SNELLVILLE, GA -- Emily Leslie (D-Snellville) is launching her campaign to represent Georgia State House District 106, Friday. Leslie, a 35-year-old mother of two children, ran the most successful write-in campaign in State History in 2018. The incumbent Republican received less than two-thirds of ballots cast, in a district that Stacey Abrams won by a significant margin.



Leslie, a mental health/addiction recovery specialist, has previously worked as a legislative coordinator and human rights lobbyist. She used her leadership role in a well-known progressive organization to secure a national focus on Gwinnett County's state and local electoral races. She is currently a leader in the Gwinnett County Democratic Party. By way of announcing of her candidacy, she made the following statement:

"In 2018, I ran as an emergency write-in candidate, to ensure that the voters had a choice in HD-106, after no Democrat filed for the seat. Now I am entering the 2020 race to ensure that our community has a representative that reflects its values, will focus on its priorities, and will listen to the concerns of everyone in the district, not just special interests. "Georgia Republicans, including the incumbent Representative, continue to pursue a divisive and harmful path for our state and for Snellville, such as the six-week abortion ban. The focus of my campaign, and if elected, my work in the legislature, will be the needs of the people. I will work to pass legislation that explicitly prohibits racial profiling by state, county, and local law enforcement agencies, and will work to drag the proper hate crimes law that our state currently lacks. My campaign is centered around common sense kitchen-table issues that will make life better for Georgia families.

"I will advocate for full Medicaid expansion and enhanced mental health and addiction recovery services. Peer-Run facilities need to have a presence and a home in every city in Georgia. I support investing in transportation and infrastructure, including mass transit. I believe in strengthening our economy for the working and middle class, promoting women's and civil rights, gun reform, legalizing marijuana, clean energy--and voter protection and voting rights reforms that will ensure Georgians can have confidence in our elections. "I look forward to listening to and earning the support of the community in the coming months."

Leslie begins her campaign with endorsements from the Alliance of South Asian-American Labor (ASAAL), and Georgia State Representatives Jasmine Clark (Lilburn), Shelly Hutchinson (Snellville), Gregg Kennard (Lawrenceville), and Becky Evans (Atlanta).

Clark provided the following statement in support of Emily: "Emily Leslie will make a excellent representative for the residents of District 106. She is a dedicated community member and community leader. She is also a champion for human rights and mental health. I am happy to call Emily my friend and look forward to calling her the next representative of House District 106! "