What to Watch For Ahead of Today’s U.S. House Debate in Georgia

This afternoon is the first debate in Georgia’s sixth congressional district, where voters will hear from gun sense champion Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) and NRA-endorsed gun extremist Karen Handel. Moms Demand Action volunteers are available for interviews on the role that gun safety will play in this pivotal race.

Here’s what to watch for in this afternoon’s debate:

• Will Karen Handel condemn the President for urging white supremacist groups like the Proud Boys to “stand by”? During the first presidential debate, President Trump told the Proud Boys –– a far right Islamophobic and misogynist hate group –– to “stand back and stand by!” before adding, “But I’ll tell you what, somebody’s got to do something about antifa and the left.”
  
• Will NRA-endorsed and A-rated Karen Handel explain why she’s taken hundreds of thousands from special interests like the gun lobby while opposing background checks on all gun sales? According to opensecrets.org and the FEC, the corrupt and beleaguered NRA has spent more than $100,000 supporting Karen Handel –– and she sided with the gun lobby when she voted to block background checks on all gun sales. Handel has also taken hundreds of thousands in support from the insurance industry, while supporting President Trump’s plan to strip healthcare coverage from people with pre-existing conditions.

Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund launched nearly $1.3 million in new TV and digital ads that criticize Karen Handel for siding with President Trump instead of protecting Georgians with pre-existing conditions. This new investment is an addition to $1.7 million in TV and digital ads which ran last month, criticizing Handel for benefiting from more than $100,000 from the gun lobby, and voting to block common-sense gun safety laws such as background checks on all gun sales.

A May survey of voters in 13 battleground states including Georgia showed that gun safety-themed messages were among the most impactful at moving voters’ support to Joe Biden, and that messaging focused on the impacts of COVID-19 on America’s gun violence crisis was the second most effective overall at shifting support to Biden.

If you’re interested in speaking with a Moms Demand Action volunteer about gun safety and this race, don’t hesitate to reach out.