Boricua Immigration Lawyer Unseats Long-Term Rep. in Georgia

Without a GOP opponent in November, this first-time politician seems to be a shoo-in for the House of Representatives. 

The state of Georgia will soon be getting some much-needed Latino representation on Capitol Hill. On Aug. 11, Zulma López, an immigration lawyer and small business owner, won her runoff election against state Rep. Michele Henson in Georgia’s primary election with 54.4% of the votes.

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López will now be on the ballot in November, slated to represent House District 86, which includes DeKalb County. Her seat in the House of Representatives seems to be a sure shot since there will be no Republican opponent. 

“As I reflect on this victory, I think of all of you who took a leap of faith in supporting me,” López said on social media. “Know that, like with everything thing that I do, I will give you my absolute 100%. This was a grueling year-long campaign compounded by a global pandemic. But this race was never about me, but about you, us, and our community. And just like when I first filed my candidacy, I still am convinced that we will move our district, our county, and our state forward. We have a lot of work to do and I’m ready. Thank you!”

Lopez, who moved to Georgia 12 years ago, is married and the mother of four children. Two of the kids are in college, one other is a fourth-grader, and the youngest is a soon-to-be kindergartener.

According to El Nuevo Dia, López graduated from the University of Puerto Rico. She’s a licensed attorney in Georgia and Puerto Rico. Some of the key issues that López is advocating for include education, affordable health care, and small businesses. 

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“As an immigration attorney, I am a fighter who is fueled by compassion,” López stated on her website. “I firmly believe that our most valuable resource is our people. If we truly invest in our people, in education, in health care, in providing economic opportunities for small businesses, we will reach our full potential as a more inclusive and productive society.”