U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath
ATLANTA – Incumbent U.S. Reps. Lucy McBath and Rich McCormick are blowing away their opponents in campaign fundraising in their “crisscross” reelection bids heading into the May 21 primaries.
McBath, a Democrat from Marietta, has raised more than $1.5 million during the current election cycle, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
McCormick, a Republican from Suwanee, has raised more than $1.4 million since the beginning of last year, according to his FEC report.
Both incumbents face the challenge of seeking votes from a lot of new potential constituents. The new congressional map the Republican-controlled General Assembly drew last fall ran what had been a Democrat-friendly 7th Congressional District represented by McBath north into heavily Republican Forsyth, Dawson, and Lumpkin counties.
The 6th District, represented by McCormick, was extended into south Cobb, eastern Douglas, and northern Fayette counties, areas favorable to Democrats.
As a result, McBath and McCormick essentially swapped the districts they chose to run in this year. Congressional candidates are not required by law to live in the districts they seek to represent.
The 6th District Democratic race has drawn two well-known challengers to McBath’s bid for a fourth two-year term, but neither have been competitive when it comes to fundraising.
Cobb County Commissioner Jerica Richardson had raised $111,512 through the first quarter, according to her FEC report. State Rep. Mandisha Thomas of South Fulton raised $14,825 in January, February, and March, $12,000 of which came in the form of a loan she made to her campaign.
The lone Republican candidate in the 6th District, Jeff Criswell of Smyrna, raised $12,817 during the first quarter.
Over In the 7th District, Democrat Bob Christian of Dawsonville raised just less than $11,000 during the first quarter in his uphill challenge of McCormick. The incumbent, who is seeking a second term, is unopposed for the Republican nomination.