The U.S House Congress District 6 seat will soon be filled as Rich McCormick (R) and Bob Christian (D) face off in the 2022 midterm election.
The district is currently represented by Lucy McBath (D) and was redrawn by the state legislature to make it more conservative. The district now includes Dawson County, Forsyth County, the majority of Fulton County, east of Cherokee County, northeast Cobb County and northwest Gwinnett County.
Christian is a small business owner and U.S Army Veteran, according to his website. He believes in finding common ground to solve problems no matter the geography, party affiliation, or race.
“That's something that's missing in our government. At the moment, we've become so polarized that we're literally just kind of yelling at each other, no problems are being solved,” Christian said.
McCormick is an ER doctor and U.S. Marine Veteran. He believes that America is struggling with healthcare, identity and where to turn to for moral equivalence.
“I think that's what this fight is about. Do you believe the government is the answer to our problems? Or do you believe that society can solve it better if you just give them the opportunity to succeed,” McCormick said.
On the issue of gun control, both believe in and respect the second amendment. Christian is a gun owner himself, however, believes in stricter gun laws. He suggests background checks and raising the minimum age to 21 to purchase a weapon.
“I do actually support renewing the ban on the sale of assault weapons in the United States,” Christian said. “It was only upon that ban being lifted or allowed to expire that we began to see violence start to spiral out of control.”
McCormick on the other hand believes there is the deeper issue of mental health.
“You can make all the laws in the world and you’re not going to address gun violence from the standpoint of restricting legal gun ownership,” he said. “I think we addressed the mental health issue, if we have a good economy, strong communities and churches, and a belief system and morality, it will make a difference.”
Both candidates have a big interest in reforming the healthcare system. Christian particularly is focusing on trying to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.
“Insulin is a great example. It's been around for 100 years, and yet the prices just continue to go up,” Christian said. “These are prices being jacked up by the pharmaceutical companies.”
McCormick believes that the issue in the healthcare system is failed policies.
“I see what's happening right now here in Atlanta, where you have the Atlanta Medical Center is going to be closing down its trauma one center,” McCormick said.
On the question of economy, Christian believes reducing the costs of goods starts at the supply chain. He said once the supply chain is shortened, there should be a corresponding decrease in prices.
“Invest in the family farms and make sure that our farmers can get the food that they make not just to the local farmers market where they are bringing it directly to families, but they can get them into the local grocery stores as well,” Christian said.
However, McCormick believes it starts with tax relief for middle-class families. He said that the more you tax small business owners the less they can spend on things they value.
“And the more the government gets to take from them and decide where they give it to, to buy votes, essentially, this is one of the problems with having a bigger, stronger government is they get to pick who they give the money to, to buy votes for the next election,” McCormick said.
More information on Rich McCormick is on his website, and more information on Bob Christian is on his website.
