Unemployment is high, wages are stagnant, and small businesses are struggling to remain viable

Will fight to preserve the essential services that are lifelines for working and low-income families who struggle daily to make ends meet

Fight to expand unions in Georgia so that working families are protected

- Unemployment is high, wages are stagnant, and small businesses are struggling to remain viable
- Will fight to preserve the essential services that are lifelines for working and low-income families who struggle daily to make ends meet
- Fight to expand unions in Georgia so that working families are protected

Economy

Public education is the foundation of a thriving economy and an engaged citizenry

Make post-secondary education affordable for all of Georgia’s students, including protecting the HOPE Scholarship

- Public education is the foundation of a thriving economy and an engaged citizenry
- Fully fund our K-12 schools
- Make post-secondary education affordable for all of Georgia’s students, including protecting the HOPE Scholarship

Education

Expand Medicaid and provide access to quality, affordable healthcare for all Georgians

Support efforts to extend healthcare coverage for new moms and programs to boost maternal care

- Expand Medicaid and provide access to quality, affordable healthcare for all Georgians
- Support efforts to extend healthcare coverage for new moms and programs to boost maternal care

Healthcare

Georgia has history of voter suppression and insecure elections

Will strengthen our voter protections while working to make voting easier for everyone

Support legislation that would create an independent, nonpartisan redistricting commission that would end partisan gerrymandering

- Georgia has history of voter suppression and insecure elections
- Will strengthen our voter protections while working to make voting easier for everyone
- Support legislation that would create an independent, nonpartisan redistricting commission that would end partisan gerrymandering

Voting & Elections

Will fight for job-creating investments in roads, transportation solutions, and other essential infrastructure to strengthen our economy for years to come

Transportation & Infrastructure

Push for policies that preserve Georgia’s beauty while also strengthening our economies, like incentives for alternative energy solutions and telework options that get cars off the road

Environment

Racism and discrimination is still a problem in our state, not just for African Americans, but also for religious, sexual, and other racial and ethnic groups

Georgia is one of only three states that does not have a civil rights bill providing legal protections in employment and public accommodations against discrimination

- Racism and discrimination is still a problem in our state, not just for African Americans, but also for religious, sexual, and other racial and ethnic groups
- Georgia is one of only three states that does not have a civil rights bill providing legal protections in employment and public accommodations against discrimination

Civil Rights

Make changes to public safety and the use of excessive force

Propose comprehensive solutions to end police brutality and racial targeting by law enforcement in our state

- Make changes to public safety and the use of excessive force
- Propose comprehensive solutions to end police brutality and racial targeting by law enforcement in our state

Public Safety

Nikki Merritt

- Healthcare
- Education/Gun Safety Laws
- Women’s Equality
- Environmental Protection
- Racial Equality/Poverty Reduction
- Civil and Labor Rights
- Small Business Support
- Immigrant Rights
- Infrastructure/Transportation
- Veterans Welfare
- Term Limits

Top Priorities

Gabe Okoye

The legislative branch in Georgia is called the General Assembly. Your state senator, who represents you in the upper house of the General Assembly, plays a crucial role in advocating for policies around transportation, gun safety, taxes, economic development, and the environment – among other issue areas.Here's a quick overview of the General Assembly:

- The General Assembly follows the model of US Congress: a lower chamber called the House of Representatives and the upper chamber called the senate. For the lower chamber, Georgia is divided into 180 different state house districts, each of which has an elected representative that serves for 2 year terms

- Differs from Congress, elected officials just serve in this position part-time: no big pay-checks, smaller staffs. So they pass legislation more efficiently, don’t debate policy for years like in Congress. There are also some policy areas that states have more authority, for example, education, which isn’t mentioned at all in our US Constitution.

- Georgia’s State house and senate have been under Republican majority for almost 20 years

Plays a crucial role in helping pass policy in the state legislature