2020 Democratic Candidate Guide – North Fulton Region
[vc_row 0=””][vc_column 0=””][tt_section_title title=”Your Guide to the 2020 Georgia Democratic Candidates”]See who’s on the ballot representing the Democratic Party in 2020. Candidates are organized in the order they will appear on the ballot. So grab your absentee ballot and start scrolling! There’s a lot of great candidates running!
Need an absentee ballot? We’ve got instructions for requesting one here. Anyone can vote by mail in Georgia, you just have to fill out a form to request a ballot.
This guide was compiled by volunteers. Please report errors to communications@fultondems.org.[/tt_section_title][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1496070414319{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f4f4f4 !important;}”][vc_column el_id=”keydates”][tt_section_title title=”Key Dates”][/tt_section_title][vc_row_inner 0=””][vc_column_inner 0=””][vc_column_text 0=””]
Deadline for Voter Registration
October 5
Early Voting
October 12 – October 30
Hours and Locations
Election Day:
November 3
Click here to read about how to get registered, different ways you can vote in Georgia, and frequently asked questions about the voting process.
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| Joe Biden Joe Biden is the former Vice President of the United States under Barack Obama and a former United States Senator representing Delaware. joebiden.com |
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| Kamala Harris Kamala Harris is a lawyer, former Attorney General of Calfornia, and served as senator representing California since 2017. joebiden.com |
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US Senate
(Perdue’s seat)
| Jon Ossoff An investigative journalist, Jon Ossoff most notably ran as the Democratic nominee in the 2017 special election in Georgia’s 6th District. electjon.com |
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US Senate
(Loeffler’s seat)
| Deborah Jackson Deborah Jackson served as the Mayor of Lithonia from January 2012 to 2020, and she is an attorney with over 30 years of experience. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in public policy and community economic development, and a J.D. in political science and international affairs. deborahforgeorgia.com/ |
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| Jamesia James Jamesia James is a seasoned entrepreneur of 10 years and a military veteran. For two years, Ms. James served under Congressman John Lewis (2016-2018) in District 5 where she assisted with the elderly and disenfranchised American rights to healthcare, education and social security. jamesiajames.com |
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| Tamara Johnson-Shealey Tamara Johnson-Shealey is a Georgia native and a local business owner. She has lobbied for state legislation for her industry to improve tax policies, continuing education standards as well as health and safety standards. tamaraforgeorgia.com |
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| Matt Lieberman Matt Lieberman quit practicing law after two years to become a school teacher and later started a business to provide health care to families, small business and union members. He is the son of former Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Joe Lieberman. liebermanforsenate.com |
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| Joy Felicia Slade Joy Felicia Slade is a physician. |
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| Ed Tarver Ed Tarver served seven years in the United States Army, then went on to graduate from UGA’s Law School. From 2005 to 2009, he represented Augusta in the Georgia General Assembly before being appointed by President Barack Obama as a federal prosecutor for the Southern District of Georgia. tarverforsenate.com |
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| Raphael Warnock A graduate of Morehouse College, Raphael Warnock serves as the Senior Pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the former pulpit of Reverent Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. warnockforgeorgia.com |
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| Richard Dien Winfield Richard Dien Winfield has taught at the University of Georgia for 37 years, where has has supported striking workers and joined unionizing efforts. winfieldforsenate.com/ |
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Public Service Commissioner – District 1
(Voted on by the entire state but must reside within district)
| Robert G Bryant Robert Bryant is a product of Chatham County public schools, and built his career and professional reputation in the field of higher education. |
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Public Service Commissioner – District 4
(Voted on by the entire state but must reside within district)
| Daniel Blackman Daniel Blackman is a respected community leader, impact investor, and policy advisor. |
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[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”North Fulton – US Congress, State Senate, State House” open=”true”]
Find your districts at: mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do
US House
6th District
| Lucy McBath (incumbent) Congresswoman Lucy McBath is a mother, a wife, an author and a vocal advocate for common sense gun control. lucyforcongress.com |
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11th District
| Dana Barrett
Dana Barrett is a former talk show host, a single working mother, and a breast cancer survivor. |
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State Senate District 32
| Christine Triebsch
Christine Triebsch is a family law attorney who has lived in Cobb County for 21 years. |
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State Senate District 40
| Sally Harrell (incumbent)
During her tenure in the Senate, as well as the Georgia House of Representatives, Sally Harrell has championed a wide range of women and children’s healthcare issues, advocated for access to mental health services, and fought for mandatory school recess for children. |
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State Senate District 48
| Michelle Au
Michelle Au is a first-generation Chinese-American immigrant, and an anesthesiologist at Emory-St. Joseph’s hospital. |
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State Senate District 56
| Sarah Beeson
Sarah Beeson is a Roswell native and mother who operates a 50+ employee family business that has been based in Roswell for over two decades.
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State House District 22
| Charles Ravenscraft Charles Ravenscraft has lived in Georgia since 1986, and is a member of IBEW union. ravenscraftforhd22.com |
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State House District 25
| Christa Olenczak Christa Olenczak has lived in Forsyth county for 16 years with her husband and son. She has 23 years of experience as a project manager in telecommunications. |
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State House District 45
| Sara Tindall Ghazal
Sara Ghazal is a wife, mother, attorney and advocate, and previously Voter Protection Director for the Democratic Party of Georgia. |
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State House District 47
| Anthia Carter Anthia Owens Carter is a veteran home school mom of almost 20 years and a small-scale business owner as an American Heart Association Basic Life Support CPR Instructor. anthiaowenscarter.com |
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State House District 48
| Mary Robichaux (incumbent)
Mary Robichaux’s worked over 35 years in Healthcare Management, and has fought for improved healthcare and education for the state of Georgia. |
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State House District 49
| Jason Hayes Jason Hayes is a board-certified internal medicine physician, small business owner and volunteer in Alpharetta. He is a former CDC epidemiology intern, former Congressional intern with Rep. Jim Cooper (D) and former National Health Service Corp physician. Jason’s platform is focused on healthcare, small business advocacy, education and transportation. jasonhayesforgeorgia.com |
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State House District 50
| Angelika Kausche (incumbent)
The first German-American lawmaker to serve in Georgia’s legislature, Angelika Kausche is a former professor and an advocate for common sense gun legislation. |
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State House District 51
| Josh McLaurin (incumbent)
Josh McLaurin is a native of Metro Atlanta and a trial lawyer with a history of public service through volunteer work. |
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State House District 52
| Shea Roberts
Shea Roberts is an attorney and small business owner, focused primarily on land use and family law with two decades of experience serving Sandy Springs. |
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State House District 80
| Matthew Wilson (incumbent)
Matthew Wilson is a Georgia native, a trial lawyer, and a former middle school teacher. |
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State House District 95
| Beth Moore (incumbent)
Beth Moore is a metro Atlanta native, a lawyer, and has worked to improve health care and advance public transportation initiatives while in the state legislature. |
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Fulton County Commissioner – District 2
| Justin Holsomback
Justin Holsomback works as an IT Technical Recruiter for a certified woman-owned business in Sandy Springs and currently serves as Secretary for the Democratic Party of Georgia, |
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Find your districts at: mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do
District Attorney of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit
| Fani Willis
Fani Willis has 16 years of experience serving in the District Attorney’s office, as well as several years in the private sector. |
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Clerk of Superior Court
| Cathelene “Tina” Robinson (incumbent)
Cathelene “Tina” Robinson has served as Clerk since 2016. |
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Sheriff
| Patrick “Pat” Labat
Patrick “Pat” Labat has 30 years of success in the public safety sector, and a decade of executive-level law enforcement management as Chief of the City of Atlanta Department of Corrections. |
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Tax Commissioner
| Arthur E. Ferdinand (incumbent)
Prior to taking office as tax commissioner, Arthur Ferdinand was an IBM executive with 25 years experience in advanced technology, product development, and business operations. |
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Solicitor-General of State Court of Fulton County
| Keith E. Gammage (incumbent)
Prior to serving as Solicitor-General, Keith Gammage served for several years as Chief Assistant Solicitor General. |
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Proposed Constitutional Amendments
- Authorizes dedication of fees and taxes to their intended purposes by general state law.
House Resolution 164
Act No 597
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to dedicate revenues derived from fees or taxes to the public purpose for which such fees or taxes were intended?”
Fulton County Democratic Party Committee recommends: Yes.
From the Democratic Party of Georgia: This question asks if you want to give the Georgia legislature authority to use tax revenue to just go to the public purpose for which the money was intended, instead of an all-purpose fund. Right now, the government can use money dedicated to one purpose, like cleaning up tire dumps and blight, and put it towards broader use. Environmental advocates support this bill because since 1990, while Georgia has raised millions of dollars to clean up specific waste, roughly 40% of those dollars have gone to other purposes. Critics of the amendment say it would remove flexibility for how the government can use money.
However, there are conditions for the amendment — dedicated funding could not exceed 1% of the total state revenues from the previous year, and in an emergency, the governor and General Assembly would have the ability to temporarily suspend dedicated funds.
2. Waives state and local sovereign immunity for violation of state laws, state and federal constitutions.
House Resolution 1023
Act No 596
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to waive sovereign immunity and allow the people of Georgia to petition the superior court for relief from governmental acts done outside the scope of lawful authority or which violate the laws of this state, the Constitution of Georgia, or the Constitution of the United States?”
FCPDC recommends: Yes.
From the DPG: This question asks whether Georgians should have the right to sue local and state governments as well as elected officials and public employees in their official capacities to challenge laws that may be unconstitutional. A 2017 ruling by the Georgia Supreme Court largely eliminated the ability of Georgians to challenge the constitutionality of laws without the government’s permission. A bill seeking to restore this ability to Georgians was vetoed by Governor Deal and Governor Kemp, who cited concerns regarding lawsuits from people in mental health facilities and lawsuits involving breach of contract against government employees and officials.
Statewide Referendum
A. Establishes a tax exemption for certain real property owned by charities.
House Bill 344
Act No 149
“Shall the Act be approved which provides an exemption from ad valorem taxes for all real property owned by a purely public charity, if such charity is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and such real property is held exclusively for the purpose of building or repairing single-family homes to be financed by such charity to individuals using loans that shall not bear interest?”
FCPDC recommends: Yes
From the DPG: This question asks if 501(c)(3) organizations should be exempt from property taxes on property that is in their inventory that is intended for building or repairing single family homes. For example, if this were to pass, Habitat for Humanity Georgia would be exempt from property tax on the vacant lots they own for future building purposes.
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