The responses to these questions were edited for length and clarity by the Georgia Decides team. Each candidate was allotted 150 words for each answer and some answers were trimmed in order to abide by that length requirement. Other edits were made to make sure readers can fully follow and understand the candidate responses.
Campaigning for: US House Georgia District 7
How does your background equip you for the job you are seeking?
The most important title I will ever have is “Jordan’s mom” because before I was ever walking through the halls of Congress, I was walking my son Jordan through the halls of his elementary school. Jordan meant the world to me, but when a man didn’t like the volume of his music, Jordan was shot and killed in a senseless act of gun violence. After two trials, Jordan’s killer was finally convicted, but true justice will be the day that no parent ever has to bury their own child due to unnecessary gun violence. That’s why, on the steps of the courthouse after the trial, I pledged to spend the rest of my life fighting to keep our communities safe, healthy, and whole.
Since that promise, my advocacy has taken me to work as a national spokesperson for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Everytown for Gun Safety. But, after witnessing our leaders fail to take action on gun safety following the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, I knew that if our leaders wouldn’t stand up for the lives of our children, that I had to do more. So I ran for Congress to ensure keeping our families safe would be a priority in Congress.
What role should government have in the lives of Georgians? How would you apply that philosophy to the job you are seeking?
We must do all we can to keep our children safe, to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs for our families, to protect our veterans who have sacrificed so much for this country, and to support the small businesses that help our communities thrive. That is what I have done in Congress, and that is what we should continue to do as a nation.
If you are elected (or re-elected), what problems will you spend the most time solving and why?
Broken gun laws continue to jeopardize the safety of our communities and children. However, there are also a number of challenges our communities face that Congress must engage as well. I pledge to support any measure that will work to the benefit of my neighbors and communities in Georgia.
Georgia is a politically diverse state. How will you work to represent Georgians whose political views differ from your own?
When I first ran for Congress in 2018, I won thanks to the support of Georgia residents of all views and perspectives. Since entering Congress, I have continued to work with all of my colleagues who knew that working together across the aisle was the first step in addressing many of the issues we face today. I am proud to have had numerous bipartisan bills signed into law from both Republican and Democratic presidents.
Who has been the biggest influence on how you view state government and politics? What have you learned from this person?
I am a child of the Civil Rights Movement. My father was Illinois Branch President of the NAACP and my mother stood right alongside him in mobilizing the voices of all people to advocate for justice. Marching alongside them as a young girl taught me to fight hard for equality and call out for justice, and I continue to do that work with our leaders in the halls of Congress.
Georgia has a lot to offer current and potential residents, but many parts of the state are becoming increasingly unaffordable. Please explain your proposed approach to address housing affordability through federal legislation and executive actions?
I raised Jordan as a single mother during the recession where I was always looking for affordable opportunities to have fun with my son that didn’t break the bank. We frequented the skating rink together where we could rent skates, roll around, and eat pizza for a dollar a slice. I know how hard it is for too many families in Georgia and across the country. In Congress, I’ve fought to make housing affordable throughout the entire state.
Politics is often about compromise. How do you decide when to compromise and take small, incremental wins, and when to refuse compromise?
Ever since I was a little girl in the Civil Rights Movement, I was taught to fight for what is right and what is just. I have been proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find common sense solutions that will help Georgia’s families and keep our children safe. I look forward to continuing to stick up for the values that were instilled in me, and work with all those willing to help our communities here in Georgia.
There were politicians who questioned the outcomes of Georgia elections in 2018 and 2020. Do you think Georgia’s elections are secure and will you stand by the results?
Free and fair elections are fundamental values of this country. We must continue to fight for them and hold accountable any who attempt to jeopardize our democracy.
In light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on abortion, state law and local enforcement authority will determine access to abortion. If elected, how will you use your authority in the U.S. House to influence abortion access or enforcement of abortion restrictions?
Ever since I was a young woman, there was nothing more I wanted than to be a mother, but for years before Jordan was born, I struggled to get pregnant. As a mother who not only lost her son to gun violence but also experienced the heartbreak and anguish of a fetal demise and a miscarriage, I understand the challenges soon-to-be mothers face, and I will never stop fighting to ensure that the healthcare decisions women make remain their own.
The U.S. Congress often votes along party lines. When would you seek bipartisan action and what issues merit such consensus?
I will work with anyone who is committed to the safety, health, and happiness of our communities and nation. I am proud to have had numerous bipartisan bills signed into law from both Republican and Democratic presidents, and I look forward to continuing to work with anyone trying to make life better for communities in Georgia.