ates. The end effect of this idea is that there is no need to make a firm attempt to get minorities elected because it will happen on its own. Although this idea is a hopeful one, many people feel it is too idealistic. Racism it still too real in this country, and the victory of persons like Cynthia McKinney are the cause of other factors besides voters crossing racial lines.The other primary idea of the cause of McKinneys victory is the idea of the power of incumbency. This appears to be a much stronger argument since in mostly every election almost 90% of incumbents win. Running for re-election gives incumbents superior advantages over the challengers, and in McKinneys case this was no different. She had more money, a better known name, and a voting record in congress which she could show to the constituency. The fact that she is already a representative, even if it is from another district, gives her a better chance of going back to congress.These events are sure to have a lasting effect on how districting will be carried out in the future. The primary thought is that in districting states one must look beyond race, which is what the courts seemed to imply in their decisions, but it seems that race it too real an issue when one is voting for congress. It is still too difficult to overlook the racial issue in elections, and focus on ideological preferences. And if this country is continue to strive for a better democracy this will be a continuing issue in politics. This three term congresswomen from Georgia has had a strong political background. As a forty-one year old representative she has experienced many of the racial decisions the country had made. Her father, J.E. Billy McKinney has been a major black influence in the Georgia state legislature for over twenty years. By being a major activist in civil rights the elder McKinney won a seat in the Statehouse in the mid-seventies; and fifteen years later his daughter gain...
