On Tuesday, a Georgia state legislator from Atlanta announced she was leaving the Democrat Party to join the Republican Party after being at odds with Democrats for reasons including her support of school choice and disciplining prosecutors.
“Today I stand here to say that I have decided to join the Republican Party of Georgia,” said Rep. Mesha Mainor at a news conference. “I supported children and family over the teachers union. I supported the Republican position not to defund the police.”
She also discussed her decision on social media.
“My name is Rep. Meisha Mainor and today I made the decision to leave the Democrat Party,” she wrote on Twitter. “I represent a blue district in the city of Atlanta so this wasn’t a political decision for me. It was a a MORAL one.”
“I will NEVER apologize for being a black woman with a mind of my own,” she added.
My name is Rep. Meisha Mainor and today I made the decision to leave the Democrat Party.
I represent a blue district in the city of Atlanta so this wasn’t a political decision for me. It was a a MORAL one.
I will NEVER apologize for being a black woman with a mind of my own. pic.twitter.com/q3snDGejCN
— Rep. Mesha Mainor (@MeshaMainor) July 11, 2023
Mainor later defended her decision.
“I didn’t leave the Democrat Party,” she tweeted. “The Democrat Party left ME when it embraced left-wing radicalism, lawlessness, and put the interests of illegal aliens over the interest of Americans,”
“I have nothing to apologize for,” Mainor added.
I didn’t leave the Democrat Party.
The Democrat Party left ME when it embraced left-wing radicalism, lawlessness, and put the interests of illegal aliens over the interest of Americans.
I have nothing to apologize for.
— Rep. Mesha Mainor (@MeshaMainor) July 11, 2023
Mainor explained her decision in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“When I decided to stand up on behalf of disadvantaged children in support of school choice, my Democrat colleagues didn’t stand by me,” she said. “They crucified me. When I decided to stand up in support of safe communities and refused to support efforts to defund the police, they didn’t back me. They abandoned me.”
“For far too long, the Democrat Party has gotten away with using and abusing the black community,” Mainor added. “For decades, the Democrat Party has received the support of more than 90% of the black community. And what do we have to show for it? I represent a solidly blue district in the city of Atlanta. This isn’t a political decision for me. It’s a moral one.”