Gwinnett County was able to transition from solid red to blue for the first time since the Carter administration during the 2016 election.
Nearly 50,000 Democrats took to the polls and voted out longstanding Republicans, a historic election that brought in loads of freshmen representatives to the Georgia House, most of whom are returning to the campaign trail this election year to defend Gwinnett from Republican control, which for this season, is essential.
What some Gwinnett County residents don’t realize is that 2020 is a census year, resulting in districts across the country that will be subject to change, which means that school districts, infrastructure and federal funding are all affected. But most important of all, there will be changes to the state House districts.
Gwinnett County has a history of race-based gerrymandering. In 2018, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the Georgia chapter of the NAACP “alleged that legislators illegally gerrymandered state House districts to increase the percentage of white voters to protect incumbent Republicans” Rep. Joyce Chandler and Rep. Brian Strickland.
The courts ruled in favor of the GOP because it is legal to shift districts in favor of keeping a political party in power over that district in the state of Georgia, meaning that it can and will happen again unless the current Democrat-leaning seats are kept.
Brenda Lopez-Romero, the representative for Georgia House District 99 and candidate for Georgia’s 7th congressional district, expects Gwinnett County to be at risk post-census.
“Gwinnett County is a highly diverse county, and we often see minority populations split apart to account for more Republican voters,” she said.
Gwinnett County is one of the most diverse counties in the state. With an international demographic, it is necessary for these constituents to be represented.
Jorge Granados, the Democratic candidate for Georgia House District 99, agrees.
“We need leaders who can help and understand our communities [and] acknowledge the struggles of each individual is going through,” Granados said.
Gwinnett needs representatives who can empathize with their constituent’s needs. Frustration against the shrinking budget and lack of representation are the most common grievances, but some Democrats are fearing for the future of their state. The county poverty rate is at 12.3%, and the number without health insurance has risen to 18.1%.
Angela Wright, a Young Dem and film major at Georgia State, worries about what a Republican-dominated legislature could mean for Gwinnett.
“I already don’t have health insurance, and I can barely afford my rent. If I break a leg, I am done for,” Wright said. “It hurts knowing I can’t have access to affordable healthcare because my representative has been advocating for tax cuts to industries.”
With so many issues needing to be addressed, it’s essential to have someone on your team.
Andrea Stephenson, the Democratic candidate for Georgia House District 104, put it best.
“The 2020 elections are about who we are and what kind of world we want to leave to our children,” Stephenson said. “Not only must we keep Gwinnett County government Democratic, but turn many other counties in Georgia ‘blue.’”
