ATLANTA — The Georgia Senate is back to full capacity after Adrienne White Carden was sworn in to represent the 7th District in Gwinnett County, the state Senate announced Monday.
The Democrat won the special election to succeed Nabilah Parkes, also a Democrat, on June 16. Parkes resigned during the legislative session to run for lieutenant governor, but lost the June 16 runoff to her former colleague, Sen. Josh McLaurin, D-Sandy Springs.
McLaurin had criticized Parkes for quitting ahead of the special session that ended last week, saying Democrats would need all the votes they could muster to counter any redistricting efforts by Republicans and that that she risked a Republican succeeding her.
Parkes pushed back, saying she had endorsed Carden, identified as Adrienne White on the ballot, and was confident she would win the special election to complete Parkes’ term.
Carden did win, but barely, taking just over 51% of the vote against Republican Aizaz Shahbaz Shaikh.
Shaikh remains the Republican nominee for the Nov. 3 general election, when voters will choose the person to occupy the District 7 seat for a full two years starting in January.
Shaikh will face Rep. Ruwa Romman, D-Duluth, who won the Democratic nomination in the June 16 runoff.
Although, as Parkes had predicted, Carden won the special election, she did not swear her oath of office until Friday, three days after the special session ended.
It turns out that the timing did not matter for redistricting. Just before the session began two weeks ago, Republicans announced they would not seek to change election boundaries during the special session.
Redistricting had been one reason Gov. Brian Kemp called lawmakers back to the Capitol, but the issue proved too controversial.
Sen. Carden, D-Duluth, will represent District 7 for the next six months.
Carden, an executive at SouthState Bank who is married to Gwinnett County Commissioner Kirkland Carden, said she was ready to work with the Legislature “to support progressive policies and achieve affordability for all Georgians.” She said she looks “forward to continuing to collaborate throughout the legislative interim.”
Her swearing-in restores the state Senate to a full complement of 56 members.