Gun control advocate Lucy McBath finished in first place in the Democratic primary in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District, but came up short of the majority needed to advance without a runoff. She will face businessman Kevin Abel in July.
Former news anchor Bobby Kaple was considered by many to be the favorite for the nomination, but he came up short, finishing behind Abel by 4%, some 1,800 votes.
Look for the runoff to become a referendum on gun control for the Democratic Party, as McBath has the backing of several groups more than willing to spend big in an attempt to secure her the nomination and a position in the national spotlight come November. After her son Jordan was killed in a shooting in 2012, she became a spokeswoman for gun control group Moms Demand Action. McBath originally had her sights set on a seat in the state legislature, but decided to aim higher following the February school shooting in Parkland, Florida, and joined the congressional primary.
Common sense would dictate that most of Kaple’s supporters would move toward Abel, as both are more traditional moderate candidates fit for a relatively moderate 6th District. McBath and her backers though will try to capitalize on the uproar over the recent string of shootings that has led to examples of activism as large as the ‘March for Our Lives’ movement.
Here in Georgia the issue of gun control has mostly been a non-starter, with the Republican candidates for governor falling over themselves to stand out as the most ardent defender of the 2nd Amendment. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle killed a $40 million per year tax break for Delta after the company severed ties with the NRA, a move which garnered a nomination from the group and contributed to his frontrunner status. Secretary of State Brian Kemp meanwhile famously (or infamously depending on who you ask) filmed a TV ad depicting himself holding a gun and later pointing it toward ‘Jake,’ a boy trying to date his daughter. The ad enraged Democrats and thrilled the GOP base in equal parts, helping propel him into the runoff just behind Cagle. On the flipside former state Sen. Hunter Hill meanwhile was attacked by other candidates and groups such as Georgia Gun Owners over a video where he stated he would support additional gun control by raising the minimum age to purchase firearms to 21. Hill claimed he misspoke and that he supported both an age limit of 18 and constitutional carry, but the damage was done (he was shown as a literal ‘Benedict Arnold’ in one attack ad) and his momentum seemed cut off.
Now 6th District Dems will have to decide how much they care about gun control, and whether they want to make it the centerpiece of a campaign in a district that they feel is vulnerable. U.S. Rep. Karen Handel, fresh off a victory in the most expensive congressional race in U.S. history, will be watching attentively as the Democrats slug it out over the next two months.
