Gun control activist Lucy McBath won the Democratic nomination on Tuesday in Georgia’s House primary for the 6th congressional district against businessman Kevin Abel, according to CNN.
In a four-way Democratic race, McBath more than 36 percent of the vote, according to CNN. She thanked her supporters early Wednesday on Twitter, writing, “We deserve better representation in DC, and I intend to show the good people of #GA06 what a tough, determined mother can do.”
Gun control has been a key part of her campaign platform, after her child was shot to death in 2012. Her 17 year old son, Jordan Davis, was killed at a Florida gas station by a white man who complained about his loud music. She went into activism and became a national spokeswoman for the gun control group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. According to her campaign biography, she also became a leader in the Everytown for Gun Safety Survivor Network. McBath initially planned to catch a seat in the state House, but after the school shooting at Parkland, she decided to run for Congress.
Thank you to all of the volunteers who have knocked thousands of doors to help make today happen. I never thought I would be voting for myself, but I am honored to have this opportunity. I pray that I will earn your support. #GA06 #PostThePeach pic.twitter.com/FVli22N8EB
— Lucy McBath (@LucyWins2018) July 24, 2018
“I knew that I could no longer sit on the sidelines while the politicians in the pocket of the gun manufacturing lobby decide the future of our gun laws,” McBath wrote on her campaign site. “While I support the 2nd Amendment rights of Georgians, we can still advocate for common sense gun violence prevention to make our communities safer.”
According to the Huffington Post, she supports “common sense gun violence prevention laws,” such as background checks, raiding the age of gun purchases to 21, and pushing to end “conceal carry” measures. McBath is also pushing for affordable health care and better access to women’s health services.
McBath will now take on Republican Karen Handel in Novembers midterm election.