ATLANTA – U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta, scored a resounding Democratic primary victory Tuesday, despite a bid by the Republican-controlled General Assembly to run her out of office by redrawing her congressional district.
Running in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District after moving over from the 7th District, McBath piled up such a big lead over two challengers that the race was called less than an hour after the polls closed at 7 p.m.
McBath had amassed 87.4% of the vote, according to early unofficial returns, to just 7.2% for Cobb County Commissioner Jerica Richardson and 5.5% for state Rep. Mandisha Thomas.
McBath ran a campaign focused on her decision to run for Congress in 2018 to push for stricter gun control laws after her teenage son was shot to death.
“When I lost my son, I saw politicians talk about keeping us safe, but too many lacked the courage to take action,” McBath said in a statement released after Tuesday’s election was called in her favor. “I had no other choice but to stand up and run for office myself.
“Twice, extremist Georgia Republicans tried to bend the rules and draw me out of Congress. Twice, Georgians have stood with me and resoundingly voted to send me back to Congress. Our work to keep our families safe, expand access to health care, and protect Georgians is just getting started.”
In Congress, McBath helped steer the most comprehensive gun violence legislation in 30 years to passage, building national name recognition in the process. That and a huge fundraising advantage over the two challengers paved the way to her lopsided victory.
McBath next will face Republican Jeff Criswell in the general election in November. Criswell was unopposed Tuesday for the GOP nomination.