Exclusive: McBath outraises Bourdeaux in GA07 primary
The two Democratic newcomers have over $2 million on hand
The Democratic primary in Georgia’s 7th district was always going to be one of the most expensive races in the state this year. Now we have fundraising numbers to prove it.
Democratic Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux’s campaign raised more than $430,000 in the final quarter of 2021, according to FEC filings. The freshman lawmaker starts 2022 with about $2 million on hand.
But Bourdeaux was outraised by fellow Democratic Rep. Lucy McBath, who is running in this Gwinnett-based district after Republican lawmakers significantly altered the boundaries of her northern Atlanta district, rendering it virtually unwinnable for the two-term lawmaker
McBath raised more than $745,000 in the fourth quarter, her campaign said in a press release Monday night. She enters the new year with more than $2.4 million in the bank.
The primary is set to be a huge battle between warring factions within the Democratic Party. Bourdeaux has cast herself as a moderate Democrat, while McBath is seeking to rally the party’s liberal base.
The new 7th district is one of the most diverse congressional districts in the country, with whites making up fewer than one third of the district’s population. As such, voters in this primary will be overwhelmingly people of color.
McBath’s supporters believe that she is better suited to represent this diverse district, while Bourdeaux’s supporters say that she has a better understanding of the important issues facing Gwinnett voters.
Polling in this primary has been scarce, but McBath’s campaign has been touting an internal poll that found her with a commanding 41%-19% lead over Bourdeaux.
As of now, neither candidate has attacked one another by name. But a lot can change between now and May 24, when voters are set to have the final say in this primary.