FREE for YOU! To the November 5th General Election Political Science Student Association President – Dominick Ledesma Voters Guide – Tyler Garner, Hava Restea, Stephen Braver Faculty Advisor – Dr. Carl Cavalli UNG VOTES! 2024 (Courtesy of the PSSA, ADP, Hawk the Vote!, and the SGA)
1 Table of Contents Candidates for President............................................. 2 Candidates for local U.S. House Districts ................... 4 Candidates for local State House Districts .................. 8 Candidates for local State Senate Districts ................. 8 U.S. Congressional District Map for Georgia .............. 9 State House District Map for Georgia........................ 10 State Senate District Map for Georgia....................... 11 This voter’s guide is designed to assist University of North Georgia students voting in the November 5th general election. The guide contains information on the major party nominees for state and federal offices (minor party candidates included where possible). This guide is a unique benefit to UNG students as the questions reprinted here were gathered from our students. In the spring of 2024, the PSSA surveyed UNG students regarding the issues about which they are most concerned. This guide presents candidate information for the three top issues. We’ve done our best to provide as much information as possible given both space limitations and information availability. We apologize for any errors or omissions. Every effort was made to accurately represent candidate positions. Print versions of this guide and other primary information material were produced by UPS using funding from the SGA. The PSSA thanks both for their efforts. An important note about REGISTRATION: To vote in the November 5th election, you must be registered by October 7th. If you are not registered by then, you may not vote in November. However, you may always register for future elections. You can register online here: https://registertovote.sos.ga.gov/ UNG is also partnering with TurboVote, a site which will walk you through the entire registration process and will even send you reminders for upcoming elections and deadlines if you wish. NOTE: Creating a TurboVote account does NOT register you to vote. They help walk you through the process, but they do not register you. https://turbovote.org/ To check your registration status, or for ballot and polling place information, see: https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/ NOTE: Unless otherwise indicated, all information is from candidate web sites. Editing for space was unavoidable, but every effort was made to preserve the candidates’ intent. Like and Follow us (and get updated election info) on social media: https://www.youtube.com/@ungPSSA https://www.facebook.com/UNGPSSA https://www.instagram.com/ungpssa/ Join us on UNG CONNECT: https://connect.ung.edu/pssa/club_signup Legend: (D) = Democrat, (R) = Republican, (S) = Socialist, (L) = Libertarian, (G) = Green, (I) = Independent * = Incumbent
2 Candidates for President of the United States: Kamala Harris (D) – Vice President, https://kamalaharris.com/ Inflation: As vice-president, she has been Mr Biden's partner in passing major economic legislation - regularly labeled "Bidenomics" - which included major investments in infrastructure and green energy. Growth and jobs creation have been strong but inflation and high interest rates continue to hit American wallets. In a speech focused on the economy, Ms Harris promised mortgage assistance for first-time homebuyers, a tax credit for parents of newborns and bans on price gouging at the grocery store to help target inflation. She said in her convention acceptance speech that her plans would create "an opportunity economy where everyone has a chance to compete and a chance to succeed". In her first interview as the Democratic nominee with CNN, Ms Harris said that "one of my highest priorities is to do what we can to support and strengthen the middle class". (BBC) Immigration: Ms Harris's position on the border has changed over time to a more moderate one in this campaign. On the campaign trail, the vice-president has reiterated her continued support for the hardline bipartisan border security deal that would have included hundreds of millions of dollars for border wall construction. It was torpedoed by congressional Republicans earlier this year at Trump's urging. It would have fast-tracked decisions on asylum cases, limited humanitarian parole, and expanded the authority to deport migrants. She has also said there "should be consequences" for people who cross the US border unlawfully, though she once held a much more lenient position. As vice-president, she was tasked with tackling the root causes of the record numbers of Central American migrants crossing the southern border. Those numbers spiked during the Biden administration, but have declined in recent months. She helped raise $3bn - largely from private companies - for regional investments in hopes it would encourage residents to remain in their home countries. (BBC) Abortion: In a campaign speech Harris said, "We who believe in reproductive freedom will stop Donald Trump’s extreme abortion bans because we trust women to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do. And when Congress passes a law to restore reproductive freedoms, as president of the United States, I will sign it into law." [source, as of 2024-07-23] In a campaign speech Harris said, "We who believe in reproductive freedom will stop Donald Trump’s extreme abortion bans because we trust women to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do. And when Congress passes a law to restore reproductive freedoms, as president of the United States, I will sign it into law." [source, as of 2024-07-23] (Ballotpedia) Donald Trump (R) – former President, https://www.donaldjtrump.com/ Inflation: The Republican Party will reverse the worst Inflation crisis in four decades that has crushed the middle class, devastated family budgets, and pushed the dream of homeownership out of reach for millions. We will defeat Inflation, tackle the costof-living crisis, improve fiscal sanity, restore price stability, and quickly bring down prices. Inflation is a crushing tax on American families. History shows that Inflation will not magically disappear while policies remain the same. We commit to unleashing American Energy, reining in wasteful spending, cutting excessive Regulations, securing our Borders, and restoring Peace through Strength. Together, we will restore Prosperity, ensure Economic Security, and build a brighter future for American Workers and their families. Our dedication to these Policies will make America stronger, more resilient, and more prosperous than ever before. 1. Unleash American Energy Under President Trump, the U.S. became the Number One Producer of Oil and Natural Gas in the World — and we will soon be again by lifting restrictions on American Energy Production and terminating the Socialist Green New Deal. Republicans will unleash Energy Production from all sources, including nuclear, to immediately slash Inflation and power American homes, cars, and factories with reliable, abundant, and affordable Energy. 2. Rein in Wasteful Federal Spending Republicans will immediately stabilize the Economy by slashing wasteful Government spending and promoting Economic Growth. 3. Cut Costly and Burdensome Regulations Republicans will reinstate President Trump's Deregulation Policies, which saved Americans $11,000 per household, and end Democrats’ regulatory onslaught that disproportionately harms low- and middle-income households. 4. Stop Illegal Immigration Republicans will secure the Border, deport Illegal Aliens, and reverse the Democrats’ Open Borders Policies that have driven up the cost of Housing, Education, and Healthcare for American families. 5. Restore Peace through Strength War breeds Inflation while geopolitical stability brings price stability. Republicans will end the global chaos and restore Peace through Strength, reducing geopolitical risks and lowering commodity prices. Immigration: Republicans offer an aggressive plan to stop the open-border policies that have opened the floodgates to a tidal wave of illegal Aliens, deadly drugs, and Migrant Crime. We will end the Invasion at the Southern Border, restore Law and Order, protect American Sovereignty, and deliver a Safe and Prosperous Future for all Americans. 1. Secure the Border Republicans will restore every Border Policy of the Trump administration and halt all releases of Illegal Aliens into the interior. We will complete the Border Wall, shift massive portions of Federal Law Enforcement to Immigration Enforcement, and use advanced technology to monitor and secure the Border. We will use all resources needed to stop the Invasion— including moving thousands of Troops currently stationed overseas to our own Southern Border. We will deploy the U.S. Navy to impose a full Fentanyl Blockade on the waters of our Region— boarding and inspecting ships to look for fentanyl and fentanyl precursors. Before we defend the Borders of Foreign Countries, we must first secure the Border of our Country. 2. Enforce Immigration Laws Republicans will strengthen ICE, increase penalties for illegal entry and overstaying Visas, and reinstate “Remain in Mexico” and other Policies that helped reduce Illegal Immigration by historic lows in President Trump’s first term. We will also invoke the Alien Enemies Act to remove all known or suspected gang members, drug dealers, or cartel members from the United States, ending the scourge of Illegal Alien gang violence once and for all. We will bring back the Travel Ban, and use Title 42 to end the child trafficking crisis by returning all trafficked children to their families in their Home Countries immediately. 3. Begin Largest Deportation Program in American History President Trump and Republicans will reverse the Democrats’ destructive Open Borders Policies that have allowed criminal gangs and Illegal Aliens from around the World to roam the United States without consequences. The Republican Party is committed to sending Illegal Aliens back home and removing those who have violated our Laws. 4. Strict Vetting Republicans will use existing Federal Law to keep foreign Christian-hating Communists, Marxists, and Socialists out of America. Those who join our Country must love our Country. We will use extreme vetting to ensure that jihadists and jihadist sympathizers are not admitted. 5. Stop Sanctuary Cities Republicans will cut federal Funding to sanctuary jurisdictions that release dangerous Illegal Alien criminals onto our streets, rather than handing them over to ICE. We will require local cooperation with Federal Immigration Enforcement. 6. Ensure Our Legal Immigration System Puts American Workers First Republicans will prioritize Merit-based immigration, ensuring those admitted to our Country contribute positively to our Society and Economy, and never become a drain on Public Resources. We will end Chain Migration, and put American Workers first! Abortion: Trump said in a statement, "I was proudly the person responsible for the ending of something that all legal scholars, both sides, wanted and, in fact, demanded be ended: Roe v. Wade. They wanted it ended. [...] My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land, in this case the law of the state. Many states will be different, many will have a different number of weeks or some will have more conservative [laws] than others, and that’s what they will be. At the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people." [source, as of 2024-04-08] Trump said in a statement, "I was proudly the person responsible for the ending of something that all legal scholars, both sides, wanted and, in fact, demanded be ended: Roe v. Wade. They wanted it ended. [...] My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land, in this case the law of the state. Many states will be different, many will have a different number of weeks or some will have more conservative [laws] than others, and that’s what they will be. At the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people." [source, as of 2024-04-08] (Ballotpedia) Cornel West (I) – Activist, https://www.cornelwest2024.com/ Inflation: Information not available Immigration: In the prophetic spirit that guides us toward justice and compassion, the Cornel West for President campaign presents a vision for immigration justice that recognizes the divine worth of every soul seeking refuge and opportunity within our borders. This vision is grounded in the understanding that our strength as a nation is derived from our ability to welcome, integrate, and uplift those who come to us from distant lands, bearing dreams and talents that enrich our collective tapestry. Our policies are a commitment to transforming the U.S. immigration system into a beacon of hope grounded in the principles of dignity, respect, and human rights. Massive Investment in Policy Transformation reflects our determination to reimagine our immigration system as embodying our highest values—compassion, morality, dignity, and ethics. This transformation involves creating clear, broad legal pathways for residency that recognize the inherent worth of every individual, ensuring that America remains a land of opportunity, true to its historical legacy and moral obligations. Ending the Inhumane Treatment of Migrants is a solemn vow to cease the morally reprehensible practices that tarnish our national conscience—such as family separation and the detention of children under cruel conditions. This policy affirms that the pursuit of immigration justice must be rooted in respect for human rights and the sanctity of family unity, recognizing that every person who arrives at our borders is a member of the human family and deserves compassion and dignity. Streamlining Legal Pathways signifies our commitment to dismantling the bureaucratic barriers that hinder the dreams of so many. By making the processes for obtaining citizenship, permanent residency, and work visas more accessible and efficient, we honor the aspirations of immigrants and enrich our nation with their contributions, creativity, and resilience. Acknowledging and Addressing U.S. Responsibility calls us to confront the uncomfortable truths about the impact of our foreign policies on the global conditions that compel migration. This policy is a pledge to engage in foreign affairs with a heightened sense of responsibility, fostering policies that promote stability, democracy, and economic opportunities abroad, thereby addressing the root causes of forced migration.
3 Abolishing ICE and Demilitarizing the Border articulate our vision for an immigration system that prioritizes human rights, community safety, and dignity over militarization and punitive enforcement. By advocating for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the demilitarization of our borders, we embrace a new paradigm of immigration enforcement—one that is humane, just, and reflective of our core values as a nation. Upholding Asylum Laws is our promise to protect the sacred right to asylum, ensuring that those who flee persecution, violence, and despair are met not with barriers and hostility but with fairness, transparency, and an opportunity to find safety and hope within our borders. This policy reaffirms our commitment to international and national laws that safeguard the rights of asylum seekers, ensuring that America remains a refuge for the oppressed. The Cornel West for President campaign for immigration justice is a call to action—a call to embrace our common humanity to extend our hands in solidarity with those who seek to share in our nation's promise. It is a vision of an America where the lamp of liberty shines brightly, guiding the way to a future where every person, regardless of where they come from, can find dignity, respect, and a chance to contribute to the common good. Join us in this sacred journey towards a more just, compassionate, and welcoming America. Abortion: Codification of Abortion Rights stands as a bulwark against the tides of regressive legislation seeking to undermine reproductive freedoms. It is a declaration that the sanctity of personal choice and autonomy over one's body is a principle as immutable as the Constitution itself. Reproductive Rights and Healthcare Access Embodies our unshakeable belief in reproductive freedom as a fundamental right. We advocate for unfettered access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare—embracing safe and legal abortion, contraception, and fertility treatments—ensuring every woman, irrespective of her economic status, race, or location, navigates her reproductive health with dignity, free from barriers or censure. Claudia De La Cruz (S) – Activist, https://votesocialist2024.com/ Inflation: information not available Immigration: Immigrant workers – who are fleeing horrific conditions caused largely by U.S. corporations and politicians – should be given legal status and brought into unions so that solidarity prevails instead of a “race to the bottom” in wages. Abortion: Abortion should be available without restrictions and provided for free so that women and all people have the right to control their own bodies. The Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision was a historic blow to equal rights, but the court could not have done it without the help of decades of passivity on the part of the Democratic Party. The Democrats refused to take any of the many opportunities they had – including the period between the 2020 and 2022 elections – to pass a law at the federal level legalizing abortion. We need such legislation immediately, along with other measures to ensure abortion services are available on demand regardless of income. Chase Oliver (L), Activist, Economic Consultant, https://votechaseoliver.com/ Inflation: “If we really want to fight for people chasing their dreams and achieving their goals in life, the first thing we have to do is make sure we quit robbing them with inflation.” Government overspending and reckless money printing are fueling skyrocketing costs, hurting those who can least afford it. By slashing spending and balancing the budget, we can crush inflation and ignite a stronger, more vibrant economy that works for everyone. Immigration: “It should be simple for those who wish to come here to work and build a better life to appear before immigration officials at an accredited port of entry, be given medical and criminal checks to assess their safety, and receive a visa allowing them to immediately find employment. This is a process that should take, at most, days – not months or years.” Our immigration system is outdated and inefficient. It’s time to break the partisan gridlock and simplify the process so immigrants can come, work, and thrive as part of our communities. Immigrants built America, and they’re key to its future. Abortion: “If you’re not harming someone with force, fraud, coercion, theft or violence, if you’re not doing any of those bad things, your life is your life. Your body is your body. Your business is your business, and your property is your property. It’s not mine, and it’s not the government’s.” No government should regulate personal activities or impose harsh penalties. We must end the death penalty, corporate bailouts, drug criminalization, abortion restrictions before viability, and excessive employment regulations. The government shouldn’t draft citizens, tax individuals excessively, mandate medical treatments, or censor private communication. Jill Stein (G) – Doctor, https://www.jillstein2024.com/ Inflation: The Wall Street parties have rigged the economy against working people. Over 60% of adults in the US are now living paycheck to paycheck. For 50 years, real wages have stagnated while worker productivity and corporate profits have soared. Inflation fueled by corporate profiteering has driven up the cost of living, eating away at the modest wage gains working people have won. We need a government that works for working people, not elite wealthy donors. It’s time to restore and expand workers’ rights; support unions, cooperatives and worker ownership; and ensure that working people enjoy the full fruits of their labor. A Jill Stein administration will: o Pass a $25 minimum wage, indexed to cost inflation and productivity growth, whichever is higher, with special consideration for geographic locations where cost of living greatly exceeds other areas o Guaranteed Livable Income above poverty o Guarantee housing as a human right o Implement universal rent control o Increase federal support for worker-owned cooperatives o Expand and defend workers’ right to unionize to include domestic, agricultural, and so-called “gig” workers o Ensure worker representation on corporate boards (co-determination) at 50% o Give voting rights in pension funds to the workers o Repeal the Taft-Hartley Act and end the "right-to-work for less" laws o Federalize workers' compensation to standardize and ensure full funding for worker’s comp o Close the pay gap and end wage discrimination based on race, gender, or other factors o Pass a Federal jobs guarantee to end unemployment o Pass the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights o Pass the Wage Theft Prevention and Recovery Act o End the Landrum-Griffin Act restrictions that bar unions from hiring some formerly incarcerated people o Eliminate the sub-minimum wage loophole in the Fair Labor Standards Act o Create a National Solidarity Fund, funded by a one cent ($0.01) per worker-hour tax, paying stipends to workers who are striking or locked out o Encourage Sectoral bargaining through the Department of Labor and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) o Utilize civil asset forfeiture against companies guilty of violating workers’ protections (standards to be determined) o Federally mandate and fund three weeks of paid sick leave, eight weeks of paid vacation per year, and one-year parental leave for all new parents. o Ban “at-will“ employment by requiring just cause to terminate employment. o Unionize all federal employees o Commit to veto any legislation that breaks strikes Immigration: Immigrants’ rights are human rights. For hundreds of years immigrants have contributed immensely to the United States despite facing constant exploitation, discrimination, xenophobia and scapegoating. For decades, US foreign policies of war, intervention, and the “war on drugs” have driven many immigrants to leave their homes under duress to arrive here in dire need. The Wall Street parties and their wealthy backers use immigrants as essential labor, while denying them the human rights and dignity that everyone deserves. It’s time to completely overhaul this broken and abusive immigration system, as well as the unjust policies driving people to leave their homes. We need a comprehensive immigration policy and properly funded institutions to ensure a timely, ethical, transparent, and dignified path to citizenship for immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. Border policy should move away from detention and enforcement response toward humane and effective asylum processing. This includes full support and funding for coordinated civil society response including social and legal service providers. Instead of jailing migrants and asylum seekers, we will create non-custodial, humanitarian reception centers at the border. Migrants should be processed rapidly to screen for significant criminal records. Once processed, migrants should have papers to begin work immediately, making them an invaluable resource for communities. A Jill Stein administration will: o Vastly reduce the tide of migration by ending the crises driving people to migrate in the first place - ending US wars and military interventions (250 in the past 30 years, per the Congressional Research Service), reducing climate migration through an emergency Green New Deal and eliminating fossil fuel emissions within a decade; ending US economic
4 sanctions driving migration from Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua; legalizing marijuana in the US and supporting legalization in Latin America to undercut drug cartels whose violence is a major driver of migration. o Abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and establish an Office of Citizenship, Refugees, and Immigration Services under the Department of Labor. Redirect all ICE funding to processing centers that provide immigrants and refugees with resources for housing, work, and healthcare upon arrival o Prosecute all ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents who have committed human rights violations o Repeal the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act o Repeal the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act o Grant amnesty to every undocumented person in the United States, and implement a path to citizenship with expediency o Provide whistleblower visas for immigrants who report labor violations or exploitative work conditions o Expand refugee programs and improve the housing conditions for all refugees during resettlement o Remove stringent requirements for linguistic assimilation and employment, and expand mental health services for refugees o Expand the number of visas available to immigrants o Greatly increase humanitarian aid to struggling Latin American economies, especially for countries that have been devastated by U.S. intervention o End US sanctions in general, which are illegal in any event. They should most immediately be ended where they devastate economies in Latin America and fuel immigration, as in Cuba and Venezuela o End the War on Drugs o Take immediate action to locate separated children and reunite them with their families o Direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and provide them resources to adjudicate visa petitions within 30 days, instead of the current 2 years or more, to shorten the duration of Family Separation for legal immigrants and citizens o Fully staff and fund immigration courts o Hire more asylum officers and provide exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate asylum cases o Ensure all immigration judges have civil service protection o Ensure that due process and constitutional protections are available to undocumented immigrants when it comes to deportation issues o Repeal section 212(a)(9)(B)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act concerning Accruing Unlawful Presence o Support DACA by updating the registration date of the 1929 Registry Act to 1/1/2022, and restoring Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which expired in April 2001. This will allow people who have approved petitions to apply for their Green Card upon payment of a fine for the filing fee. o Reduce the record number of detainees currently under DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) control. Abortion: Women’s rights are human rights. As women's freedoms, protections and rights are continually under assault by extremist groups, we will defend and codify women’s full rights once and for all. A Jill Stein administration will: o Publish the Equal Rights Amendment o Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act (HR 7) to end pay discrimination and ensure equal pay for equal work o Pass the 2021 Violence Against Women Act o Ensure that domestic abusers cannot own or buy a gun o Federally fund and expedite all rape kit testing o Codify Roe v Wade o Ensure full reproductive rights and bodily autonomy for women o Repeal the Hyde Amendment o Fund free birth control and menstruation products o Repeal FOSTA/SESTA which puts sex workers at risk o Decriminalize sex work o Expand the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) o Protect and enforce Title IX o Ensure prosecution of sexual harassment and violence in the workplace and the military Candidates for U.S. House of Representatives Districts in the North Georgia region: NOTE: Due to space considerations, only contested districts in the northern part of Georgia are included. District 3 Brian Jack (R) – Political Analyst, https://brianjack.com/ Inflation: “Georgia families can’t escape the failures of Joe Biden’s economic agenda - runaway reckless spending, anti-American energy policies and high prices at the gas station and grocery store. ‘Biden-omics’ is a broken model that has devastated American families and workers, of which over 60% are living paycheck to paycheck. This is unsustainable, and in Congress, I’ll put pencil to paper to return to the pro-growth policies that fueled President Trump’s economic boom. Lowering taxes and expanding President Trump’s middle class tax cuts, reducing spending and working towards a balanced budget, and unleashing American energy including oil and natural gas, will put us on a path to recovery and deliver needed relief for Georgia taxpayers.” Immigration: “There is no more pressing issue our nation faces than Joe Biden’s border crisis. The ongoing invasion of millions of illegal migrants across our border - ushered on by this administration and Democrats in Congress - is an existential threat to America’s sovereignty and national security. Deadly drugs and violent criminals have flooded into our state, turning every community in Georgia into a border town. The tragic slaying of Laken Riley in Athens by an illegal alien with a lengthy criminal record is unfortunately not an isolated incident - innocent Americans are terrorized constantly by those who have no right to be in our country, only here because of the actions of a lawless President. In 2016, I helped elect President Trump to make our nation great again, and served in his White House to implement an America First agenda - with strengthening border security being the top priority. Under his leadership, America’s border was secure, criminal illegals were held accountable, and nearly 500 miles of the border wall were built. Joe Biden dismantled President Trump’s proven border security policies on Day One of his administration. Georgia families are suffering the results - rising crime, devastating fentanyl overdoses, lost economic opportunity and a government that puts illegals before its own citizens. In Congress, I will lead the fight to end Biden’s border invasion and put America First once again - completing the job President Trump and I began in 2016. That means finishing the border wall, funding for ICE and border patrol, deporting criminal illegals, and reforming our immigration laws to prioritize the prosperity of working class Americans.” Abortion: information not available. Maura Keller (D) – Healthcare Professional, https://maurakeller.com/ Inflation: “We are a country that doesn’t take care of its people. The American Dream is supposed to come with a good quality of life; instead, it is dependent on our citizens working themselves to the bone. If the federal minimum wage had not increased in 2009, workers in Georgia would still be making $5.05/hour. Although studies show a liveable wage in Georgia should be at least $17.00/hour, District 3’s previous representatives continually voted to keep their neighbors at or below the poverty line, with many making only $7.25/hour. That means it has been 14 years without a pay increase and still our Republican leaning Congress will not do anything about it. So many of our elected officials are out of touch with the people they represent. $7.25/hour is hardly enough to make ends meet, and that’s without adding taxes to the equation. For one hour of work, you could get 2 gallons of milk for your family. For a rotisserie chicken, you would need to work over an hour. For a box of cereal, that’s another hour and a half. By the end of the day, you can just about feed your family. But what about bills? Insurance payments? Student debt? There is no way for those below the poverty line to dig their way out, and politicians saying they just need to work harder is a sign that they have abandoned the people. Maura will back legislation that supports paid leave, paid sick time, and paid time off. She believes that these protections are essential for workers, regardless of whether you’re a minimum wage worker or a CEO. Unpaid time off is not enough, and some workers don’t even have access to that. If you or a loved one are experiencing an unexpected illness, not getting paid leave will only add to your stress in an already difficult time. If you need maternity/paternity leave, you may be forced to come back to work sooner than what feels right
5 for you and your family. This is just for medical and family matters; there are many Americans who don’t have the luxury of taking even a short vacation. Maura believes everyone should have the right to PTO and will advocate for this in Congress. Federal law does not guarantee workers a single paid day off, which leaves America behind the times compared to other developed nations. Paid family leave has been dropped from legislation multiple times and Maura wants to make sure that protections like this are passed once and for all. When it comes to economic equity, Maura also wants to address the subminimum wage paid to disabled workers. In Georgia, there are 8 community rehabilitation providers who are paying 245 disabled workers the subminimum wage, meaning they are legally allowed to pay as little as 22 cents an hour. Maura finds this unacceptable and, if you send her to Congress, she will support bills such as H.R. 603 Raise the Wage Act of 2021 which will see a federal requirement for raising the minimum wage over a 5 year period. All workers will receive a wage increase, and disabled workers will have protected access to the standard minimum wage through this process.” Immigration: “It’s no secret that our immigration system is broken, and has been for a long time. Maura believes that properly reforming our immigration service is a process that benefits everyone. We can improve our border security and enforce our rules all while strengthening our economy and keeping families together. In recent years, we have seen young children separated from their parents and kept in cages, while politicians spread hate in the media. Let’s be clear: this is not immigration reform. If you’re ready for actual change that benefits our country, then Maura is the representative for you. Immigrants helped build our great nation, and have always been a part of our history. Today, we know that immigration is good for the economy. The more people working, studying and paying taxes the better. Republicans are quick to say that Democrats want to open the borders and let anyone in, but that’s not true. If we reformed and properly funded our immigration process, we would be able to prevent those with criminal records from entering the country with ease. Immigration reform includes protecting our borders, while offering better legal pathways to enter America. Right now, we are seeing very low rates of unemployment, which is great. But there are still jobs to fill, and we need immigration to help keep our country running smoothly. Maura believes it is time for bipartisan progress. We can change course and move away from hateful rhetoric and, instead, build a better future for everyone.” Abortion: “For Maura, taking a stance on reproductive healthcare is easy: EVERYONE should have access to the care they need and have the right to make all decisions about their own body. The government should not come between Americans and their bodily autonomy; when Maura is sent to Congress, she will do everything in her power to both enshrine Roe v. Wade and expand on protections for women and birthing people across our nation. No one should be denied abortion access. Maura wholeheartedly believes that starting a family should be your choice, and she knows that the politics and religions of others should have no influence over your decisions. MAGA republicans will not stop until there is a national abortion ban. They are creating a world in which women must live in fear over their medical decisions, must accept violations of their privacy, and must risk their lives to carry a nonviable fetus to term– this is unacceptable. Doctors are now denying life saving care out of fear of retribution, with restrictive laws such as the Heartbeat Bill forcing them to go against their duty of care to patients. This is causing a shortage in OB-GYN residencies across the country. In the state of Georgia, the latest data shows that 82 of our 159 counties do not have OB-GYN doctors and 15 counties had only 1 doctor. That means that 52% of Georgia residents who need reproductive healthcare do not have access to it. Reproductive healthcare is not only about abortion access. The lack of OB-GYNs means that those who are trying to get pregnant and carry a pregnancy to term do not have the essential services needed throughout pregnancy. In Georgia, the maternal mortality rate is only getting worse. Recent data shows 30.2 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births between 2018 and 2020, up from 25.1 between 2017 and 2019. More than half of these deaths were among black women. The racial disparity in our state is sickening, and Maura will champion equitable healthcare for everyone as our next Democratic representative, ensuring that unnecessary deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth become a thing of the past. Dangerous policies that restrict women and birthing people are born of a lack of equal rights in our country. That’s why Maura is committed to doing everything she can in Congress to get the Equal Rights Amendment added to our constitution. The ERA has been around for 101 years, and many of the women who fought so bravely for it have since died without seeing it enshrined in our laws. There’s no excuse for Republicans to keep voting no to this amendment. Of the 15 states that have not ratified the ERA, Georgia is one of them, and your next Congresswoman is determined to change that.” District 4 Republican: Eugene Yu, Business Owner, Web: https://www.yuforhouse.com/ Inflation: I will make it easy for Citizen to dream big without paying big. I will stop the funneling of money without backing and American priorities first. Immigration: Americans depend on their government to preserve and protect their way of life for themselves and their posterity. our 1st obligation is to those on our soil, then to those reaching our shores. It is that Constitutional Protection that drives thousands to our shore, and nations look to us in the time of need. I am proof America is for Immigration and an active part of the global community. I will fight for lawful entry into the US. To demand Border Security is not to keep people out, but to protect the lives and resources of those that dwell within. Safety first, then benevolence. 9 countries have nuclear capabilities. We have gone to war with 3 of these countries before, and tensions are mounting all across the globe with 6 of them. I advocate to ensure we are the best and the strongest at protecting Americans and our way of life. Abortion: Human life, at all stages of development, in and out of the womb, must be protected. No exception. Hank Johnson (D)* – Attorney, https://hankforcongress.com/ Inflation: information not available. Immigration: Congressman Johnson is a staunch supporter of DACA, TPS, refugees and immigrants who come to America for a better life for themselves and their children. What Hank believes: o Hank has zero tolerance for children being held in cages at detention centers, where they sleep on the cold floor. o Hank has zero tolerance for children being jailed and deprived of a human touch. We have zero tolerance for a Trump policy that deprives children of ever being reunited with their parents. o Hank believes we are a nation of laws, but we are also a nation of immigrants. Most Americans have parents or grandparents who immigrated to this country, and we know the hardships they faced, from learning the language to dealing with prejudice. o Hank believes we must secure our borders, require employers to comply with common-sense laws that benefit our country, and expect immigrants who want to stay here to do what people who have come to our shores in search of a better life have always done: obey our laws, learn our language, and pay taxes, while earning the chance to become tax-paying American citizens. What Hank has done: o Went to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to help American citizens when they were detained by Trump’s illegal Muslim ban in 2017. o Marched on the frontline with thousands of peaceful protesters in Atlanta to denounce the Trump Administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy. o Hosted a Fourth District Muslim, Refugee and Immigrant Listening Session at the Clarkston Community Center to fight against the divisive Trump Administration and the GOP Congressional immigration and refugee policies. o Introduced H. Res. 1073 to increase the number of refugees fleeing violence and persecution that can be admitted into the United States. o Voted for H.R. 3401, a $4.5 billion emergency border supplemental appropriations bill to address the urgent humanitarian situation at our Southern border. The bill provides significant funding for priorities to meet the needs of vulnerable children, including food, water, medical services, legal assistance, support services for unaccompanied children, alternatives to detention, and refugee services. The bill also contains important oversight provisions to hold the Administration accountable and to insist the Administration start to protect the rights of immigrants. o Supported H.R.6 – The American Dream and Promise Act. o Cosponsor of the New Way Forward Act, which makes changes to immigration enforcement, including ending mandatory detention in certain cases. o Cosponsor of the NO BAN Act, which imposes limitations on the President’s authority to suspend or restrict aliens from entering the United States and terminates certain presidential actions implementing such restrictions. It also prohibits religious discrimination in various immigration-related decisions, such as whether to issue an immigrant or non-immigrant visa, with certain exceptions. Abortion: information not available. District 5 John Salvesen (R) – Construction, https://www.bongoforcongress.com/about Inflation: information not available. Immigration: information not available. Abortion: information not available.
6 Nikema Williams (D)* – Nonprofit executive, https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/ Inflation: information not available. Immigration: information not available. Abortion: information not available. District 6 Jeff Criswell (R) – Communications, https://jeffcriswell.com/ Inflation: information not available. Immigration: Like me - since Joe Biden and the Democrats took office in 2021 - you’ve watched in horror as WAVE after WAVE of illegal aliens have crashed America’s southern border. Perhaps as many as 10 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS have crossed into the US since Biden, Lucy “Dirty Dollars” McBath and the rest of the Democrats won office in 2020. TEN MILLION - as much as the entire NEW ENGLAND section of our country. o They’re everywhere - destroying our schools, robbing Americans of good-paying jobs, and bankrupting our health facilities - all the while not even bothering to learn English. o And the Democrats did this on purpose; they intentionally let this happen in the hopes of creating voting power in future elections. And not only did they let it happen, they LIED to our faces while it happened, as if we were stupid enough to believe them. o The UNPRECEDENTED, mind-boggling situation leaves us law-abiding, American citizens with a sense of being raped. o Now, I understand that America is a nation of immigrants, and that we welcome law-abiding, educated people who want to become part of the American experience. o But what’s happening now is not normal immigration, rather, it’s an INVASION by people who have: 1. No intention of learning our language, 2. No appreciation for American history, 3. Will be funneling tens of billions of dollars across the border to be spent in the economies of foreign countries. o And it’s not just Hispanic folks, either. Thousands of Chinese and folks from Muslim countries have entered the US on Joe Biden’s watch. Why, exactly, are they here? o But the INVASION will soon be over. o President Trump has already said he intends to deport these folks en masse - the largest deportation ever in American history. I endorse President Trump and this policy wholeheartedly. o In addition to mass deportations, we need to SEAL THE BORDER for the next 10 YEARS. Abortion: information not available. Lucy McBath (D)* – Advocate, https://lucyforcongress.com/ Inflation: Congresswoman McBath came to metro Atlanta in the late 80’s seeking opportunity. She worked as a Delta flight attendant for three decades, and she raised her son Jordan in metro Atlanta. This is the same story for many of Georgia’s families, and it’s the story of President Biden’s job-creating agenda. The White House’s plan will create millions of jobs nation-wide, provide financial relief to families and working Americans, and revitalize Georgia’s aging infrastructure. Congresswoman McBath believes we must do all we can to deliver President Biden’s agenda for Georgia’s working families. Immigration: Congresswoman McBath understands what it is like to have your family ripped away from you. Many Americans live with this same fear for their loved ones. It is time to pursue comprehensive immigration reform for our fellow neighbors and families living in fear and new regulations for humane border management. Congresswoman McBath recognizes that it is critical that we extend our open hands to DREAMers. Abortion: As a two-time breast cancer survivor, Congresswoman McBath understands the importance of affordable and quality healthcare. As a mom who struggled to get pregnant, she opposed the G.O.P. plan to take away healthcare from thousands of Georgians by defunding Planned Parenthood. Whether it is cancer screening, contraceptives, or family planning services, our communities deserve access to services that keep them and their families healthy. Elfreda Desvingnes (D) (write-in) – Advocate, https://desvigneselfreda.com/ Inflation: Talking to some of the American people within the community, I asked them what they take on gas prices?and they stated, the gas stations are price gouging people! Food prices have skyrocketed since COVID-19. Since Covid-19, grocery stores food prices has spiked up, from eggs to milk to meat. The American people have to figure out everyday meals to buy, that meets their budget. People are barely making it. Paycheck to paycheck. Something have to give! Immigration: information not available. Abortion: information not available. District 7 Rich McCormick (R)* – Physician, https://www.richmccormick.us/ Inflation: Rich recognizes the opportunities that allowed us to prosper are under attack by the Biden Administration. Inflation is soaring beyond wage increases. Biden proposed the largest tax increase in history and imposed draconian regulations on local businesses. Rich is working in Congress stop this slide towards socialism and create legislation to: o Provide real tax relief for middle class families o Remove unnecessary regulation that limit growth with no benefit o Promote entrepreneurship and innovation to grow the economy o Get the Supply Chain Moving and Restock Our Shelves Immigration: Rich McCormick believes two things can and must be true: law and order is and must be the bedrock of our Republic; all men are created equally and should be treated as such under the law. Safety for our businesses and homes is a top priority for Rich McCormick. He vigorously opposes defunding the police as it would lead to a dramatic increase in violent crime. McCormick is working around the clock to make certain that federal, state, and local law enforcement have the resources and training required to combat the flow of illegal drugs, stop criminal gangs, and end human trafficking. He is fighting to end Biden’s open-door policies to illegal immigrants and deport those who have been shipped to our communities. o Fully Fund and Support Law Enforcement o Build the Wall and Rid Our Communities of Illegal Immigrants o Hold Violent Criminals and Drug Pushers Accountable for their Crimes Abortion: Protect life at every stage, from the unborn to the infirm. Bob Christian (D) – Manager, https://christianforga7.com/ Inflation: information not available. Immigration: Without borders, there is no country. A strong border and a well-regulated immigration system is necessary for the security of a country. However, border security does not have to be inhumane. Immigrants leave behind everything they know – most especially fear – to get to the United States. People arrive with nothing but the dream of a better life for themselves and their families. The same dream that all of us have. The American Dream. I will never support separation of children from their families during the already traumatizing process of immigration. It is time for a thorough rebuild of the current immigration system as it has obviously begun to fail us. I recognize the need for a pathway to citizenship for immigrants already established in the United States and for those brought here as children. I believe that a secure border built through a massive investment in technology and manpower is the most effective a wall that can be built. Abortion: Women continue to be treated as second-class citizens almost 100 years after being guaranteed the right to vote in the United States. These are our mothers, our sisters, and our daughters. The continuing threat to reproductive rights, the degradation of medical rights in individual states, and now, attacks on family planning and in vitro fertilization. To add insult to injury, women are still paid only 86% of the wages earned by men. I believe it is far past time to acknowledge women as equal citizens in our society. I will work diligently to ensure every woman has the right to make her own, private medical decisions. I know that the conversations between a woman and her doctor should remain between them alone, and that no person should be denied medical treatment considered necessary for their own well-being. Lastly, I will be a loud voice for equal pay for equal work regardless of gender.
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