With the 2020 presidential election in full swing, Republicans are positioning themselves to take back control of the U.S. House of Representatives from Democrats, who defeated them during the 2018 midterm elections
One of the congressional districts that both Republicans and Democrats are targeting this election cycle is the long-time Republican-controlled seat in Georgia’s 6th district.
The seat is currently held by Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D), who checks off all the current Democratic Party ideological boxes, and who defeated then-incumbent Rep. Karen Handel (R) in 2018 by a very narrow margin.
Handel is running again, but must get through a primary election against state Senator Brandon Beach and U.S. Navy Reservist Nicole Rodden.
HISPOLITICA caught up with the retired U.S. Navy commissioned officer of 10-years and former Merchant Mariner, Nicole Rodden, to talk some politics.
Rodden is running on her military background as well as her real world experiences. After leaving the military, Rodden joined the private sector where she worked on all marine vessels of all sizes as a navigation officer.
We asked Rodden about 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris recent call to raise the Estate Tax on all Americans in order to pay for a $315 billion teacher pay raise initiative she proposed.
Rodden says she supports giving teachers a raise, but doesn’t think there is “a reason to raise taxes on a federal level" and that cutting excess “elsewhere” would make more sense. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has already addressed the teacher compensation issue with his promise to give them a $3000.00 raise. No federal mechanism was needed.
“There is no reason to raise taxes, we can find a way to cut, and readjust,” said Rodden.
When asked about the progressive “Green New Deal” measure proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), Rodden stated that Americans who support the measure “are under some false illusion” that this “grand plan” will benefit them” in some way, adding that she is “completely against” any measure that would raise taxes on federal level.
Immigration
Rep. McBath opposes building a border security wall along the U.S. southern border, and supports a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
With that said, Rodden and others could have the advantage considering that most Americans do not support any form of pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
Like her Republican congressional opponents, the second-generation Ecuadorian Rodden supports President Trump’s immigration agenda, and believes that the “flawed” immigration system needs to be overhauled or reformed.
“There is a way to do it the right way, we have to continue enforcing existing laws, and take care of those who have been waiting in line first,” said Rodden.
Rodden also believes that there needs to be a way to “expedite” the paperwork of those immigrants who have legally followed the immigration process.
Oh, in case you were wondering if Rodden stands with Governor Kemp regarding Georgia’s recently passed “Heartbeat bill,” she does.
