Dem Senate leader, allies brush off attacks from primary challenger
Candidate accuses Senate leader of "voter suppression"
A top Georgia Senate Democrat and her allies are brushing off attacks from her challenger in a rare show of force ahead of next month’s primary.
State Sen. Elena Parent and many other Democrats are refuting claims being made by Nadine Thomas, a former lawmaker herself who is now running against Parent in a redrawn metro Atlanta district.
Thomas, who was the first Black woman to serve in the state Senate, is seeking a comeback after a two-decade hiatus. But her attacks against Parent have other prominent Democrats rushing to the incumbent’s defense.
A judge this month dismissed a legal challenge to Thomas’ candidacy after a resident of the district said Thomas owed over $38,000 in state and federal taxes.
In response, the ex-senator has accused Parent, who is white, of engaging in “voter suppression” tactics. Thomas shared a photoshopped picture on social media depicting Parent as a January 6 U.S. Capitol rioter. She has also accused her opponent and another Democratic state senator of verbally “bombarding” her at the state capitol.
“The incident occurred during qualifying week,” her campaign said. “Thomas was angrily approached, bullied, and questioned about her decision to run in the newly drawn State Senate District 44.”
Sen. Parent dismissed the “wild accusations” and said that Thomas appears to be hoping that race is the only thing voters care about. Parent also says she has spent years “working in concert with Georgians of all races and backgrounds to advance Democratic values.”
Thomas could not be reached for comment.
A rising star in state politics, Parent’s name has been mentioned for statewide office at some point this decade. But she is now facing a tough primary challenge from Thomas after her predominantly white DeKalb district was significantly redrawn on new voting maps, picking up parts of heavily-Black Clayton County.
She boasts the support of many Black Democratic officials. State Rep. Yasmin Neal (D-Riverdale), says Sen. Parent “has always fought on behalf of everyone and worked tirelessly to better our democracy.”
Outgoing Senate minority leader Gloria Butler also came to Parent’s defense, calling her protégé “as loyal a Democrat as they come.”
“We’ve worked alongside each other for the good of Georgians and Democratic values for 10 years,” Butler told the AJC. “[Thomas’] attacks ring hollow because there is no truth to them.”
Parent will quickly contrast her endorsements with those of her opponent, repeatedly noting that Thomas has been amplified online by Trump-supporting former Democrat Vernon Jones. Thomas has said that Jones is not affiliated with her campaign.
The primary is May 21.