Gun Control Advocate Lucy McBath Wins Georgia House Seat In Major Upset

[JonLP24]

Source: Huffington Post

Gun control advocate Lucia “Lucy” McBath won her race for Congress in Georgia’s long-red 6th District on Thursday toppling GOP incumbent Karen Handel in an unexpected victory.

On Wednesday midday, McBath declared victory in the very tight race, reported the Atlanta Journal Constitution, though Handel didn’t concede until Thursday morning.

Link to tweet

McBath, a political newcomer, upset Handel, who beat Democrat Jon Ossoff in last year’s special election ― the most expensive House race in history.

Read more: https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5bc53543e4b0a8f17ee4b937/amp?__twitter_impression=true

[Coventina]

1. This makes me so happy!

Something good happened!

[klook]

2. Huge win in suburban Atlanta!

Lucy McBath will be a great rep, and this is a very satisfying defeat of a noxious right-winger.

[PunkinPi]

3. Even more delicious is this was Tom Price's & Newt Gingrich's old seat...the arc of history.

Link to tweet

Beyond that, this black woman, who joined @MomsDemand and was among the Mothers of the Movement who spoke at the 2016 Democratic convention and was inspired by the Parkland massacre to do even more, will take the seat once held by Tom Price and Newt Gingrich. The arc of history.

[greymattermom]

4. This is my district!

I'm so proud, and I wish that DU would stop bashing the south. Look at the giant blue blob in the Atlanta area on any red-blue map. Racism is here, but folks live together. Almost every professional I see these days, such as my doctor, financial advisor, banker, is African American. They get the job done and are friendly too. The old Southern racists are having to more farther away from the city (and the jobs), and they are afraid to ride the train. Let them move to Dalton.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Congrats to you!!!!!

I have a cousin and aunt in GA-7 and hope that district prevails too!!!!!

[MarvinGardens]

28. Greetings from GA-7.

I figured we'd be more likely to flip than 6. I hope I end up being half right and we both flip. Too close to call now!

[BumRushDaShow]

31. Crossing fingers for you guys!

[LisaM]

16. Agreed on the south.

There are lots of liberal areas and with tolerance, they'll expand. I love the South, and have a trip to Savannah planned this year.

[moose65]

19. The South is a sleeping giant

And it will be the next region that undergoes a big realignment. Remember that most of the African-American population in this country still lives in the South, and eventually the demographic change will be too much for the GOP to hold back. Already, Georgia is almost one-third African American, and Mississippi is approaching 40%. Plus, many of those old retired Northeasterners are liberals and they are changing the Southern states. Also, the Hispanic population continues to grow. I hope hope hope that we will have a solid blue South before I'm too old to enjoy it (and I'm an old white dude).

[hueymahl]

23. Mine too!

Lucy is awesome - going to be a great rep for us!

[Guppy]

5. We need one more

Carolyn Bordeaux in the 7th.

[IronLionZion]

7. I'm so glad Dems didn't give up after the Ossoff race last year

when people tried to claim the district was too red for Dems to win.

The constituents there should be in good hands with Ms. Mcbath.

[George II]

9. You're correct. Office holders, DEMOCRATIC office holders, are elected to serve...

...their constituencies. If their constituencies are "centrist" (I know, a bad word to some) they they need to be centrists to act on behalf of the people in their districts.

[JonLP24]

15. She won on gun control

That doesn't make her centrist in my book. We'll see how her voting record plays out but at least she didn't win by shooting AR -15 in campaign ads. Not after last night.

[George II]

17. 66% of Americans are in favor of stricter gun control. It is no longer a liberal/left issue.

[JonLP24]

18. Most Americans are in favor of liberal policy

When you poll policy by policy. Most Americans do not support tax cuts for the rich for example.

[NYC Liberal]

26. And the rest who don't change their tune when it affects them personally.

See: Healthcare and the ACA. Conservatives hate “socialized medicine” until they’re looking at $100K in medical debt because of a sudden illness or accident. (They didn’t care when it was someone else, though.)

[hueymahl]

24. I would hazard a guess that it is the opposite in Georgia

We love to hump our guns around here.

[CottonBear]

11. Step by step, we will turn GA Blue again!

Ossoff was the first wave of attack. His campaign created the possibility for McBath’s win. We are getting closer and closer. 2020 will be yet another battle in our Blue War!

[George II]

8. I remember reading (probably here on DU) that when Ossoff lost....

...then Democrats were finished in this district.

[Politicub]

10. Keep it coming on!

Don't stop it now. Don't stop it no. Don't stop it.

[FakeNoose]

12. The right candidate with the right message can always make a difference

Congratulations Lucy McBath! Good job, Georgia Democrats.

[relayerbob]

13. YES!!!!

So glad someone with common sense is my new Congresswoman!!!!!

[Ponietz]

14. Proud!

I don’t live in Georgia but was compelled by her and donated to her campaign.

[BBG]

20. Nice thoughts and prayers

In the gun supporters concession.

[suilebhan]

21. Hallelujah!

I am so incredibly happy to have Lucy McBath as my new congresswoman. This is the first time in over 26 years that I've been represented by a Democrat. I hope this is the beginning of an endless blue wave.

[laserhaas]

22. YAY!

[iluvtennis]

25. Supported Lucy MacBath - so happy she won!!!

[QuantaviousJackson]

27. Sister Mcbath

Was so much more of a better candidate than the white male Ossoff. Karen Handel is a priviledged and uninspiring politician.

Turning Georgia blue with that Soros money and the love/support of our wonderful leaders like President Obama and Oprah. Abrams is getting screwed, but her candidacy is so inspiring and will push out the privilege.

[iluvtennis]

29. Hillary's tweet on Lucy's win. Lucy and the other Mothers of Movement speak at Dem convention

@HillaryClinton, 2h2 hours ago

Congratulations to Lucy McBath for winning her race for Georgia's sixth congressional district. Lucy entered public life after her son, Jordan, was shot and killed. Now, she's brought her voice to Congress in the fight to prevent gun violence. Onward, Lucy!
409 replies 5,231 retweets 32,345 likes

Link to tweet

[Hoyt]

30. First timer wins in red district held by Newt Gingrich and Tom Price for decades. Amazing.

And, she ran on the issues.

[riverwalker]

32. She's an amazing woman

I followed the trial of Michael Dunn who killed her son Jordan over loud music. He was trying to use “stand your ground against scary black man defense” but the jury didn’t buy it. It was not long after the Zimmerman trial, and I was so afraid he would get off. He’s serving life without parole.