User:Tianci Guan/2020 United States Senate special election in Georgia

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The 2020 United States Senate special election in Georgia will be held on November 3, 2020, to elect a Georgia representative to the United States Senate. The election will be held concurrently with the 2020 United States presidential election, along with another election to the United States Senate and elections to the United States House of Representatives.

The election follows outgoing senator Johnny Isakson, who retired on December 31, 2019. Governor Brian Kemp appointed Kelly Loeffler to the seat on January 6, 2020. She will serve out the remainder of Isakson's term.

Per § 21-2-540 of the Georgia Code, the special election will take place concurrent with the U.S. Senate general election for Georgia's other seat, currently held by David Perdue. No primary will occur for the election. Instead, all candidates will be on the same ballot.

A simple majority determines the winner of the election. If no candidate received a simple majority, a run-off election would be held on January 5, 2021.

Background
Three-term Senator Johnny Isakson announced his resignation on August 28, 2019, stating deteriorating health as the reason for retirement. In an unorthodox move, Governor Kemp launched an online competition for Georgians to submit their resumes to be considered for appointment.

Following the competition, Kemp selected businesswoman Kelly Loeffler to fill the open position. Prior to her appointment, Loeffler served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Bakkt, a subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange, a financial services company that operates the New York Stock Exchange and is chaired by Loeffler's husband, Jeffrey Sprecher. Since becoming senator, Loeffler has proven to be one of President Trump's most loyal allies in the Senate, voting in line with the President's stances 100% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight.

Loeffler's five-month tenure has been defined by her insider trading controversy. From early January to April, 2020, Loeffler and her husband sold off millions of dollars of stocks in companies vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. This act has garnered controversy as Loeffler was suspected of using government knowledge of the pandemic for financial gain.

2018 Georgia Gubernatorial Election Results
The 2018 Georgia governor race is a microcosm into the states rapidly changing political environment. Unlike previous elections, Democrats had a real shot of winning, and lost the popular vote by less than 55,000. Voter turnout was also dramatically higher, with more than 70% of the eligible electorate turning out to the polls.

Geography
Georgia's geographic circumstances make several trends immediately apparent. First, Atlanta's sheer size and economic influence makes it the Democrat's greatest asset, one that continues to appreciate in value as more northern progressives move to the city. Second, the Fall Line counties, made up of predominantly Black Democrats, serves as an urban wall that divides rural counties into two halves. Third, Georgia's numerous counties (second only to Texas) are also by far the smallest by average area. This allows campaigns to have highly accurate demographic data on each county and target voters with greater precision.

Atlanta
The Atlanta area remains the most staunchly Democratic region in the state. Like the populace of other major cities in the nation, Atlanta residents tend to be racially diverse, wealthy, and highly educated. To best serve this cohort, candidates should focus on building a progressive platform, centered on addressing income inequality, implementing healthcare and education reform, and taking strong positions on protecting the right to equal opportunities for all groups.

Fall Line
While its voter base is smaller than Atlanta, the Fall Line cities of Columbus, Macon, and Augusta are still among the most consistently Democratic places in the state.

Blacks make up the voting majority in the Fall Line region. Though still registered Democrats, the issues Fall Line voters consider most important differs from the progressive causes the young, urban, and diverse cohort in Atlanta favors.

Faced with an lagging economy and population decline, Fall Line voters are primarily concerned with issues of structural economic inequality, rather than the progressive issues that dominate life inside the Perimeter (I-285). Specifically, stagnating wages, ballooning healthcare costs, unaffordable housing, and inaccessible higher education are the defining issues of this region, as well as for Black Americans across the state.

Compared to their Atlanta compatriots, Fall Line voters are devoutly Christian, more socially conservative, less formally educated, and have lower median wages. Candidates that hope to serve this region well needs to place economic inequality first on their agenda.

Rural North
Surrounding Atlanta Metro and stretching to the norther border, the Rural North resembles much of Appalachia, with historically stagnating industries, high rates of poverty, and a predominantly White populace. However, its fortunes have changed in recent years as Atlanta expands ever outward. Counties that lie on the economically crucial I-75 and I-85 have boomed in recent years as Atlanta residents see them as cheaper alternatives to living in the suburbs. Despite their rising populations, these counties remain staunchly conservative, making it the most pro-Trump region in the state.

Rural South
Unlike the Rural North, the Lower Coastal Plain region has thrived without Atlanta. Situated along the Atlantic, these counties are economically dependent on shipping, fishing, and tourism. The city of Savannah, known to many as the "Coastal Empire" for its role in shaping the region, is by far the most populous city. To mount an effective campaign, Democrats should focus on expanding their support in the city and solidify their hold on Liberty County. Additionally, while the city of Brunswick and the outlying "Golden Isles" that make up Glynn County has historically been a Republican stronghold, but the recent murder of Ahmaud Arbery in the county has led to protests and widespread criticism of the justice system. Candidates should show their support for the Arbery family and assist in finding justice using their political influence.

Key Demographics
Loeffler is in an interesting demographic position. As a wealthy, Atlanta-based businesswoman, her most ardent supporters are the predominantly white suburban women put off by President Trump's behavior living in the Atlanta periphery –counties that traditionally go to Democrats. This base of support alone is far from enough to win the seat, prompting the senator to look beyond I-285 for support.

To expand her appeal, Loeffler's campaign has focused on highlighting her rags-to-riches story, weaving a tale of the Illinois farm girl who made it in business. The ads based on this story have aired primarily in the Blue Ridge and Coastal Plain areas, where poor Whites make up a majority of the electorate.

Interestingly, these ads are airing concurrently with new ones that purposefully draw attention to her wealth. In a television commercial reminiscent of "The Gospel of Wealth," Loeffler explicitly points to using her private jet to shuttle Georgians out of Washington during the pandemic. This new-found pride in her wealth will certainly reinforce support from big-business, who make up a significant portion of her outside funding.

A Republican can't win Georgia without drumming up support outside of Atlanta. To mitigate her current disadvantage on this front, Loeffler's campaign could potentially throw off its appeal to the suburbs and instead embrace her support of the President by boasting her consistently pro-Trump legislative record. This gambit can win her the rural Trump supporters who currently favor Doug Collins.

Campaign Finance
Sen. Loeffler's greatest financial advantage is her personal wealth. She has already pledged to donate $20 million of her fortune to the campaign, making up 86% of her funding. Outside of personal contributions, Loeffler's largest donors are big business and conservative PACs.

While Loeffler has little to worry about on the matter of funding her campaign, it is also a glaring weak point that opponents can exploit. Small individual contributions make up less than 1% of her total funding. This shows a distinct lack of interest from regular Georgians. Opponents could highlight her out-of-touch lifestyle and point to her multiple million dollar estates, private jet, and extensive connections to Wall Street.

Early Life and Education
Tianci Guan was born on May 15, 1970, in Fushun, China. When he was nine years old, he and his mother immigrated to Jesup, Georgia, where he was raised and graduated with honors from Wayne County High School. He attended College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he graduated summa cum laude majoring in the interdisciplinary health studies program. He went on to receive both an M.D. and a Ph.D. at Harvard University under the NIH Medical Scientist Training Program.

Career
Upon completing his terminal degrees, Guan entered service as a physician with the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps in 1996. As a part of his scholarship agreement with the USPHS, Guan was assigned to medically underserved Dougherty County, Georgia, where he practiced at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and hospices in the region.

During the 2002-2004 SARS outbreak, Guan transitioned to researching novel zoonoses. He was assigned to a team of Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) scientists who isolated the SARS-CoV genome in April 2003. He went on to conduct research concerning SARS and other diseases with pandemic potential. In 2007, Guan's experience with SARS prompted him to work in pandemic preparedness. Guan was promoted to Chief Medical Officer of the CDC for his contributions to curbing the 2009 swine flu pandemic.

In 2019, Guan took a leave of absence from his CDC position to run for the United States Senate. In mid-February, 2020, he was brought back to the CDC in an advisory capacity to assist with the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.

Personal Life
In 2007, Guan received the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction for his work What We Leave Behind, a collection of memoirs he wrote for terminally-ill patients who asked to have their lives documented.

Campaign Biography
Like many Georgians, I from humble beginnings. At the age of nine, my mother and I moved halfway around the world with no money and two small suitcases in tow. We settled in Wayne County, where we lived in a mobile home and did our best to learn English. From the age of 14, I worked whatever job came my way. In high school, I was a student, a cashier, a repairman, a waiter, and an I.T. specialist. I was blue-collar through and through. Having learned the sacrifice that goes into making every dollar, I pledged myself to serve the hard-working people of this nation as a healer.

When I was a doctor in Dougherty County, I saw the American spirit's resilience on full display. Even as the bills piled up and the lights went out, the Georgians I met refused to give up. There was a time when their strength inspired me. Now, I see their strife as the product of an unjust system built on the backs of ordinary folks. No American should go hungry to stretch out a paycheck. No American should go homeless to help speculators make a quick buck. No American should go without medical attention to avoid a hospital bill.

But nothing will happen as long as corporations and special interests line our congressmen's pockets. For too long, personal gain has blinded the men and women who claim to serve you. As your senator, I promise to never lose sight of the needs of common Georgians. As your senator, I promise to never forget the blue that stained my collar white. As your senator, I promise to never stop fighting for you.

Political Positions
Guan describes himself as a "social democrat," favoring a strong social safety net and government regulation of the economy. Listed below are his stated stances on the issues.

Income Inequality
My family immigrated to the United States on the promise of the American Dream: the unyielding belief that hard work, passion, and determination will lead to a better future. It is clear now that even as the country grows richer by the day, fewer and fewer Americans get to see the fruits of their labor. Why is this happening in our age of unprecedented abundance? The answer is simple. The privileged few in the highest echelons of society have corrupted our government, our economy, and our social values for the prospect of perpetual growth at the expense of everyone else. Simply put, they play by a different set of rules, one where you can defraud, cheat, and exploit hard working Americans and be praised for being a clever businessman.

Enough it enough. It is time to end the reign of greed. As senator, I will do whatever I can to destroy the corruption that threatens to destroy this nation. My first act will be to implement a comprehensive wealth tax that will finally force the 1% to pay their fair share. Then, I will call for an end to the dirty tricks corporations use to get away with shameless exploitation by implementing the following policies:


 * Close loopholes that allow corporations to make billions but pay nothing in taxes
 * Limit the total amount of money the highest-paid person in a corporation to ten times the lowest wage they pay, including outsourced laborers.
 * Require corporations to contribute to a mandatory savings account for emergencies

COVID-19 Pandemic
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is the defining issue of our time. With every American affected in some way, we must balance health and the economy when making any decision on the issue. Our foremost priority remains saving American lives by reducing new infections, developing viable treatments, and creating a vaccine. To this end, we must continue to keep the nation under lockdown and preserve social distancing measures, invest in comprehensive testing, establish a network to donate convalescent plasma to critical patients, and fund research into remdesivir and biomedical companies with promise. We must also cover the cost of treatment for everyone faced with this unprecedented threat. Lastly, it is time to treat the essential workers we so often call heroes as actual heroes, and support them financially instead of through empty gestures.

Only after the health crisis is over can we focus on rebuilding the economy. Returning to full employment will require a mobilization effort not seen since the Great Depression. To facilitate this, I will vote to dramatically expand our unemployment insurance capacity, give out more loans to small businesses, and institute a stimulus program to employ out fo work Americans. Prior recessions have shown that this Keynesian approach to economic slowdown has worked best in jumpstarting the economy.

Furthermore, it is critical that we prevent another pandemic like this from happening in the first place. We will propose expanding the Strategic National Stockpile to be ready for another COVID-19 scale pandemic, and invest in domestic production of medical equipment, such as N-95 masks, mechanical ventilators, and disinfectants.

Healthcare
As a doctor, I saw first-hand how our current healthcare system exploits patients through outrageous costs, long wait times, and predatory over-prescriptions. A common thread runs through all these problems: profit. Because of the healthcare system's revenue potential, insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and many hospitals collaborate not to help the patient, but to line their own pockets. It is time to put an end to a healthcare system dominated by business interests and implement a single-payer system that will guarantee coverage for all Americans. Such a system will save billions in unnecessary bureaucracy and high prices.

Infrastructure
A nation is only as great as its roads, bridges, and ports. It should come to no surprise, then, that America is the greatest nation on earth. But for too long we have rested on our laurels. Much of our national infrastructure is decades old and aging by the day. As your senator, I will propose the 3 Rs: Roads, Rail, and Revival, to strengthen the infrastructure that makes our country great.


 * Roads: The Interstate Highway System is perhaps the greatest infrastructural project in American history. It is the veins and arteries that carry the lifeblood of our economy. As the recent I-85 and FIU bridge collapses demonstrated, any interruption to the network can cause tragic loss of lives and cascading damages to the economy. We must mobilize our nation's civil engineers to pinpoint weaknesses in our roads, bridges, and tunnels. Further, we must continue to maintain the quality of our highways for the sake of motorists and transportation workers alike.
 * Rail: Nothing is more important to the economy than people, and nothing lifts people out of poverty more effectively than reliable transportation. As your senator, I will push to expand the nation's high-speed rail network beyond the northeast. This will not only give all Georgians a cheap and fast transit option, but also restore Georgia as a major rail hub. I will also propose legislation to grant federal funding for small and medium cities to build public transit networks. These actions will be the bridge that lets needy Americans to finally escape their cycle of poverty.
 * Revival: The greatest challenge ahead of us are the comprehensive updates we must make to the systems we cannot live without. To be ready for the years ahead, we must modernize our aging electrical grid, use water reserves responsibly, make the Internet a utility, and revive our cities.
 * Energy: Reliable electricity is an integral aspect of modern life, but our aging electrical grid is simply incapable of handling what the future demands. Without major improvements to the grid, brownouts and blackouts will become more frequent, maintenance costs will balloon out of control, and the threat of a cyberattack or natural disaster devastating our system will only become more likely. To revitalize our national grid, we must think small. Instead of cumbersome, interstate systems, we must invest in the development of microgrids and smartgrids. These two methods will decentralize energy generation, which will mitigate the threat of widespread shortages, as well as distribute power more efficiently by having two-way transmission using renewable sources.
 * Water: The 21st century's most valuable commodity is not oil or gold, but water. From Los Angeles to Dallas, Atlanta to Jacksonville, the supply of drinkable water is dwindling at an alarming rate. Natural aquifers are being depleted faster than they're being recovered. Rivers that once coursed through the land are reduced to mere streams. Land that was once solid now run the risk of becoming sinkholes. We must be smart with how we use source our water, and how we use it. Innovative methods of water management such as water reclamation, graywater usage, and rainwater collection on a national scale will be crucial to preparing for a rapidly changing climate.
 * Internet: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has reiterated what we already knew: reliable internet is vital to modern life. Whether it be doing schoolwork, applying for jobs, or talking to family, there is little that the Internet does not help with doing. And yet, millions live without broadband at home, and millions more pay through the roof for mediocre service. All the while, telecom companies pocket billions in excess profits from everyday Americans. I will propose legislation that prompts the FCC to take on big telecom and require them to provide affordable fiber-optic service, or be turned into publicly-owned utilities.

Equal Opportunity
America was founded on the belief that any person, no matter their race, sex, religion, or any other identity, is entitled to the sweat of their brow. As senator, I will uphold this by backing the Equal Rights Amendment, a comprehensive amendment to the Constitution that will expressly guarantee protections to all Americans against discrimination, both explicit and structural.

Climate Change
Anthropogenic climate change is the defining challenge of our time. Without substantially reducing our carbon emissions and ending the wholesale exploitation of our world, humanity will face a future with rampant crop failures, resource shortages, and catastrophic natural disasters. Our first priority on the climate front must be to uphold the goals laid out in the Paris Climate Accords by passing a binding domestic resolution that also sets comprehensive guidelines for the Green New Deal.

To fund the Green New Deal, I will fight to implement a $25/ton carbon tax that will yield more than $120 billion in tax revenue. While most of this money will be spent directly on implementing renewable energy, 25% will be earmarked to developing regions that once thrived on the fossil fuel industry but have been left behind, such as Appalachia. The Americans in these areas deserve a piece of the American pie, which we will provide through job retraining to prepare them for the numerous opportunities in green industries.

Foreign Policy
The United States has a crucial role in fostering peace and security around the world. To stand firm on this commitment, I will propose several major changes to how our nation treats our allies and enemies.


 * China: The pandemic has clearly demonstrated one thing: our dependency on China is a critical threat to our national security. China's authoritarian government abuses its people, strong-arms smaller nations, illegally manipulates its currency, and steals intellectual property produced using American ingenuity. Morally, economically, and strategically, we cannot stand by and allow a dictatorial regime practice its oppression on the global stage. To confront the Chinese Communist Party, we must stand in solidarity with our Asian allies: Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. Further, we must finally address the indignity Taiwan has suffered all these decades and re-recognize the Republic of China as the rightful member of the UN. It is time to finally stand up to the PRC and have them play by the same rules other nations around the world play by.
 * Africa: Sub-Saharan Africa is destined to be the next giant of the developing world. As the wealthiest nation on earth, we have a duty to help the disparate nations of the continent to grow into stable nations built on democracy, liberty, and respect for human rights. By investing in infrastructure, manufacturing, and healthcare, while transitioning our supply chains away form China, we have an unprecedented opportunity to be the continent's largest trade partner and strategic ally.
 * The Middle East and Saudi Arabia: Fostering long-term peace in the Middle East remains our nation's most pressing priority, and it is impossible to do so without a reliable ally. Our partnership with Saudi Arabia is far from this ideal. The regime has among the worst human rights records in the world, has blatantly ordered the killing of an American journalist, and is partaking in a grim and bloody genocide in neighboring Yemen. This is not the kind of friend America should make, and we certainly shouldn't rely on them as an ally. Instead, we should pursue partnerships with Jordan, Lebanon, and Kuwait, nations which have chosen to improve their respect of human dignity.
 * Foreign Service: Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis once said this of our nation's diplomatic prowess: "If you don't fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition." As the vanguards peace and democracy for our nation, the Foreign Service plays an integral role in preventing conflicts, improving relations, and nation-building. They are our nation's first line of defense when war looms and the last ones to leave once the dust clears. We will roll back the Trump-era cuts to the State Department and properly fund this important part of our nation's diplomacy and security.

Criminal Justice
Our current criminal justice system is woefully in need of overhaul. Laws and precedents that are decades, if not centuries behind the times remain in our courts. To be a truly fair nation, we must critically examine the substance behind the words, and consider whether a law is just or made to discriminate. The following are the campaign's top goals:


 * Decriminalize cannabis in all fifty states
 * Repeal mandatory minimum sentences for drug possession below a certain threshold
 * End the practice of for-profit prisons
 * Implement comprehensive prison education programs

Education, Science, and the Arts
America's workforce is more educated than ever, and also more indebted than ever because of it. On top of crippling student loans, the students of today are also faced with stagnating wages and an economy in recession. We must do more to support our students, starting with forgiving their debts and raising the Pell Grant's award amount and eligibility limit. Financial barriers should never be a reason to miss out on opportunities, and we will do everything we can to ensure that college if available to everyone based on the strength of their passion and intellect, rather than the depth of their wallets.

We will also do what we can for the millions of Americans who seek to go into the trades. Skilled blue-collar jobs are some of the most rewarding, stable, and valued positions in our country, and everyone should be able to work in one. That is why we will seek to make technical education free for every American. Furthermore, we will also expand technical education programs in high schools so that students can receive basic certification in the trade of their choice directly following graduation.

Other improvements we hope to make in office are the following:


 * Implement free breakfast and lunch for all students K-12
 * Raising teacher salaries to reflect a living wage
 * Reimburse teachers who were wrongfully indebted by the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program

Science and the arts are the very soul of a nation. They are a shining example of what a people united in purpose can achieve. To further strengthen our nation's indelible legacy in these areas, we will propose additional funding to these areas:


 * Institutions conducting unpatentable basic research
 * National Institutes of Health, especially in the field of pandemic preparedness
 * National Aeronautics and Space Agency, specifically for the Artemis Program
 * The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities

Agriculture
No aspect of our economy is as foundational to our success as agriculture. And yet the hard-working Georgians who take up the role of cultivating our land and feeding our children have seen little reward for the sacrifice they pour into the soil. Big corporations like Tyson, and Monsanto exploit our farmers and steal the fruits of their labor. As senator, I will stand up to outside corporations and demand fair compensation for every Georgian they employ.

Funding Strategy
Since its inception, the Guan campaign has pledged to be funded by individual contributions from passionate Americans who believe in our cause. We have rejected offers of donation from special interest groups except those working to directly benefit the American people. Thus far, the vast majority of our funding has come from small donations around $3-$20. These come from direct donations to our website, as well as at fundraising rallies held in Atlanta, Savannah, Columbus, Albany, Macon, and Augusta.

Communication
Due to Georgia's unique geographic circumstances, the campaign is split into four distinct sectors. Campaign offices, advertising, and other communication with voters will be tailored to serve the economic and cultural needs of each region. Candidate for federal office have the power to implement change for their communities, even before they're elected. That is why the Guan campaign has set field offices in each region staffed with problem solvers that will be open to all Americans. Anyone who would like to present the issues most important to them can do so at these offices, and the team at the office will decide how to best solve the issue, including mobilizing local volunteers to help serve the community in concrete ways.

Atlanta Proper
Campaign Office: Centennial Olympic Park

Atlanta is the 8th largest broadcast television market in the nation. Based on Nielsen ratings, commercials should air on WSB-TV, WAGA-TV, and WXIA-TV, which are the most viewed channels in the city. The ideal segments to air during are the 6:00 to 7:00, 17:00-19:00, and 22:00-24:00 segments. Since Republicans are unlikely to gain a foothold in this region, the biggest challenge is to convince younger voters to participate and vote. Surveys have shown that the main reason young voters don't vote is a lack of knowledge. Through social media and the campaign website, we will provide comprehensive instructions on voting procedures, polling locations, and other pertinent information. We will also give the option to send text alerts on election day so that voters will be reminded to vote.

Atlanta Metro
Field Offices: Kennesaw State University in Marietta, Alpharetta, University of Georgia in Athens

The Atlanta suburbs will likely be the battleground of this election. The region has historically flipped between Democrats and Republicans by razor-thin margins, best demonstrated by the 2017 special election in the 6th district. Winning this sector, made up of white middle-class voters, will require a different approach to inside the Perimeter. The top concerns for these voters will be on restarting the economy following the pandemic. Advertising here will focus on economic stimulus, healthcare reform, and improvements to education.

Two of our field offices in the region are located near major cities within the metro area: Marietta and Alpharetta. An additional field office is set up in Athens-Clarke County, an area with strong support for the Democratic party and room to expand into surrounding counties.

Fall Line
Field Offices: Columbus, Albany, Macon, Augusta

The Fall Line will be the most spread out region, requiring field offices and presence in four cities across the state. Each of these cities will receive advertising concerning the issues most important to their residents: economic inequality, healthcare costs, restrictive access to higher education, and unaffordable housing. In addition to the field offices, a campaign bus will run a route through these cities and promote the campaign in the rural counties in-between.

Coastal Empire
Field Offices: Savannah, Brunswick

Savannah and Brunswick are the media centers for the region. Savannah station WTOC-TV dominates viewership in the region, so to save costs, the campaign can air advertisements only on this station and still reach a sizable portion of the populace. While Chatham County and Liberty County are already Democratic strongholds, Glynn County has potential to turn blue this election. The campaign has designated a field office in the area to assist the populace.

GPB Town Halls
Georgia Public Broadcasting provides NPR and PBS programming for the state. Dr. Guan has been hosting weekly call-in sessions on NPR to address questions and concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in early April, the campaign has also hosted monthly PBS town halls broadcasted while in isolation.