewis, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Democratic nominee for Georgia governor Stacey Abrams.

The DNC launched the IWillVote campaign with the aim to reach 50 million voters from now until November "to engage, educate, and mobilize them to vote for Democrats up and down the ticket."

"People are excited to elect Democrats. Over the past year, we've seen what a difference Democratic voter turnout can make. In Alabama, we elected the first Democratic senator in a generation," a spokesperson for the event said. "When we organize early and everywhere, we win — and we win up and down the ballot."

Here in Georgia, Democrats are focused on trying to elect Democrat Stacey Abrams, poised to become Georgia's first Democratic governor in decades. If she wins the November general election, she would also become the nation's first African-American governor ever.

11Alive's Ryan Kruger will have a wrap-up of the event, tonight on #TheLateFeed.

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