by Garrett FriskLike numerous other states, Georgia may not use the same maps in 2024 that it used in 2022. Accusations that the state's congressional maps are racially gerrymandered have accelerated in the wake of the landmark Merrill v. Milligan Supreme Court case, and an ongoing lawsuit seeks to force a redraw of the districts in the Atlanta area. However, that hasn't stopped numerous candidates from readying their campaigns for the 2024 cycle. Here are some of the U.S. House candidates in Georgia who have yet to be covered by other media sources: In the 2nd district, firefighter Tracy Taylor is challenging longtime Democratic incumbent Sanford Bishop. Taylor, who formerly served as chair of the Dougherty County Republican Party, briefly ran in the Republican primary for this district in 2022; however, he dropped out to instead run for the 13th district of the Georgia state house, losing in the general election with 34.9% of the vote. Bishop, meanwhile, won a 16th term with 55.0% of the vote. Taylor's campaign website can be found here. In the 3rd district, retired procurement executive and former police officer Jim Bennett is launching a primary challenge against incumbent Republican Drew Ferguson. Bennett is a self-described "Constitutional Conservative" who advocates for limited government. He will have a hard time unseating Ferguson; after winning a close primary runoff against state senator Mike Crane in 2016, Ferguson has never come close to losing his primary. Whoever wins the primary will have no trouble prevailing in the general election, as Ferguson was re-elected with 68.8% of the vote in 2022. Bennett's website can be found here. In the 6th district, mechanical engineer Shelly Abraham is running in the Democratic primary. Abraham's platform includes "student loan and college tuition reform, removal of healthcare beaurocracy [sic] with a single payer public option and a focus on increasing our housing supply with starter homes." The incumbent is freshman Republican Rich McCormick, who was elected with 62.2% of the vote in 2022. Abraham faces an uphill battle, but this district is the most likely to be targeted by the redistricting lawsuit, so his path to victory could improve. Abraham's website can be found here. In the 7th district, self-described moderate Republican Jeff Criswell is challenging incumbent Democrat Lucy McBath. Criswell founded a baseball importing company that he later sold to Dick's Sporting Goods, and more recently worked as a teacher. He calls himself "a conservative leader who will bring a common-sense, centrist perspective to Georgia's 7th Congressional District." He may struggle to sell that perspective to the voters of the 7th district, who gave McBath 61.1% of the vote in her 2022 re-election campaign. Criswell's website can be found here. In the 12th district, two Democrats have signed up to run against incumbent Republican Rick Allen. The first is youth mentor Daniel Jackson, while the second is political organizer Rashaad Jones. Both men served in the Army. Jackson says he is running because "the 12th Congressional District needs more quality opportunities to create meaningful economic upliftment in its underserved communities, and we need more investment in our rural communities to generate quality growth," while Jones says he will work "to ensure that the voices of his constituents are heard, their rights are protected, and needs met." Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face an uphill battle against Allen, who was re-elected with 59.6% of the vote in 2022. Jackson's website can be found here, while Jones's website can be found here. Finally, in the 14th district, recent Freedom Caucus expellee Marjorie Taylor Greene is facing a challenge from Democrat Tambrei Cash. Cash lists her most important issues as protecting Social Security, Medicare, and veterans benefits, reproductive rights, gun reform, fighting corruption, protecting the environment, tax reform, education, equality, universal healthcare, truth in journalism, regulations, term limits, affordable housing, crime, and mental health. Due to Taylor Greene's infamy among Democrats, this primary will likely attract several more candidates and potentially tens of millions of dollars. Whoever prevails will face steep odds in the general election, as Taylor Greene turned back her 2022 opponent with 65.9% of the vote. Cash's website can be found here. Comments are closed.
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