Austin is originally from Fitzgerald, Georgia. He has a Bachelor's degree in education from Valdosta State University. He lives in Dunwoody with his wife, Christine, and their three children. They attend Dunwoody United Methodist Church.

Austin is a stay-at-home dad and a real estate agent. He works at Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Perimeter. He used to teach Physical Education for nearly ten years in private and public schools.

Austin McDonald’s campaign for state senator is his first entry into politics.

As of October 28, 2022, Austin McDonald’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

Wants to promote a "free-market and sensible, common sense government spending to help Georgians pursue their American Dream".

Opposed adding additional government jobs or raising taxes

- Wants to promote a "free-market and sensible, common sense government spending to help Georgians pursue their American Dream".
- Opposed adding additional government jobs or raising taxes

Economy

Supports bringing more accessible resources to those with disabilities.

- Supports bringing more accessible resources to those with disabilities.

Healthcare

Supports law enforcement and first responders.

Wants to ensure "sufficient funding and effective police training" for the law enforcement community.

- Supports law enforcement and first responders. 
- Wants to ensure "sufficient funding and effective police training" for the law enforcement community.

Public Safety

Says, "Georgia’s education system is key in promoting innovation and solutions to state problems for the next generation of Georgians".

Supports fully funding schools and delivering teacher pay raises.

- Says, "Georgia’s education system is key in promoting innovation and solutions to state problems for the next generation of Georgians".
- Supports fully funding schools and delivering teacher pay raises.

Education

Austin McDonald

Sally has a Bachelor's degree in social work from the Georgia State University and a Master's degree in social work from the University of Georgia. She lives in the Northlake Tucker Area with her husband, Jay. They have two children.

Sally was the executive director of the Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia.

Sally Harrell is currently the State Senator representing District 40. She was first elected in 2018 and has been in office for two terms. She is vice chair of the DeKalb Delegation and co-chair of the Georgia Legislative Women's Caucus. She used to be a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, from 1999 to 2005, for three terms.

Wants to change Georgia's constitution to create an independent, non-partisan commission to do redistricting. Said, "[t]he number one issue putting our democracy at risk is redistricting."

- Wants to change Georgia's constitution to create an independent, non-partisan commission to do redistricting. Said, "[t]he number one issue putting our democracy at risk is redistricting."

Wants to fund clean energy transportation, such as rapid rail connections between rural and urban areas, increased bus routes, and electric car leasing in order to allow people to get to work and save time.

Said, "markets are not always the best solution for our society's problems and sometimes the pursuit of profit creates burdens for the public," and is against for-profit companies taking over government services like parks, public education, healthcare, and prisons.

Supports "a livable wage for all workers."

- Wants to fund clean energy transportation, such as rapid rail connections between rural and urban areas, increased bus routes, and electric car leasing in order to allow people to get to work and save time.
- Said, "markets are not always the best solution for our society's problems and sometimes the pursuit of profit creates burdens for the public," and is against for-profit companies taking over government services like parks, public education, healthcare, and prisons. 
- Supports "a livable wage for all workers."

Supports healthcare for all citizens, including access to birth control and abortion.

Wants to expand Medicaid up to 138% of the federal poverty level to include more people, especially people in rural Georgia.

As a state senator, worked to expand Medicaid for mothers for newborns for six months after birth from six weeks.

As a state senator, worked to create a Medicaid Public Option modeled after "PeachCare for Kids," for people who are not happy with their private, employer-based plans.

- Supports healthcare for all citizens, including access to birth control and abortion. 
- Wants to expand Medicaid up to 138% of the federal poverty level to include more people, especially people in rural Georgia. 
- As a state senator, worked to expand Medicaid for mothers for newborns for six months after birth from six weeks. 
- As a state senator, worked to create a Medicaid Public Option modeled after "PeachCare for Kids," for people who are not happy with their private, employer-based plans.

Wants to rehabilitation people who have been in prison "who cannot effectively pay their debt to society if they are ill, malnourished, or forced to live in inhuman conditions."

Wants more funding for social services for communities to reduce the need for the police and increase the budget for the Department of Child and Family Services, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, unemployment training programs, and safe housing for the homeless.

Plans to work to decriminalize marijuana and reduce existing sentences for possession of marijuana.

- Wants to rehabilitation people who have been in prison "who cannot effectively pay their debt to society if they are ill, malnourished, or forced to live in inhuman conditions." 
- Wants more funding for social services for communities to reduce the need for the police and increase the budget for the Department of Child and Family Services, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, unemployment training programs, and safe housing for the homeless. 
- Plans to work to decriminalize marijuana and reduce existing sentences for possession of marijuana.

Supports early childhood education for all children, including adding universal preschool to all K-12 public schools, adequate pay for parents to afford childcare costs, and paid time off for parents to take care of sick family members.

Wants to make sure that qualified students can go to college and technical schools without large debt and make all public colleges and universities in Georgia tuition-free.

Opposes publicly funded vouchers to attend private or for-profit schools, and supports more funding for public schools, including special mission and magnet schools.

- Supports early childhood education for all children, including adding universal preschool to all K-12 public schools, adequate pay for parents to afford childcare costs, and paid time off for parents to take care of sick family members. 
- Wants to make sure that qualified students can go to college and technical schools without large debt and make all public colleges and universities in Georgia tuition-free. 
- Opposes publicly funded vouchers to attend private or for-profit schools, and supports more funding for public schools, including special mission and magnet schools.

Sally Harrell

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Georgia State Senate.
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process. 
- State Senators are involved in approving some appointments by the Governor.
- The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up our state lawmaking body: the Georgia General Assembly.
- There are 56 Georgia senators, each representing a single district.
- State Senators are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $17,342.

Georgia State Senator, District 40

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Voting & Elections

Economy

Healthcare

Public Safety

Education