Creating Influence

Georgia’s Newest Member of Congress Elected

On June 20th, the voters in the 6th Congressional District selected Karen Handel (R) to replace Tom Price in the runoff election. This election was the aftermath of the special election held on April 18th as no one candidate received over 50 percent of the vote (there were 18 people originally running). Anyone living in or near the 6th District has been inundated with signs, ads and social media posts, as the race has the notorious distinction of being the “most expensive” of its kind, topping over $50 million in overall spending by the candidates. And this amount is the minimum spent, as the $50 million does not include money spent by super PACs for or against the individuals running for the U.S. Representative seat.

Amid the money, the ads and the subsequent election fatigue felt by many in the 6th District, credit unions were positioned positively in this election, with relationships with both Handel and her Democratic opponent, Jon Ossoff, already in existence, given their previous political backgrounds. GCUA was in dialogue with Handel’s campaign again on election night, and looks forward to meeting with her and credit unions in Washington, D.C. And many voters on both political sides in the 6th District are likely glad to see the campaign come to an end!

However, next year in Georgia all 14 Congressional seats, all statewide seats (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Insurance Commissioner, Attorney General, Secretary of State, etc.), and all 236 state legislative seats will be up for election. It is unlikely that Georgia will see the level of national money spent on one single race again. However, next year’s elections are anticipated to be very contentious in the primary elections between members of the same party (much less on the general elections). So, in an often-polarizing election environment, can credit unions make a difference?

Yes. Do credit unions have $50 million to spend on a single election? Not hardly. However, credit unions create relationships with candidates, engaging in races where their PAC dollars can make a difference, and engage in campaign assistance for key credit union supporters. And these relationships are ones that are made regularly among members of both parties at various stages of leadership (and those just entering the state political spectrum), regardless of whether it’s an election year. Take the time to get to know your elected leaders, and ensure that they know your credit union. It’s these relationships that can grow into other opportunities and inroads for the industry!

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