GA-HD105: Gwinnett legislative candidates adapt to a transformed county

When state Rep. Farooq Mughal campaigns at voters’ doors in Gwinnett County, he brings up the standard Democratic talking points to sway the undecided: access to abortion care, gun violence prevention and strong public education.

“But when I say, ‘Are you tired of traffic?’ They’re like, ‘Oh my God, yes, it’s horrible,’” Mughal said. Rather than mentioning that he is the first Pakistani American elected to the Legislature, he often discusses his plans to address growth and development within his House district, which includes Dacula, Buford and the Mall of Georgia.

Mughal sees these local quality-of-life issues as key to winning voters and keeping his seat in the Georgia General Assembly. In Gwinnett, legislative races are close as the former GOP stronghold has begun voting for Democratic candidates. Republicans, eager to hold their majorities in the Statehouse, are campaigning aggressively to flip seats held by Mughal and other Democrats such as state Rep. Jasmine Clark and state Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes.

Georgia’s Future, a PAC led by Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns, is running ads against Clark and Mughal accusing them of supporting higher taxes and criticizing their votes on LGBTQ+ issues.

In December, Mughal’s district was reshaped by GOP lawmakers, making it slightly more competitive for a Republican to win.




https://www.ajc.com/politics/gwinnett-legislative-candidates-adapt-to-a-transformed-county/HZP6NJY2Y5ARZK2Q4CBIGTGJAY/