Party: Democrat

Background

Sylvia Bennett earned a bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services from Francis Marion University and a master’s degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University [2].

Bennett served twenty years in the US army. Afterwards, she obtained extensive experience as a social worker, ordained minister, and author, having published several books [1]. Bennett is currently a US army chaplain and member of the NAACP [3].

Key Issues

Endorsements

Committee for a New Georgia [4]

Sources

1 Ballotpedia
2 LinkedIn
3 Facebook
4 Committee for a New Georgia 
5 Official Campaign Website

Background

Ellen Wright earned an associate’s degree in biology from Clayton Junior College, a B.S. in biology and chemistry, and medical laboratory training from Georgia State University. She later received an A.S. in paralegal studies at South University. Wright has volunteered as secretary in the Meriwether County Democratic Committee since 2018 [5].

Wright has 25 years of experience as a medical laboratory technologist and has been heavily involved in volunteer service. She works towards accessible global healthcare with Children’s Cross Connection International and advocates for children in foster care with Troup County Court Appointed Special Advocates [1] [3].

Key Issues

Endorsements

No endorsements could be found.

Sources

1 Ballotpedia
2 The LaGrange Daily News
3 Official Campaign Website
4 Facebook
5 LinkedIn

Background

Gloria Butler graduated from Perimeter College, where she received her associate’s degree in Business Administration. Butler was elected to the Georgia State Senate to represent District 55 in 1998. She is the Senate Democratic Caucus Chairwoman, as well as the Secretary for the State and Local Governmental Operations and Urban Affairs Committees. She is also a member of the Ethics, Health and Human Services, Reapportionment and Redistricting, Rules and Transportation Committees [2].

She is a member of the National Council of Negro Women, and has served on the Board of the South DeKalb Business Association.

Key Issues

Endorsements

Georgia Chamber [4]; Human Rights Campaign [5]; Georgia Equality; Georgia Sierra Club; Georgia Stonewall Democrats; Georgia’s Win List; NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia; Progressive Turnout Project [6]

Sources

1 Ballotpedia
2 Georgia General Assembly
3 LinkedIn
4 Georgia Chamber of Commerce
5 Human Rights Campaign
6 VoteSmart

Background

Matielyn Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Social Foundations of Education from Georgia State University [1].

Jones has worked as a staffer for President Obama’s 2008 Campaign in North Carolina. Much of her career has been spent on diversity and equity. Jones developed curricula for a county-wide training program to provide low-income workers with white-collar employment opportunities. She independently researches topics surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion. During her time as an administrator at an Ohio charter school, Jones connected with community organizations to provide school choice to local parents [1]. She serves as a Talent and Learning Project Specialist on the Global People Team for Habitat for Humanity [4].

Jones previously taught in Gwinnett County Public Schools, teaching Social Studies and being a Faculty Advisor for student groups [1].

Key Issues

Endorsements

Barack Obama, Former US President [3]; Fair Fight [7], Georgia WIN List; Run for Something; Democracy for America; Roadmap for Progress; Her Term; Progressive Turnout Project; Moms Demand Action; The Collective [1]

Sources

1 Official Campaign Website
2 Ballotpedia
3 Twitter
4 Georgia WIN List
5 BallotReady
6 Voyage ATL
7 Fair Fight
8 VoteSmart

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

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

Background

Kim Jackson received her undergraduate degree from Furman University in History and later received her masters degree from Emory University in Theology [4]. Currently, she is the Vicar at the Episcopal Church of the Common Ground in Atlanta.
Jackson was elected to the Senate to represent Georgia’s 41st District in 2020. Jackson serves on the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Government Oversight, Natural Resources and the Environment and Public Safety Committees [2].

Key Issues

Endorsements

Asian American Advocacy Fund; Georgia Equality; Victory Fund; Planned Parenthood; Emily’s List; Georgia Association of Educators; Former Georgia State Representative Stacy Abrams; Dekalb District Attorney Sherry Boston; Chief Justice Norman Fletcher [3]

Sources

1 Ballotpedia
2 Georgia General Assembly
3 Official Website
4 LinkedIn

Background

Josh Uddin earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University [2]. He is the former executive secretary of the Asian-Pacific American Council of Georgia and a former president of the North Gwinnett Rotary Club. Uddin is the president of the Bangladeshi American Association of Georgia and a Board Member of the Bangladeshi American Chamber of Commerce [1].

Key Issues

Endorsements

Fair Fight, Vote Pro-Choice, Safe Communities Coalition, Progressive Turnout Project, United Campus Workers of Georgia, Charlie Bailey [1]

Sources

1 Josh Uddin

2 DLCC

3 Ballotpedia

Background

Donzella James earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and political science from Morris Brown College and an MBA from Georgia State University [2]. She has been serving as the District 35 representative since 2009 and is a former Atlanta Public Schools teacher. James chairs the Senate Interstate Cooperation Committee and is a member of three other committees [1].

James has received awards such as the 2014 Friends of Nigeria Award, the 2014 Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials Freedom Fighter Award, the 2013 Rising in Community Excellence Award, and the 2013 Mothers Against Drunk Driving Legislator of the Year [4]. 

James is a member of the Executive Advisory Board for Tapestry Ministries, Keep South Fulton Beautiful, African Women Leadership Organization, International Women’s Think Tank, and the Sonje Yo Human Rights Organization [4]. She is also a member of the National Organization of the Black Elected Leaders, Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials, Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Georgia Women’s Caucus, Georgia Working Families Caucus, Douglas County Delegation, and the Fulton County Delegation [4].

Key Issues

Sources

1 Ballotpedia

2 Facebook

3 Twitter

4 Bill Track 50

5 Instagram

Background

Orrock earned a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia. She worked as a legal secretary for Emory Legal Aid, executive director for the Fund for Southern Communities Foundation, and program director for Women’s Action for New Directions [3]. Orrock founded both the Georgia Legislative Women’s Caucus and the Working Families Agenda Caucus. She was the Vice-Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and the former Majority Whip, the first woman to ever hold this role. Orrock won the 2008 Legislative Leadership Award from the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities [1].

Key Issues

Endorsements

Stacey Abrams, Andre Dickens, Rev. Raphael Warnock, Jon Ossoff, Bianca Broom, Andrea Boone, Jason Winston, Keisha Waites, David Scott, Kim Schofield, Elena Parent, Dr. Josh Noblitt, Tamara Jones, Hank Johnson, Deana Ingraham, Katie Howard, Sonya Halpern, Natalie Hall, Amir Farokhi, Donzella James, Joe Carn, Park Cannon, Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council, Tonya Anderson, Liliana Bakhtiari, Michael Julian Bond, Marci Overstreet, Gloria Butler, David Dreyer, Josh Lesser [1]

Sources

1 Nan Orrock

2 Bill Track 50

3 Ballotpedia

4 Twitter

Background

Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes received a B.A. in Sociology and African American Studies from Syracuse University and a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University. She has been a Los Angeles County Deputy Public Defender since 2002 [6]. Lashley-Haynes is a Board Member for the National Legal Aid & Defender Association, a member of Public Defender Union Local 148, a Vestry Governing Board Member for All Saints Church, and a member of the California Public Defender’s Association [3]. She and her husband have two school-age children [1].

Key Issues

Endorsements

Los Angeles County Democratic Party; Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley; National Womens Political Caucus; Culver City Democratic Club; MLK Democratic Club; Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains Club; Yes We Can Democratic Club; Americans For Democratic Action,Southern California; Stonewall Democratic Club; Santa Monica Democratic Club; Democrats for Neighborhood Action; Southern California Armenian Democrats; HHH Democratic Club; Democratic Alliance for Action of Santa Clarita; Foothill Community Democrats; Democrats of Pasadena Foothills; Santa Clarita Valley Democrats; International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 192; North Valley Democratic Club of Los Angeles; Black Los Angeles Young Democrats; Los Angeles County Public Defenders Union, Local 148; Glendale Democratic Club; West LA Democratic Club; San Gabriel Progressives; New Frontier Democratic Club; Korean American Democratic Committee; Arroyo Democratic Club; Judy Chu, U.S. Congress, 27th District; Anthony Portantino, CA State Senate, 25th District; Maria Elena Durazo, CA State Senate, 24th District; Ash Kalra, CA State Assembly, 27th District; Isaac Bryan, CA State Assembly, 54th District; Laura Friedman, CA State Assembly, 43rd District; Eunisses Hernandez, Los Angeles City Council member, Cofounder of La Defensa; Daniel Lee, Mayor of Culver City; Alex Fisch, Culver City Council member; Lindsay Horvath, West Hollywood Mayor; Konstantine Anthony, Burbank Vice Mayor; Mike Bonin, Los Angeles City Council member; Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, Culver City Council member; Al Austin, Long Beach City Council member; Ardashes Kassakhian, Mayor of Glendale; Ana Valencia, Norwalk Vice Mayor; Dr. Armond Aghakhanian, Burbank School Board Member; L. David Patterson, Mayor pro tem of Hawthorne; Ali Sajjad Taj, City of Artesia Council member; Frank Aurelio Yokoyama, City of Cerritos Council member; Scarlet Paralta, Montebello City Council member; Sasha Perez, Alhambra City Council member; Honorable Craig Richman, Los Angeles County, Superior Court Judge; Honorable Norm Shapiro, Los Angeles County, Superior Court Judge; Honorable Gustavo Sztraicher, Los Angeles County, Superior Court Judge; Honorable Enrique Monguia, Los Angeles County, Superior Court Judge; Ricardo D. Garcia, Los Angeles Public Defender*; Honorable Ronald Owen Kaye, Superior Court Judge; LA Sentinel; LA Watts Times; Ground Game, LA; La Defensa; Working Families Party; Progressive Asian Network for Action (PANA); The Future Left; Roofers and Waterproofers Union, Local 36; UNITE HERE, Local 11; People’s Action; LA Progressive; Action Cali; ACT Pasadena; California Federation of Interpreters, Local 39000; Luis Rodriguez, Former Los Angeles Poet Laureate, Founding Editor of Tia Chucha Press, CA Gubernatorial Candidate; Mia Yamamoto, Community Leader, Civil Rights Activist & Veteran; Susan Burton, Founder of A New Way of Life, a re-entry program for formerly incarcerated women, Community Leader & Activist; Victor Narro, UCLA Law School faculty member and expert on immigrant rights & labor issues; Jason Lyon, Pasadena City Council member; Kristina Wong, Wilshire Center Koreatown Neighborhood Council Governing Board Member*, California Democratic Party Executive Board Member Assembly District 53; Maebe A. Girl, Silverlake Neighborhood Council At-Large Representative, 2022 Congressional Candidate, CA -30; Darrell Goode, NAACP Area Director; David Kim, 2022 Congressional CA-34 Candidate; Aura Vasquez, Former LA Department of Water and Power Commissioner; David Tokofsky, Former LAUSD Board Member; Morgan Walsh, Gender Nation Co-founder, Actor, Writer; Amy Brenneman, Actress, Writer, and Producer; Sunrise Movement LA; Adriana Cabrera, CA Democratic Assembly Delegate, 59th District; Ismael Parra, Southern California Chair, National Writer’s UnionMarissa Roy, President California Women’s List; Kristine E. Kwong, Pasadena Area Community College District Governing Board Member; Alton Wang, Pasadena Area Community College District Governing Board Member; Dr. Kelsey K Lino, Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Trustee; George Moyer, Deputy Public Defender*, 2022 Long Beach Prosecutor Candidate; Fatima Iqbal-Zubair, 2022 State Assembly Candidate District 65; Jamie York, Secretary of Reseda Neighborhood Coucil; Josh Nuni, California Democratic Party Executive Board Member Assembly District 52; Eric Brightwell, Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Governing Board Member

Sources

1 Campaign Website
2 Ballotpedia
3 Voters Edge
4 California State Bar
5 Twitter
6 LinkedIn
7 Facebook
8 Instagram