U.S. District 7
GEOGRAPHIC AREA
- County: Forsyth and Gwinnett counties
- Metro Area/Region: Atlanta area
- Cities/Towns/Areas: Berkeley Lake, Buford, Cumming, Duluth, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Loganville, Norcross, Peachtree Corners, Snellville, Sugar Hill, Suwanee/Braselton and Rest Haven
DEMOGRAPHIC DATA
- Population: 712,166
- Median Household Income: $64,600
- Education:
- Completed High School 42.4%
- Completed College/Beyond 45.9%
- Race:
- White 49.1%
- Black 18.4%
- Hispanic 18.2%
- Asian 11.9%
POLITICAL AREA
- Georgia House Districts: HD-22, HD-24, HD-25, HD-26, HD-81, HD-95, HD-96, HD-97, HD-98, HD-99, HD-100, HD-101, HD-102, HD-103, HD-104, HD-105, HD-106, HD-107, HD-108 and HD-114
- Georgia Senate Districts: SD-5, SD-9, SD-27, SD-40, SD-41, SD-45, SD-48 and SD-55
CANDIDATES
- Incumbent: Rob Woodall (R)
- Campaign Website: robwoodall.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/RepRobWoodall
- Twitter: twitter.com/@reprobwoodall
- Democratic Candidate: Carolyn Bourdeaux
- Campaign Website: carolyn4congress.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/carolyn4congress
- Twitter: twitter.com/@carolyn4ga7
FOLLOW THE MONEY
In 2016, Rob Woodall raised $648,603 to almost nothing by his Democratic opponent. He has raised a total of $1,925,082 for his four campaigns. Ballotpedia has rated this seat as a safe Republican seat.
While Woodall raised $385,495 in 2017, PACs contributed $246,900 of those funds – reflecting weak support through contributions by individual voters. This is in sharp contrast to Democrats efforts that have depended upon individual contributions, received nothing from PACs, and in less than a year’s time.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
| 2016 | Clinton 44.8% | Trump 51.1% | Margin=R+6.3% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Obama 38.3% | Romney 60.4% | Margin=R+21.9% |
DISTRICT ELECTION RESULTS
| Year | Candidate | Percentage | Vote Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Rob Woodall (R) |
60.4% | 174,081 |
| Rashid Malik (D) |
39.6% | 114,220 | |
| 2014 | Rob Woodall (R) |
65.39% | 113,557 |
NOTES AND SUMMARY
The district includes portions of the northeast Atlanta metropolitan area, including the cities of Norcross, Cumming, Lawrenceville, Duluth, Suwanee, and Buford. The 7th is filled with well-educated voters, including many who commute to high-paying jobs in Atlanta. It’s also incredibly diverse — Gwinnett is a majority-minority county. Donald Trump narrowly carried the county 2016, while Mitt Romney won by a wide margin in 2012.
Incumbent Rep. Rob Woodall, R-Lawrenceville, has cruised to re-election since 2010, but he’s a relatively weak fundraiser, which has inspired Democrats. While Woodall raised $385,495 in 2017, PACs contributed $246,900 of those funds – reflecting weak support through contributions by individual voters. This is in sharp contrast to progressive efforts that have depended upon individual contributions, received nothing from PACs, and in less than a year’s time.
Democrat Carolyn Bourdeaux, is a former state Senate budget director and is currently a university professor.She’s the founding director of Georgia State’s Center on State and Local Finance, an expert in tax policy, budgeting, and economic development. From 2007-2010, she served as director of the Senate Budget and Evaluation Office, where she worked with people of both parties to bring fiscal stability to the state budget. She’s been honored with Senate Resolution 1598 for significant service to Georgia. Before coming to Georgia, Bourdeaux was a legislative aide to Sen. Ron Wyden, where she advanced legislation to promote livable communities in the federal transportation bill. This legislation was the precursor to the Livable Communities Initiative in the Atlanta region.
All statements, answers, and information found within the 159 Georgia Together voter guide were collected via an electronic survey. Due to the sheer volume of information collected and the number of candidates that submitted survey data, all of the information presented in the guide is verbatim per the input from the survey participants (including any spelling or grammatical errors).
Rob Woodall
(R, Incumbent)
TOP 3 PRIORITIES IF ELECTED
No response yet.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT PASSAGE OF THE EQUALITY ACT, WHICH WOULD GRANT MEMBERS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY THE SAME FEDERAL PROTECTIONS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION THAT EXIST FOR PEOPLE BASED ON RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, DISABILITY, AND RELIGION?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT A CLEAN DREAM ACT THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR BOTH LEGAL STATUS FOR DREAMERS AND PROVIDE FOR A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE RIGHT OF WORKERS TO FORM A UNION AND BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT A LIVABLE WAGE OF A MINIMUM OF $15 PER HOUR?
No response yet.
DO YOU/DID YOU SUPPORT UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ALL GUN SALES?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT INCENTIVES FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT PUBLIC VOUCHERS BEING USED FOR PRIVATE OR CHARTER SCHOOLS?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT BUILDING ON THE SUCCESSES OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND MEDICAID?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT A VOTING RIGHTS ACT THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE PRE-CLEARANCE PROVISIONS OF SECTION V FOR ALL STATES AND JURISDICTIONS?
No response yet.
WILL YOU SUPPORT POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT INCREASE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION, AND OPPOSE POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT LIMIT OR REDUCE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION?
No response yet.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT STRENGTHENING SOCIAL SECURITY FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RETIREES AND PUTTING THE PROGRAM ON A MORE STABLE FISCAL PATH
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE REPEAL OF MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING?
No response yet.
Carolyn Bourdeaux (D)
Top 3 Priorities If Elected
My top three priorities are 1) ensuring everyone has access to affordable quality health care; 2) ensuring all children have a world class education that provides a platform for opportunity; 3) providing a federal partnership to help fund transit and other transportation alternatives to relieve congestion. I also am committed to providing a legislative check on President Trump.
Why? Because our health care system is badly broken — basic health care is not accessible to too many people while for others costs are too high and access is difficult. Education and infrastructure are critical investments for our future.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT PASSAGE OF THE EQUALITY ACT, WHICH WOULD GRANT MEMBERS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY THE SAME FEDERAL PROTECTIONS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION THAT EXIST FOR PEOPLE BASED ON RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, DISABILITY, AND RELIGION?
Yes. I believe in fairness and equal opportunity for all people in this country; businesses do not get to discriminate.
DO YOU SUPPORT ENDING CASH BAIL FOR LOW-LEVEL OFFENSES?
Yes. The cash bail system is creating a system of injustice and discrimination for low income people for minor offenses.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A NON-PARTISAN INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION?
Yes. I strongly support non-partisan redistricting. The current gerrymandering has created a system where many elected officials are more afraid of a primary than of an opponent in the general election and this has the effect of polarizing our politics.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT AN ENGLISH-ONLY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IF IT WERE ON THE BALLOT?
No. We are a nation of immigrants and have always benefited from being welcoming rather than discriminatory in our policies
DO YOU SUPPORT THE RIGHT OF WORKERS TO FORM A UNION AND BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY?
Yes
DID YOU/DO YOU SUPPORT GUNS ON CAMPUS?
No. I am professor at Georgia State University and a parent and having guns in the classroom is very problematic. I have had colleagues report that they have seen guns in student bags - this is frightening to have in a classroom not only to faculty but to other students.
DO YOU SUPPORT ELECTRICITY RATE INCREASES TO COMPLETE TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS AT PLANT VOGTLE?
No. This agreement needs to be renegotiated with Georgia Power to ensure that the company absorbs its fair share of the cost increases. Additionally, at this point, the project itself needs to be re-evaluated.
DO YOU SUPPORT CHANGING GEORGIA'S VOTING SYSTEM TO A VOTER-MARKED (PEN OR PENCIL) PAPER BALLOT WITH OPTICAL SCANNERS?
Yes. I strongly support this system of paper ballots and initiated a letter from myself and other candidates across the state asking that these machines be put in place statewide by 2018.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF EARLY VOTING?
Yes. I strongly support increasing access to voting not restricting it or making it harder!
DO YOU SUPPORT PUBLIC VOUCHERS BEING USED FOR PRIVATE AND/OR CHARTER SCHOOLS?
No. While well-managed charter schools have a role to play in educational experimentation and reform, we need to put a priority on strengthening and investing in our public schools.
DO YOU SUPPORT MEDICAID EXPANSION OR ANOTHER GEORGIA-SPECIFIC PLAN TO EXTEND HEALTH INSURANCE TO LOW-INCOME GEORGIANS?
Actually implementing the Affordable Care Act the way it was intended, including the Medicaid expansion is a primary reason that I'm running for office. The failure to expand Medicaid in Georgia is fiscally irresponsible and morally wrong
WILL YOU SUPPORT POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT INCREASE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION, AND OPPOSE POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT LIMIT OR REDUCE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION?
Yes.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RETIREES AND PUT THE PROGRAM ON A MORE STABLE FISCAL PATH?
Yes. The Social Security Trust Fund is on track to be depleted by 2034. We need solutions to put the program on a more sustainable path so that we can all have confidence in having a financially secure retirement.
DO YOU SUPPORT A LIVABLE WAGE OF A MINIMUM OF $15 PER HOUR?
No. I support a livable wage but want to get to it through a combination of adjusting the minimum wage and increasing the earned income tax credit. A straight wage increase will place the entire burden on businesses rather than rebalancing through the tax system. Additionally, minimum wage needs to be sensitive to regional differences in wages. $15 in rural Georgia is quite different from $15 in Atlanta.