PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga. (AP) — The general in one of Georgia's house-to-house partisan struggles was rallying her troops on Saturday morning in a suburban Atlanta coffee shop. Democratic state House candidate Laura Murvartian stood up on a stool to urge 50 canvassers to turn out votes for Kamala Harris, but also for her effort to unseat Republican state Rep.
Scott Hilton. “By flipping the seat, we’re sending a message to the Republicans that their extreme bills, their extreme positions, are not working for people in Georgia," Murvartian said. Democrats are campaigning on overturning Georgia’s abortion restrictions , doing more to limit guns, and expanding the Medicaid program to more low-income adults.
Republicans tout their support for low taxes , police and school vouchers . It's one of a handful of intensely fought races, as Democrats try to dent the 102-78 GOP majority in the state House. Leaders of the minority party admit they can't win a majority in the lower chamber of the General Assembly this year.
But picking up seats would let Democrats argue they're moving toward a majority, after Republicans held the line in 2022 as Gov. Brian Kemp swept to reelection. “It’s going to take maybe two or three election cycles.
But we’re in it for the long haul and we’re in it to win," Murvartian told her canvassers. State legislative races aren't exciting — few voters can even name their state House member. But the contests are building blocks of power and a provin.
