6th District Race Earning Its 'Jungle' Label

EAST COBB, GA -- The 6th District race may be turning into a slugfest -- at least on the Democratic side.

Eleven Republicans, five Democrats and two Independents are running for office in the 6th District, which comprises the north Atlanta suburbs, including parts of DeKalb and Fulton, stretching over into Cobb.

The "jungle primary" -- meaning any qualifying candidate can run -- is showing that party unity can rupture under the right (or wrong) conditions.

Democrat Jon Ossoff, the investigative filmmaker leading in early polling, is taking shots from both sides as Republicans see him as a viable threat that can capitalize on the district's strong millennial presence and Democrats see him as unfairly benefitting from an inordinate amount of national press.

Thirty-year-old Ossoff has secured the backing of the national Democratic congressional campaign committee, an unusual feat for a first-time candidate. They are bolstering his campaign with staff support and money, something that the other Democrats have noticed.

"Why is the National Democratic Party getting involved in the race for the 6th District and working against four other Democratic candidates that includes a veteran, African- American businesswoman, female doctor and a former Democratic state senator?" former state Sen. Ron Slotin said in a statement.

The Democratic candidates -- Ragin Edwards, Richard Keatley, Rebecca Quigg, Ossoff and Slotin -- participated in a forum last weekend in Roswell. While everyone is playing nice, there are signs that a united Democratic front against the GOP may be difficult to achieve.

Read more: New poll shows Gray gaining traction in 6th District race

For their part, the Republicans are taking no chances with Ossoff, releasing a "Star Wars"-themed video attacking him as a college frat boy. Will the tactic work? We'll know in a month.

Democrats believe they can "flip the district" after it being a decades-long stronghold of Republicans Newt Gingrich and later Tom Price.

The special election to replace Price, appointed last month as the nation's health secretary, is slated for April 18. Unless a candidate wins a 50 percent-plus-one majority, the two top finishers will hold face off in a June 20 runoff election.

Image via Pixabay