Democrat Carolyn Bourdeaux has eked out a victory in her northeast Atlanta suburbs district, House Democrats’ only pickup of the 2020 cycle.
Bourdeaux, a college professor who lost her first campaign for Georgia’s 7th Congressional District in 2018, beat Republican Rich McCormick, a physician and former Marine helicopter pilot, 51% to 49%, or just more than 8,600 votes.
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Retiring GOP Rep. Rob Woodall, an ex-Capitol Hill staffer turned lawmaker, defeated Bourdeaux two years ago by about 400 votes, the smallest margin for a congressional race that year.
House Democrats have retained their majority, 212 seats to 194, as of Friday afternoon. But many members of the caucus faced tougher-than-expected results, and House Republicans flipped seven districts.
Bourdeaux’s success builds on other Democratic wins in Georgia as the state’s population diversifies and its suburbs expand.
The close White House contest between President Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is expected to be headed for a recount in Georgia. The last time Georgia supported a Democratic standard-bearer was with President Bill Clinton in 1992.
South of Bourdeaux’s seat, incumbent Rep. Lucy McBath, also a Democrat, secured a second term in the state’s 6th Congressional District. Her election was a 2018 rematch with ex-Rep. Karen Handel, beating her again, 55% to 45%.
