UNION CITY, Ga. — Organizers of an Atlanta Press Club debate are waiting for United States Rep. Lucy McBath to tell them if she’ll participate two weekends from now. The Democrat is running in a new district drawn by GOP lawmakers, facing two other Democrats with hometown ties to McBath's new turf.
Union City in south Fulton County is somewhat central to the new district – the home turf of Mandisha A. Thomas, a state representative who’s now running for Congress.
Voters are "being very responsive," to Thomas, she told 11Alive Tuesday. "Number one, I live in the district."
Thomas's constituents spoke about granular local issues – and the big picture.
"The trucks tear up the roads, and then you tear up your car," complained Yvette Taylor, a Union City resident. Christopher Naggle told 11Alive he wants Congress to have more integrity.
"Control the budget more. Stop excessive spending," Naggle said. "Do what they say they’re going to do."
"Safe water drinking, infant mortality" are also part of her focus, added Thomas, one of three Democrats facing voters in next month’s primary.
The second is Cobb County commissioner Jerica Richardson. The third is Lucy McBath, a rising Democratic star in Congress.
The last time McBath ran for Congress, she was in the seventh district rooted in Gwinnett and north Fulton. Late last year, Republican legislators moved the 7th to Republican territory north of Atlanta.
So, McBath is now running in the sixth district, which includes parts of Fulton, Cobb, Douglas and Fayette counties.
11Alive talked to McBath in March after lawmakers moved her district. "We keep having these discussions over and over again. But I’m happy to represent any constituent. I’m happy to continue to do the work," McBath said.
McBath is a gun control activist. and Thomas counts herself among McBath’s admirers.
Thomas said it’s a high quality-primary, pitting elected Black women serving at the state, county and federal levels in the Democratic congressional primary next month.