Today we are continuing our profiles of our favorite Progressive candidates who are running to represent their communities at the state and federal levels, and move the country forward, to continue to ensure that all Americans are equally represented in government.

This week we are profiling Rev. Kim Jackson (she/her/hers), an ordained Episcopal priest and the first openly LGBT+ state senator in Georgia. A Black millennial lesbian, Jackson works to protect voting rights, reform education and criminal justice, expand Medicaid, and protecting immigrants and refugees. She is the vicar of the Church of the Common Ground, a “church without walls” ministering to the needs of the unhoused in Atlanta, and is very passionate about providing affordable housing to Georgians.

Where are you based?
Stone Mountain, Georgia.

What is your position?
I am the State Senator for Georgia district 41 and I am running for re-election.

Why did you choose this seat?
I remain committed to serving my constituents across DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, and have enjoyed beginning to meet the needs of my constituents and work towards growing our communities in various ways. I look forward to strengthening these relationships and working in partnership with local leaders to bring wins to the socioeconomic development of our communities.

How would you briefly summarize your platform?
I have four priorities that inform my work and engagement with my communities: Protecting our voting rights, protecting women & children, ending mass incarceration, and empowering Black farmers while increasing the distribution of fresh, healthy food to families.

What inspired you to run?
I am a sixth-generation Black farmer and an Episcopal priest by vocation, currently serving at the Church of the Common Ground with people experiencing homelessness. Both of these dimensions of my life guide what I advocate for as a state senator. I want to do the work of building equitable communities for all Georgians by creating a safer, fairer, and more prosperous Georgia.

What change are you hoping to bring to your district, state, and country?
Criminal justice reforms continue to be an urgent need in Georgia. We need to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline that, create and support legislation to decriminalize minor traffic violations, and increase quality programs and resources for returning citizens, including common-sense solutions like ensuring useable ID cards for all returning citizens.

How long have you been in office? What do you consider to be your major accomplishments so far?
I have been in my current office for two years. I am proud to have passed life-saving legislation as a first-year senator in the minority party, SB 75, which helps victims of stalking find their way to safer housing and freedom. This “lease release” bill allows people who do not feel safe in their homes (oftentimes women) to break their lease without penalty and pursue safer housing options. I am also proud of an unprecedented budget win for Black farmers which both supports farmers and provides fresh food for people experiencing food apartheid.

What do you feel are the most important issues right now, why, and how do you plan to tackle them?
Georgia is a battleground state for multiple reasons, and the voter suppression methods being used in this state are direct and indirect, subtle and not so subtle, in many ways. Regardless of party politics, I believe all Georgians should have equitable access to the ballot and that is not the case right now. I participate in protest chaplaincy, which provides voter information and prayerful presence at the polls in protest of the suppression efforts being used in Georgia. Homelessness is also a growing problem across the nation and Georgia is not exempt. I recently participated in a study committee to discuss potential solutions and plan to continue these essential conversations that impact my communities and parishioners at the Church of the Common Ground.

America is extremely divided these days. How would you hope to bridge that divide with your constituents to better unite Americans?
I hope that our communities can relate in enough ways to get beyond our divisions to create just and healthy communities for us all. Helping our neighbors and supporting one another benefits our communities holistically in the bigger picture. I aim to continuously communicate and advocate for the bigger picture of a better Georgia for all through collaboration and communal engagement.

How would you foresee your unique identity and background to be an asset to you in office?
I was raised in a hardworking family, where my parents prioritized the love of God, family, and country. I grew up in rural South Carolina and watched their model of what it means to serve the community at large. My dad was a social worker for more than 30 years, including for Child Protective Services and from him, I learned the importance of advocating for the vulnerable and neglected. My mom, a retired nurse and a professor of nursing, served as a community nurse for economically disadvantaged families living with Sickle Cell Disease. From her, I learned the importance of expanding access to quality early childhood education and health care. These experiences shape my consistent work towards improving conditions and policies for women, children, and the disenfranchised. It is why I believe closing hospitals crucial to rural and marginalized communities is a huge disservice and why I support Medicaid being expanded, not limited.

Additionally, I am the only out LGBTQ+ member of the state senate. As a member of the queer community, and as an African American woman, I am uniquely equipped to advocate for all marginalized communities. My upbringing, identity, and vocation inform my work and life and guide me in the fight for a better Georgia.

What is your motto in life?
There is always hope!

Where can we find out more about you?
https://www.kimforgeorgia.com/ and on my social media linked on the website.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2022 - Kim Jackson, Georgia State Senate District 41