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NH

Carolyn

Bourdeaux

Democrat
GA
-7
Peachtree Corners, Lawrenceville, Duluth
Carolyn Bourdeaux

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Personal Background

Birthdate

6/3/1970 (50)

Race/Ethnicity

Caucasian/White

Gender Identification

F

Religion

No Religion Listed

Family

Married, 1 child

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

B.A. in History and Economics, Yale University; MPA, University of Southern California; Ph.D. in Public Administration, Syracuse University

KEY HEALTH LINK

On her campaign website, Bourdeaux reveals that her father had a long-term debilitating illness, noting that her mother was his caregiver for over ten years and sharing that the prescription drugs drained their bank account, ultimately causing the family to file bankruptcy.

Political/Professional Background

LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE

Director, Georgia Senate Budget and Evaluation Office

2020 ELECTION CONTEXT

Bourdeaux is the first Democrat to hold this seat since 1995. In 2018, Bourdeaux ran against incumbent Republican Ron Woodall in Georgia’s 7th Congressional District. In 2020, Bourdeaux ran against Republican Rich McCormick to succeed Woodall in the same district.

INCUMBENT REPLACED

Rob Woodall (R), retired

MOST RECENT PROFESSION

Associate Professor of Policy Studies, Georgia State University; Director, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Center for State and Local Finance at Georgia State University

POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY

Early in her career, Bourdeaux worked as a Legislative Assistant for Senator Ron Wyden. She has since served as Director of the Georgia Senate Budget and Evaluation Office, Chair of the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management and Director at the Center for State and Local Finance at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. She has been a professor at Georgia State University since 2003.

On The Issues

COVID-19 PANDEMIC

During her campaign, Bourdeaux criticized her opponent, Rich McCormick, for comments he made regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, including his support of a "herd immunity" strategy to combat the disease.

HEALTH COVERAGE

Bourdeaux supports expanding the ACA with a public health insurance option that competes with private insurance plans. She also supports lowering the Medicare eligibility age to 50. She wants to see health care insurance decoupled from employment.

MARIJUANA

Bourdeaux is supportive of medical marijuana.

MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION

No Info

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Bourdeaux is supportive of allowing Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to lower the prices of prescription drugs. She is also supportive of allowing Americans to purchase drugs from other countries that have been rated as safe by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

VETERANS HEALTH CARE

Bourdeaux supports increased funding for the Veterans Health Administration. She intends to work to increase access to mental health and telehealth resources, as well as childcare options for service members.

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Bourdeaux is pro-choice. While a member of Congress, she intends to support legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade into law, ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, support paid family medical leave programs and lower maternal mortality rates. Bourdeaux has been endorsed by EMILY's List, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, NARAL Pro-Choice America and the National Women's Political Caucus.

OTHER HEALTH CARE ISSUES

Bourdeaux intends to work to end surprise medical billing while a member of Congress. Bourdeaux wants Georgia to expand Medicaid, particularly to bolster rural health access.

DID YOU KNOW?

Bourdeaux’s father was a school teacher who left his position to start a business selling paper animal hats. Their misadventures in the paper hat business became the subject of her application essay to Yale University.