North GA Blue: Getting into Good Trouble
North GA Blue: Getting into Good Trouble
Holly McCormack, Democratic Candidate for US Congress in the 14th District
Our guests highlight democratic activities and actions to work toward a Blue Georgia. The 9th Congressional District spans 20 counties across the region and covers a good deal of northern GA including Blue Ridge, Morganton, Fannin, Union, Banks, Athens/Clarke, Dawson, Elbert, Forsyth, Franklin, Gilmer, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Pickens, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, and White counties.
Our democratic party podcast also disseminates information and interviews powerful Democrats across the state of GA who are working to overthrow the suppression tactics of the GOP and ensure democracy and our values, grassroots efforts, and goals remain intact.
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Hello, and welcome back to the North Georgia Blue Podcast produced and distributed by the Fannin County Democratic Party. I'm your host Meral Clarke and we're getting into some good trouble today with our guest Holly McCormack candidate to unseat Marjorie Taylor Greene in the 14th congressional distri t. Welcome to the show. Hol y. We're happy to have you with us tod
Holly McCormack:Thank you so much, Marilyn. Very glad to be here.
Meral Clarke:Terrific. Well, you are one of the Democratic candidates for Congress running against Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. You're a mothe, small business owner a d community activist you also li e with your family. You still li e with your family in Ringgol, and you're proud to ca l Northwest Georgia home Good f r you. So tell me this riddle e this. Have you run for offi e before? If not, why are y u running? And what led you to r n as a Democrat in Georgia 1
Holly McCormack:I have absolutely not run for office before this is this is my first race.
Meral Clarke:How exciting.
Holly McCormack:Yeah, I've been in northwest Georgia. Right up at the top. We live in Ringgold noun have for over 10 years. But when I was a kid, it was Rossville, which is just 20 minutes down the road. But it doesn't sound like a natural progression from business owner, and mom and straight to running for Congress. But last year, with the turmoil in the country, and the criminal justice system, and all of that I did get more involved in community work and the protests and things like that in a supportive way. And so when I saw that Marge at the end of the race ran unopposed, and that she's not from here, and several, several things on top of it, I started getting more interested. And I just I wanted to do more, how can I make more of an impact? How can I help more people? And so I was looking into it for a while last year, and then when the insurrection happened on January 6, that's when I stopped trying to figure it out. And I spoke to my husband and I talked to the kids and I said listen, we've got to do this. This is not how Northwest Georgia, how we were raised. And so we just said, Okay, we got to do this, how do we do it and started building the team and took off running?
Meral Clarke:That is fantastic. Yes, you're welcome. Frankly, we're happy you're running. So good for you. What sets you apart from the other candidates? We have Latika Connor, Marcus flowers, Wendy Davis, what sets you apart from them? And how are you going to win?
Holly McCormack:I believe I'm the most representative of the people of Northwest Georgia. I've grown up here for most of my life. I'm an army brat. And so we did move around a bit there. But then came back. My family has been here for generations. And honestly, this is not a very well off district. It's very rural, of the demographics. I have lived our struggles. I'm not just pay lip service to the things that I believe we've lived through it recently. You know, we're still dealing with the same things that the people in our district do. And so I feel so strongly about it because of my empathy of knowing what it feels like but also caring what other people are dealing with, and wanting to bring that experience to help and be the voice for the people of Georgia 14.
Meral Clarke:That's terrific. And what are your priorities as a candidate and potential member of Congress?
Holly McCormack:Well, the first thing that I think is extremely obvious from this last year is broadband. And it is in a very, very rural area. You know, if somebody lives in the city, they might not understand the difference. But we have a lot of areas that don't have broadband. And if they do, it's not adequate for running your business at home or your school. You know, your kids online school last year, both things switched last year for us. I had two teenagers at home, doing their online school, which so many people did. And my work was now online on zoom just like we're on right now. And we had to actually when I announced my race, I had to get a second line, a completely different account run to the house because I was doing a CNN interview and it kept dropping, oh, my service wasn't good enough to do it. And so you know what, but most folks in the district can't run a sec. Line, they can't afford to do that, nor should they have to. Exactly. So for us to participate in the economy now, but also in the future economy, this is the way the world is going. And we're stunting ourselves. We're preventing ourselves from participating.
Meral Clarke:Yes, we're woefully behind. And right. It's tragic, actually. It's horrible. And especially for the younger folks in the area, we have the same problem in the ninth district as well. And it's a real issue. Absolutely. For folks here. And in trying to run your business, forget about it. We're basically a step above dialogue. And it's not acceptable, right. I completely agree with you. So tell us more you spoken about your rural revival plan. Tell us more about that.
Holly McCormack:Yes. And that's a mouthful, isn't it?
Meral Clarke:rural revival plan, it's not easy to say I had to practice that
Holly McCormack:it is not easy to say. The first thing we did was have a listening tour, where a team and I went around and spoke to business owners and organizations that are serving the community to find out what's important to the people that live here. We haven't had representation in a long time, that actually asked what we need, and then serve the community. So with doing that, we heard how health care that rural hospitals are shutting down. And we heard that I'm not the only one with broadband issues and veterans, we spoke to veterans and how we don't have a Veterans Hospital in distress, they have to travel to Tennessee or down to Atlanta. So we heard what the people are dealing with. And then that's what helped us build our rural revival plan. So that these aren't partisan issues. It's very much what the people here are talking about what they're worried about solving problems here. So that's what the plan is meant to do.
Meral Clarke:Right? That's a kitchen table program, as far as we're concerned, and the areas growing. So inevitably, all of these things are going to have to be addressed. And it's great that you're one of the few people who are addressing them. So thank you for that. You're welcome. Well, and
Holly McCormack:to have that growth, like he said, we have to have the infrastructure to support that. Exactly. Exactly. Know when you have the broadband just just above us. Chattanooga is Obama called it gig city. And they have one of the fastest Internet's in the country. I think, you know, a while back, they were the fastest. I haven't checked that in a little while, but it attracted so many businesses and entrepreneurs, and it has just grown like crazy. So that's five minutes from my line, you know? Yes, I know. Right? So those are things that we can do here.
Meral Clarke:I didn't know about Chattanooga, that's really interesting. good fit. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So they've got some leadership actually cares about their residents. That would be nice for a change. I really don't know what the republicans are doing for their constituents, except blocking everything that Biden and the rest of the democrats are trying to do in Congress. So it's absolutely insane. Are there any other points about your rural revival plan that you'd like to expand on?
Holly McCormack:Sure. Yeah, there is, you know, as we've heard, and I'm so excited that in Biden's infrastructure plan, that childcare is infrastructure, yes. You know, that is for me, my kids are they're teenagers, preteens and teenagers. So it's been a little while. But when my son was done, childcare was completely out of reach. We had to work opposite shifts, just to pay our bills. We couldn't pay to have childcare. And that is where you know, 75% of our district is the same. Yes, it's a childcare desert. And so for us to be able to have more opportunities and growth, we have to make sure that the parents are able to provide for their families. So that's something that really hits home for me. And you know, we could have had more opportunities and more growth when when I was younger, if I'd had that,
Meral Clarke:right, I have to agree. It's dismal. And it really needs change as soon as possible. So we know that you're running in an extremely red district. How do you plan to appeal to republicans across the 14?
Holly McCormack:Well, I will say and it's the first thing is a non politician that came to my mind is when did we start introducing ourselves to someone and the first thing we say is Republican or Democrat, or that's the first thing that we look for. And that's so silly. To me before you get to know somebody my neighbors in Ringgold are people that are hardworking, and have great values and I'm the same, you know, so we are really focusing on we have so much more in common than we're apart. You know, we know how divisive the last several years have been. Yes, and We're just focusing on how we're more alike because most people have the same values. And just like we said before these topics, these issues that I'm talking about aren't part of that. The people here, not at all aren't talking about conspiracy theories, and other things that are making the news nationally.
Meral Clarke:I'm happy to hear that because MTG certainly is
Holly McCormack:exactly, exactly and that is giving us a bad name. I feel like all Georgians not just Northwest. But it's the assumption probably in a lot of the nation that that's how we all are, Oh, definitely. And it just couldn't be further from the truth. So just like the good work that Stacey Abrams has done for years, that enabled us to elect off off and Warnock and flip the Senate, you know, that's how exciting that was engaging folks that have never been talked to and pulling those, you know, minorities out and younger folks, and people that feel like, oh, there's no point. It's a lost cause. And it just isn't, we've got to engage those people. And that's what we're really focusing on here in the district, as well as showing up. I think, if we show up for people in action, they see that I really do what I believe then that will overcome the republican or democrat thing, right. So that's what we're focused on, is show up in action. Start doing this good work right way before I'm elected right now.
Meral Clarke:That's a wonderful feet and hams, it can be tough, especially with those Republicans who say, I'll never vote for a Democrat. And how do you go about reaching those folks? I guess through these basic issues, yeah, that we all believe in. But it's so hard. How do you combat the myths and disinformation that's being peddled throughout the area? especially by Marjorie Taylor green? Oh, of course, how do you combat that?
Holly McCormack:It just comes back to over and over again, saying what she's showing us and the whole world as well. These are not our values. We weren't raised like this anywhere here. And so I don't think that anyone on either side is particularly proud of the way she's representing us. And it just comes down to because of her hateful way that she treats people. She has been stripped of her committee assignments. Exactly. So she can't work for us. She can't do
Meral Clarke:anything except spout off these ridiculous conspiracy theories that right, that's what it comes down to. And all the other seemingly GOP points of disinformation, what they tout is simply isn't true. And I think that's one of our hardest hurdles that we have to jump over at this point with the Republican Party. It's not easy. I know it's not.
Holly McCormack:No, I, I agree. And so that's why it's like, I'm not I don't want to get into that battle or the back and forth. I just want to let's remind ourselves, who we are, what our values are, and what are the important things to Northwest Georgia, not the circus that's being played out. Yes, every week, every day, sometimes she's running out of material. She's been doing it over and over. I mean, it's the same thing, I know heatedly. And so just remind it back to what's important. It's not that noise. You know, that's why one of the first slogans we put out was cut through the noise and get back to work. Exactly. All of that doesn't matter. So that's what we're doing. Focusing on that.
Meral Clarke:That's good to hear. Georgia also has an extremely low vaccination rate, fully vaccinated rates or even vaccinated at all. How do we fight that? How are you fighting that in your area to let people know that the science is real and can be trusted with the COVID-19 vaccination?
Holly McCormack:You know, I think that it's helpful for Biden, that is reminding people this is our patriotic duty, this is safe. Hopefully that will help. I think that for my family, not at all about the race, but for my family. It's the only thing I can have an input in really is my home. I think most people's that's the case is we got our vaccinations, we wear our masks and I make the decisions for the kids on what I feel is safest as far as going to school. So we can lead by example, and not bend to that. But I mean, hopefully just the reminders of what's true, hopefully will rub off. I think that's all we can hope for.
Meral Clarke:I hope so too. So we had a couple of guests on recently who spoke of critical race theory and diversity, education and inclusion, what's going on out there in the school system, and what are your thoughts on being able to educators being able to teach actual history? Well,
Holly McCormack:that is something that's extremely important to me, I'm sure. I can't speak to Other than my kids and our schools, well, first me growing up in the south. Last year, just as a mother, my heart was breaking at repeatedly, repeatedly, repeatedly, more people being killed. And so how I reacted to that was to educate myself to read the history that I wasn't taught in school.
Meral Clarke:Hey, I'm from New York, and I just learned about the Tulsa massacre three years ago. Oh, my goodness. Oh, isn't that ridiculous? Yeah, I was never taught actual history either. So not just this.
Holly McCormack:Exactly. It's ridiculous. Yes, to absolutely leave out and did not have an understanding. So I feel like if people really understood and learned what happened, then it influences how you think they'd be able to put themselves in someone else's situation and care to change
Meral Clarke:it. empathy. Yeah, yes, critical component.
Holly McCormack:And so I completely agree that it should be taught. And as far as our schools, I was happy, because last year, around the summertime, they made a new social justice club or class. I don't know if it's a club or whatever, to help educate and to talk about diversity and try to we asked, Are they working on having more diversity and teachers and what those plans are, it gave me a lot of hope that the leadership at the school had some people that stepped up and said, we need to address this. So I think it's extremely important.
Meral Clarke:I'm very happy to hear that. Especially Yeah, in Ringgold. I mean, yeah, that doesn't happen all the time. Up here in our areas, I
Holly McCormack:was very, very proud. And it might be slow growing. But what I told my son is, listen, it is our well, both kids, but specifically about this, and he's the one at the high school. So I said, it's our job to step in. If we see injustice, if we not only do we not ever ever bully, but we step in if we see it. And so it's our job to learn, and to be an advocate to help bring other people along that maybe they weren't taught that, you know, right, right. So I think it's extremely important to be an ally to help bring this change that might take it will take years and years and years. But it's every little step that we've got to do to move forward.
Meral Clarke:It's so important, and becoming more so as time goes on. So I also wanted to ask you about the GOP is the state GOP is and, frankly, across the country redistricting efforts and gerrymandering to suppress democratic votes, what are your thoughts on that? And how do we fight it?
Holly McCormack:Oh, my goodness, gerrymandering is just one more tool in the voter suppression kit, you know, right. And I think that it's shocking to me that, you know, we can have open discussions about, well, this side is going to draw these lines, and then this side is going to fight it in court. And it's like they're speaking about it out loud. It's literally changing the rules of the game. And so, you know, we've made so much progress. I know. And like I said before, Stacey Abrams, engaging so many voters that were disenfranchised, and so we made progress, and it's like, okay, now we get two steps back one step forward, two steps back, correct. And I think that it's just even more important because of that to show up. And to just make every vote, every voter show up and participate. I think that because we are such a historically conservative district, I think they probably feel pretty safe to pull from us and put into some of the other districts around us. Yes, I don't know. I'm not sure but we're we're prepping for
Meral Clarke:Well, it's worrisome, because the gerrymandering and redistricting isn't even done yet. So it's hard to fight something that's not even on the books yet. And the candidates that are running right now, how can they know what to expect, as I know there's some plans, but it hasn't happened, right?
Holly McCormack:Well, I am at the tippy top of the district, you know, right on the state line, so I feel safe that I will be here. Regardless, I don't think there's any fun way to draw me out.
Meral Clarke:You're good to go.
Holly McCormack:You know, it just it makes it makes the people lose faith in the system. And it just completely undermines a democracy.
Meral Clarke:Right. Do you believe this will impact the turnout next year? I
Holly McCormack:hope not.
Meral Clarke:I'm worried I'm very worried about it.
Holly McCormack:Yeah, we're gonna have to fight really hard to make people want to stay or get engaged for the first time. You know, if people see that it looks rigged from the start. It kind of changes your mind on how much you want to participate.
Meral Clarke:It's definitely distressing and it's tough. If not, for a lot of people to swallow who works so hard getting to this point and getting President Biden elected getting senators were knocking us off elected, we definitely need to make sure that they know we're doing everything that we can for them, and encourage them to come back out. So you plan to balance running for congress with being a working mother of two because let's face it, being a full time working mother of two children, that's a full time job plus, as a woman, and speaking as a mother, how do you balance those priorities?
Holly McCormack:You know, I laugh because it's like balance. What?
Meral Clarke:What, what's it? What's balance? What is this balance thing? You speak up? Exactly. I know, I know,
Holly McCormack:you know, it is very having a lot of help. You know, my, my husband will, all of us are pulling together to make sure that things get done. And I've got a fantastic team. So we are prioritizing that we blocked in family time, you know, and actually my daughter came with me for the last two days to do call time. So she came with me so I could see her face when we were past.
Meral Clarke:Great.
Holly McCormack:Yeah. Started young. Exactly. Get her out there field we're gonna
Meral Clarke:write.
Holly McCormack:But yeah, I mean it. You're right. It is already hard to be full time mom and full time in your career. And so I think it's more of this is important. And we have to continue keeping our why in front of us and reminding us why are we doing this? Because it is hard, but it's worth it. Yeah. And it's a moral imperative, because you're right, it is a lot different for a woman. And what I want is to help break through that women are able, and I see it in the representation that we've gotten in the last several years, that it's not just older, rich men that get to run successfully, because it is set up that you know, you have to have money to run
Meral Clarke:and Oh, no kidding. I mean, the system is definitely good. Yeah.
Holly McCormack:So I mean, I look forward to us toughing this out. And then one day isn't rigged right against it, you know, and that we get more representation that looks like the regular people where we live, cuz the perspective is totally different from people that limit and we know what needs to be fixed and how we can go about doing that. So it's not balanced, it is definitely not balanced. But we're very intentional with our scheduling.
Meral Clarke:And and I guess you have to be mindful of that at all times with your family. I couldn't imagine having a full time job running a business, for goodness sake. And you know, raising a family and trying to win it in an overly read district tremendously. So thank you for taking that step. No, thank you. Is there anything else you wanted to talk about? That might be important for our listeners to know about you, especially the ones in the 14th?
Holly McCormack:I'm looking back over? Because that's such a fun chat? I don't know.
Meral Clarke:I know. It's been great. I really enjoyed it. I mentioned rural broadband, you had you enjoy childcare. And certainly those are bipartisan issues are nonpartisan, as you stated in all the other kitchen table issues of how can I meet rising costs? salaries are not commensurate. Certainly we need to raise the minimum wage as well. And as you stated, these are issues that impact everyone. So I completely agree with you. Do you work with the DPG? The Democratic Party of Georgia? Are you working closely with them on your campaign?
Holly McCormack:Not yet. Okay. No, not yet. I did get an email from them early on. But no, I'm not a politician. So I don't have relationships in that arena. So we really are building it ourselves. Actually, I'm sure I will speak to them soon. But we really wanted to build the infrastructure for my team, get fundraising going well get our priorities. And I've heard that we're doing it a little differently than most campaigns run interested in. I don't know the difference. This is my first time.
Meral Clarke:You have no frame of reference. It was just wonderful.
Holly McCormack:Exactly. Well, I told them, it is extremely important to me that people see that it's real, the things that I say my values are real. So let's be out, meeting folks and helping with organizations that are already doing the work. Whereas most might start out just heavy, heavy fundraising and not being in district. We're doing it opposite of that. Right? So yeah, I think that the difference
Meral Clarke:Are you the only one who's actually in the district? Wendy Davis of Rome. I don't know if the other candidates are in your district as well.
Holly McCormack:Yeah, they do. They're further further. Well, everyone's further south than me. I'm very much at the top. Right there your little corner. But yeah, they live
Meral Clarke:Guess that's good to know MTG where she from
Holly McCormack:Alpharetta, I believe. And it's one other thing on the list of reasons. But when she was being investigated, right for the two houses are claiming both or yeah she's not from here. That's the moral.
Meral Clarke:That's not cool. She doesn't know anything about the people she's just running for office for the sake of running for office and having a platform
Holly McCormack:well and she was running for office before in her district in Alpharetta. And then he didn't even continue now, you know, I saw that it was just not going to happen there and then saw an opening, you know, coming open and saw an AR plus 27. And thought, Hey, I got this in the bag. And so we've not had any great options in the past and the Democratic Party. So it's really like they're not so far haven't put a lot of investment in it. And so that's what we're going to do differently. The people here will have a great option.
Meral Clarke:Okay, that's good to know. That's very helpful. So I always like to end on a fun note. And, yeah, on a pleasant note, so not related to politics, okay. Just in your personal life, tell us a fun fact about yourself something that people may not know. And our listeners would be interested in hearing about. I asked all my guests this question, so, okay.
Holly McCormack:Well, my mother said that I was singing before I could speak. Oh, my I apparently was thinking really long and hard on how to talk. You know, just came out in full sentences after,
Meral Clarke:but are destined to run for office at some point.
Holly McCormack:But yeah, I was saying just ever since before I could speak that. I've been a musician my whole life. So I play guitar, 12 string guitar piano and think,
Meral Clarke:Wow, that is so great. We've actually interviewed quite a few folks across the night just in recording, going to get you all together and put a band together. To play for us. That would be great. Think about what a terrific fundraiser that would
Holly McCormack:be right? There would be amazing. I would love that
Meral Clarke:I would certainly attend Well, that's great. But finally, where can folks learn more about your campaign or donate? Give us your email and website, please?
Holly McCormack:Sure. So the website is Holly, the number for congress.com Holly for Congress calm. And of course you can follow me on all the social media sites, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and believe it or not,
Meral Clarke:tick tock, tick tock. Well, you do have teenagers?
Holly McCormack:Oh, yeah. They're mortified by it. Absolutely. mortified.
Meral Clarke:Absolutely. I'm sure they can show their faces in school. Yeah, for you. Tick Tock is a great platform, especially to get younger folks more involved. Absolutely.
Holly McCormack:And you can also text Holly 2210 to two to get urgent action and campaign update that's in lifetime so they can text to one zero to two.
Meral Clarke:Gotcha. Oh, that's terrific. Well, thank you, Holly, for joining us today and sharing more about your crucial work to maintain our democracy. Yes, ma'am. I'm Meral Clarke. And on behalf of our team, I'd like to thank everyone for listening to the North Georgia Blue Podcast. We hope you'll listen next time when our special guests will be Pete fuller share of the Jackson County Democrats in the Democratic Party of Georgia rural caucus chair and to learn more about the Fannin County democrats and the work we're doing Please visit us online at Fannin County, Georgia democrats calm and consider sharing the North Georgia Blue Podcast with your friends and family. Join us again as we get into some more good trouble