ATLANTA (AP) – Candidates in Georgia’s four most competitive congressional races are raising and spending millions as they look toward June 9 primaries or November general elections.
Two of the high-dollar races are in the 6th District and 7th District in suburban Atlanta, races both the Democratic and Republican parties are targeting nationally. Two more are Republican primaries for open seats in northeast Georgia’s 9th District and northwest Georgia’s 14th. Those big fields are likely to go to party runoffs now set for August, producing strong favorites for the general election.
In the 6th District, Democratic U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath raised more than $1 million and spent $450,000, according to Federal Election Commission reports filed this week covering the period from Jan. 1 to March 31. She has $2.6 million in cash on hand as she seeks to win a second term. Her top Republican challenger, Karen Handel, raised $282,000 and has $966,000 on hand. Handel held the seat briefly after a special election but lost to McBath in 2018 when seeking a full term.
In the Gwinnett County-centered 7th District, candidates collectively spent more than $1 million in the first quarter. Democrat Carolyn Bourdeaux raised $326,000 and spend almost $130,000, leaving her with more than $1 million on hand. Bourdeaux narrowly lost the general election in 2018 to Republican Rob Woodall, who isn’t seeking another term. She’s opposed for the Democratic nomination by five other candidates including state Sen. Zahra Karinshak, who raised $135,000 and spent $68,000, leaving $504,000 on hand.
On the Republican side, seven candidates are trying to hold the seat for the GOP. Among top candidates are state Sen. Renee Unterman, who raised $75,000 and has $726,000 in the bank. Physician Rich McCormick has $542,000 to spend after raising $196,000. And former Home Depot executive Lynne Homrich has $273,000 on hand after raising $46,000.