(The Center Square) – Following redistricting, Georgia’s 6th Congressional District is poised for a flip in its party representation.
The district is represented by Republican Rich McCormick, who was first elected in 2022. Now he’s running to represent District 7, which is where Democrat Lucy McBath is the current representative.
McBath is running in the District 6 race, along with Republican Jeff Criswell. McBath is favored to win the race, which she first won in 2018. McBath was reelected in 2020.
In the spring primary, she received over 60,000 votes, while her opponent received only 12,000. McBath also faced multiple challengers in her primary, while Criswell ran unopposed.
Even though redistricting will shake up the representation in some of the districts, it is unlikely that the makeup of the Georgia delegation to the U.S. House – 9-5 Republicans – will see any real change.
On policy, Criswell and McBath have drastically different policy emphases.
Criswell says on his campaign website that he is a “conservative leader who will bring a common-sense, centrist perspective.”
His priorities include the economy, ending illegal immigration, and making America healthy again.
“We have to stop spending money that we don’t have,” Criswell told The Center Square. “The national debt is out of control and we must make it a priority to slowly but surely bring the debt down. I love that RFK Jr. is now on Trump’s team. Let’s commit to healthy food and lifestyles.”
He added that he supports school choice and parental rights.
Criswell said his life experience, both as a teacher and entrepreneur, makes him a perfect candidate for the U.S. House.
“I’m not a politician – have never run for office and am brand new to politics,” Criswell said. “I am operating from the point of view of someone who has been walking with the Lord for 47 years and I will bring a fresh, new energy to the House of Representatives.”
McBath lists “LGBTQ+ rights” and “women’s rights” as her top priorities.
“The fight for equality and justice must continue with protections for our LGBTQ+ communities,” McBath says on her website. “Republicans across the nation are launching unconscionable discriminatory acts against the LGBTQ+ community, which is why we must do all we can to pass nondiscriminatory legislation at the federal level.”
Since first becoming a representative in 2018, McBath has prioritized gun violence protection and health care.
“We strengthen our resolve to keep fighting in their names for a better, safer America, without fear of gun violence,” McBath said in a post on social media.