Richard McCormick

In the 2024 House race for GA-7, Rich McCormick (R) defeated Bob Christian (D) 64.8% to 35.1%. Rich McCormick received 275,907 votes compared to 149,535 for Bob Christian, a dominant 29.7-point margin reflecting a safely partisan district.

This race flipped the seat from Democrat to Republican. Lucy McBath (D) held the seat previously but either retired or lost in a primary. Party flips at the seat level are relatively rare and often signal shifting district dynamics. The 2024 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket. The wide margin suggests this district is firmly in the Republican column for the foreseeable future.

In the 2020 House race for GA-7, Carolyn Bourdeaux (D) defeated Rich McCormick (R) 51.4% to 48.6%. Carolyn Bourdeaux received 190,900 votes compared to 180,564 for Rich McCormick, a narrow 2.8-point margin that would have flipped with a small shift in turnout or persuasion.

This was an open-seat race. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2020 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket. Given the narrow margin, this seat is likely to remain competitive and attract heavy investment in the next cycle.