Cobb Commissioner Jerica Richardson sat down with the MDJ this week to discuss her campaign for the 6th Congressional District, the home rule lawsuit threatening her commission seat and her positions on some of the big issues animating American politics.
Richardson, 34, who represents Vinings, Smyrna and east Cobb, was drawn out of her commission district in a map passed by the Republican-controlled Georgia General Assembly and signed by Gov. Brian Kemp in 2022.
The county commission’s Democratic majority invoked Georgia’s constitutional home rule powers to substitute the commission district map passed by the legislature with a map of their own.
Last week, Cobb Superior Court Judge Ann Harris declared that maneuver unconstitutional.
Now, as the county appeals that decision, Richardson’s status as commissioner is on shaky ground, but she will have plenty to keep her busy should Harris’ decision stand.
That’s because late last year, Richardson announced plans to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 6th Congressional District. She still intends to run, even after U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta, announced she would also run after being drawn out of the 7th Congressional District.
The following interview with Richardson has been edited for length and clarity.
Running for Congress
MDJ: Jumping right in. Obviously, you’ve announced you’re going to run for the now redrawn 6th District, as has Lucy McBath. Any chance you’ll change your mind?
Richardson: Not at this point. I’m staying in the race. I announced that I was running back in September and after looking at the new map, I recognize I currently represent a significant portion of the Cobb area within that map the geographical area, and then population wise, definitely a significant portion.
I truly feel excited about this district, how it’s designed, and really just the…
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