Georgia’s 7th Congressional District, made up of parts of Gwinnett and Forsyth counties, was home to one of the narrowest races in America in November 2018.
Since then, long-term Republican Congressman Rob Woodall of Lawrenceville has announced he will not be seeking reelection this year.
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Rep. Woodall said in a February statement that he decided to pass the baton to “ensure that quality conservative candidates have time to prepare for a vigorous campaign in 2020.”
Now, as Woodall exits, there is a large field of candidates from both parties vying for the June 9 primary.
Woodall had won his fifth term in 2018 by fewer than 450 votes, barely scraping by Democratic candidate and college professor Carolyn Bourdeaux. The Congressman had won all previous campaigns with no less than 60% of the vote.
Gwinnett College Assistant Professor of Political Science Matthew Gunning told WABE that this is partially because Gwinnett County is becoming more ethnically diverse. He said the changing demographics have given Democratic candidates a base to build on.
“This is one of the reasons the district has become more competitive. And some white women who in the past might have been Republican voters, are at least open or considering voting for Democrats in the last few cycles,” Gunning said.
WABE reporter Emil Moffatt sat down with “Morning Edition” host Lisa Rayam to discuss those candidates and some of the key issues for Georgia’s 7th District seat – which was last vacant in 2010.
Moffatt said Bourdeaux running again this year has made way for criticism from opponents over her time working under Republicans from 2007 to 2010 in the Georgia Senate Budget and Evaluation Office.
“Her response to that – she was not the final decision maker back then, and if she was, she’d have done things differently,” Moffatt said.
Election Day for Georgia’s primaries is Tuesday. Absentee ballots must be received by local elections officials no later than 7 p.m. that evening.
Lily Oppenheimer contributed to this report.
