For Georgia’s economy to recover and stay competitive, we need to harness all peoples’ talents and support working families. Equitable investments to fund more teachers, emotional and mental health support, enrichment programs, and expand needs-based scholarships will set youth up for success. Removing barriers to high-quality training opportunities and increasing the state minimum wage to meet a livable standard of pay will ensure all Georgians can thrive as adults.

In Georgia, 1.4 million adults and children do not have health insurance. The state is also 2nd in the nation for highest maternal mortality rates, with a disparate impact on Black women. Expanding Medicaid would extend health insurance to thousands of children, to over 155,000 women, and to nearly half of Georgia’s uninsured veterans and their spouses. Additional investments in affordable, reproductive healthcare are critical to resolving racial disparities in health care access and outcomes.

Georgia is the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement, but it is also ground zero for an ongoing assault on our fundamental right to participate in free and fair elections. Since 2020, there has been a concerted effort to make voting more difficult especially among Black, Latino, and young voters. These efforts threaten our right to make our voices heard and undermine our democracy. We must elect leaders who will fight to protect and expand our collective right to vote and be heard — not limit it.

Georgia cities and towns are experiencing some of the fastest-rising rent increases and housing costs in the country. Wall Street firms, now landlords, are fueling markets that are unaffordable for too many hardworking families to rent or purchase a quality home. Stronger protections for renters and retirees are necessary to maintain a stable home. Additionally, the right incentives for local governments are needed to help reduce housing costs. I believe every person deserves a home that is safe and affordable.