Key Facts
Background
Elena Parent earned a B.A. in Psychology and Religion from the University of Virginia and later graduated from the University of Virginia Law School [4].
Parent has represented District 42 in the Georgia State Senate since 2014. She previously occupied the District 81 seat in the Georgia House of Representatives for two years [4]. She currently serves as Chairwoman for the Senate Democratic Caucus, Vice Chair of the Senate DeKalb Delegation, and Vice Chair of the Working Families Legislative Caucus [2]. Parent is secretary of the Senate Government Oversight and Special Judiciary Committees, and she takes part in two other committees [2].
Parent currently works as the Executive Director of Georgia Watch, a statewide consumer rights nonprofit organization [1].
Prior to her political career, Parent worked as a litigation attorney at Eversheds Sutherland LLP for six years [4]. She was the director of development for HOPE Atlanta, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing homelessness [3].
Key Issues
Education
Parent believes in increasing investment in education and funding early childhood education. She wants to increase teacher salaries and enhancing strategies to provide both low-income and well-off students with quality education [1]. Parent is against limiting discussion of critical race theory in the classroom [6].
Economy
Parent supports increasing the minimum wage [6]. She advocates for tax reforms that favor the middle class and small businesses. Parent sponsors legislation to create Georgia Earned Income Tax Credit [1].
Healthcare
Parent promotes expanding Medicaid and healthcare access to more Georgians [1].
Reproductive Rights
Parent is pro-choice, advocating for abortion and birth control options [1].
Infrastructure
Parent supports increasing investment in public infrastructure such as broadband and transportation [1].
Gun Policy
Parent emphasizes gun safety by preventing convicted domestic abusers and seriously mentally ill from accessing weapons with mandatory background checks [1] [6].
Criminal Justice
Parent has advocated for laws punishing hate crimes and the Justice for Rape Victims Act in 2016 [1].
Elections
Parent supports forming an independent or bipartisan commission for redistricting to prevent gerrymandering [6].
Environment
Parent believes in regulating pollutants and increasing renewable energy sources such as solar power [1].
LGBTQIA+
Parent is pro-gay marriage [1].
Endorsements
Progressive Turnout Project; NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia; Georgia Sierra Club; Everytown for Gun Safety [6]
Sources
1 Official Campaign Website
2 Georgia State Senate
3 Ballotpedia
4 LinkedIn
5 BallotReady
6 VoteSmart
7 Twitter
8 Facebook