Mesha Mainor

Of African-American heritage, Mainor was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated from Benjamin Elijah Mays High School. She received a BS in Health Science and Master's degree in physical therapy at Howard University. {{as of|2023}}, Mainor was working on a doctorate in business administration at Northcentral University.

Mainor began her political career in Washington, D.C. working with Congressman John Lewis. She later worked at the United States Agency for International Development in the Global Health division.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Maggie |date=2022-10-10 |title=Mesha Mainor |url=http://atlantaciviccircle.org/profile/mesha-mainor/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Atlanta Civic Circle |language=en-US}}

In 2000, she began working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a speechwriter and research analyst for Assistant Surgeon General Helene D. Gayle. In this role, she was responsible for foreign and domestic public-health presentations, legislative testimonies, and film and radio productions, and she co-authored journal articles.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

In Atlanta, she has served the physical-therapy community in leadership positions at Emory Healthcare and Children’s Hospital of Atlanta. She worked at Emory until 2019, when she resigned to run for Atlanta City Council’s District 3 special election.Catts, Everett. [https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/northside_sandy_springs/news/nine-candidates-contending-for-district-3-atlanta-city-council-seat/article_a8c0d838-3d21-11e9-aaba-6fe87d5c5ccd.html Nine candidates contending for District 3 Atlanta City Council seat], Marietta Daily Journal, March 11, 2019. She also founded and trademarked the Junior Business League, a program to teach children entrepreneurship and advocacy.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

As a member of the Georgia House, Mainor represented Midtown Atlanta, Ansley Park, Castleberry Hill, English Avenue, Atlantic Station, Hunter Hills, Vine City, Dixie Hills, Mozley Park, Sherwood Forest, West Midtown, West End, and the last residing neighborhood of Martin Luther King Jr. before he died, in the Sunset Avenue Historical District.

On July{{nbsp}}11, 2023, Mainor announced that she was leaving the Democratic Party for the Republican Party. Associated Press wrote of her switch, "The tension between Mainor and other Democrats burst into the open earlier this year after Mainor became the only Democrat to vote for a school voucher bill."{{Cite web|last=Amy|first=Jeff|url=https://apnews.com/article/mesha-mainor-georgia-republican-party-switch-democrat-a725f1c3d5e827a05a95eb178194f80e|title=Georgia Democrat Mesha Mainor, at odds with her party, switches to Republicans|date=July 11, 2023|website=AP News}} Mainor also spoke positively of the prosecutorial-oversight measure that Georgia governor Brian Kemp had made a priority.{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Patricia |last2=Bluestein |first2=Greg |last3=Mitchell |first3=Tia |title=The Jolt: Democrats threaten primary against centrist Atlanta lawmaker |url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/the-jolt-democrats-threaten-primary-against-centrist-atlanta-lawmaker/VYK5EFJFABDCNC36FNLDJXHKPI/ |access-date=July 19, 2023 |website=Political Insider (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) |language=English}}

Mainor was defeated in the 2024 general election by Democratic candidate Bryce Berry, who received 83.8% of votes.{{cite news |last1=Baruchman |first1=Michelle |title=Republicans hold on to most of the competitive seats in Georgia Legislature |url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/republicans-hold-onto-most-of-the-competitive-seats-in-georgia-legislature/MVUS5KYM4ZCIHB25GQNCIBBQ5E/ |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=November 6, 2024}}

Mainor has two daughters that attend Atlanta Public Schools in Fulton County. She is an active member of a Baptist church in her community.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.MeshaMainor.com www.MeshaMainor.com Campaign webpage]

{{Georgia House of Representatives}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mainor, Mesha}}

Category:African-American state legislators in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:Women state legislators in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:1975 births

Category:21st-century African-American women politicians

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:20th-century African-American politicians

Category:20th-century African-American women politicians

Category:20th-century American women politicians

Category:American speechwriters

Category:Democratic Party members of the Georgia House of Representatives

Category:Republican Party members of the Georgia House of Representatives

Category:21st-century members of the Georgia General Assembly

Category:Howard University alumni