Interview with DuBose Porter, July 10, 2018Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project |
Dublin Core
Description
DuBose Porter was born October 2, 1953, in Dublin, Georgia. He attended Davidson College and received a bachelor’s degree in English. He interned in Washington, D.C., with Senator Sam Nunn before attending the Cumberland Law School at Samford University. He returned to Dublin where he founded the Nelson & Porter law firm. Porter, a Democrat, ran successfully for a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives in 1982. In 1987, Porter and Griffin Lovett bought Dublin’s daily newspaper, the Courier Herald. He and Lovett went on to purchase various other papers including the Soperton News, Johnson Journal, and Baldwin Bulletin. He served as Governor Zell Miller’s administration floor leader in the Georgia House from 1991 until 1992. He was elected speaker pro tempore in 2003 and House Minority Leader in 2005. Porter ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2010. He served as the Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia from 2013 to 2019. Porter is currently president and CEO of the Dublin Courier-Herald Publishing Company and resides in Dublin.
Porter begins by discussing his childhood and upbringing in Dublin, Georgia. He talks about his time at Davidson College, experience as an intern in Senator Sam Nunn’s office, and education at Samford University Law School. Porter explains his decision to enter politics in 1982 and career in the Georgia House of Representatives, including his rationale for challenging Tom Murphy for the speakership in 1992. Porter reflects on major pieces of legislation enacted during his time in the legislature, including the HOPE Scholarship. He talks about his time as House Minority Leader, 2010 gubernatorial campaign, and his tenure as Chair of Democratic Party of Georgia. Porter gives his thoughts on the 2016 presidential election and the upcoming 2018 midterm elections in Georgia. The interview closes with Porter’s thoughts on Georgia political history including the parties’ strengths, weaknesses, and prospects.
Porter begins by discussing his childhood and upbringing in Dublin, Georgia. He talks about his time at Davidson College, experience as an intern in Senator Sam Nunn’s office, and education at Samford University Law School. Porter explains his decision to enter politics in 1982 and career in the Georgia House of Representatives, including his rationale for challenging Tom Murphy for the speakership in 1992. Porter reflects on major pieces of legislation enacted during his time in the legislature, including the HOPE Scholarship. He talks about his time as House Minority Leader, 2010 gubernatorial campaign, and his tenure as Chair of Democratic Party of Georgia. Porter gives his thoughts on the 2016 presidential election and the upcoming 2018 midterm elections in Georgia. The interview closes with Porter’s thoughts on Georgia political history including the parties’ strengths, weaknesses, and prospects.
Date
2018-07-10
Identifier
RBRL425TPGA-053
Coverage
Hyperlink Item Type Metadata
Location
Duration
77 minutes
URL
Files
Collection
Citation
DuBose Porter and Ashton Ellett, “Interview with DuBose Porter, July 10, 2018,” UGA Special Collections Libraries Oral Histories, accessed April 18, 2024, https://georgiaoralhistory.libs.uga.edu/RBRL425TPGA/RBRL425TPGA-053.