Georgia lawmaker switches party to Republican after disputes with former Democrat colleagues over school choice and policing.

A member of the Georgia state House of Representatives has made a bold move by switching her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. Rep. Meisha Mainor broke with her former party over important issues like school choice and policing.

On Twitter, Ms. Mainor expressed her decision, saying, “My name is Rep. Meisha Mainor and today I made the decision to leave the Democrat Party. I represent a blue district in the city of Atlanta so this wasn’t a political decision for me. It was a MORAL one. I will NEVER apologize for being a black woman with a mind of my own.”

Ms. Mainor’s departure from the Democratic Party came after disagreements over school choice legislation and support for police funding. Earlier this year, she was the only Democrat who voted in favor of a bill that aimed to provide $6,500 vouchers for students at underperforming schools, allowing them to attend private schools or be homeschooled. Unfortunately, the bill did not pass.

In addition, Ms. Mainor was one of three Democrats who voted in favor of HB 286, a bill that limits the ability of county governing authorities to rapidly reduce funding for local police forces.

Reflecting on her decision, Ms. Mainor stated, “When I decided to stand up on behalf of disadvantaged children in support of school choice, my Democrat colleagues didn’t stand by me. They crucified me. When I decided to stand up in support of safe communities and refused to support efforts to defund the police, they didn’t back me. They abandoned me.”

The Georgia Republican Party warmly welcomed Rep. Mainor’s party switch, expressing their excitement to collaborate with her in advocating for hardworking Georgians. They emphasized their commitment to empowering parents, ensuring safety, and providing economic opportunities for all.

On the other hand, the Georgia Democratic Party viewed Rep. Mainor’s switch as a betrayal of her constituents. They believe that her district deserves a representative who will prioritize high-quality public education and serve the people rather than personal political ambitions.

Lawmakers Switching Sides

Rep. Mainor is not the only Democratic state legislator to have switched sides recently. Several Democratic state lawmakers have joined the Republican party this year.

In March, Republicans gained a supermajority in the Louisiana House of Representatives after Democrat Rep. Francis Thompson switched party affiliations. This shift has given Republicans a supermajority in both houses of the Louisiana state legislature, potentially impacting the