Cynthia McKinney

News

Cynthia McKinney

Photos of the Cynthia McKinney, Georgia congresswoman and Green Party presidential candidate.

Former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who has made her share of controversial comments, has left the Democratic Party and is running for president as the Green Party candidate.

McKinney, who served 12 years in Congress between 1992 and 2006, now lives in California.

Cindy Sheehan, holding a photo of her son Casey, and McKinney lead thousands of peace activists in Washington, DC. on March 17, 2007, for the antiwar "march on the Pentagon" to mark the fourth anniversary of the Iraq war and also the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam-era march on the Pentagon.

McKinney prepares to hold a press conference on Sept. 30, 2006, in Decatur to say that voters are disenfranchised by Diebold voting machines that leave no paper trails.

McKinney talks with Robert Reuschlein, second from right, and Jo Ann Oravec before a news conference on Dec. 11, 2007, in Madison, Wis. when she was seeking the presidential nomination of the Green Party. One of McKiney's final acts in Congress was to introduce a bill to impeach Bush.

McKinney campaigns on Aug. 3, 2006 for her primary runoff election, which she eventually lost.

John Coyne challenged McKinney in 2006 and sought to capitalize on negative feelings against her. McKinney had angered some constituents after getting into an altercation with a United States Capitol Police officer and holding a hearing on whether the Bush administration was involved in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

McKinney speaks during a news conference March 31, 2006 in Washington after she was involved in an altercation with a Capitol Police officer. McKinney said the officer started the incident by "inappropriately touching and stopping" her after she walked past a security checkpoint. McKinney apologized for the incident but didn't admit or deny that she struck the officer.

McKinney talks on the phone at her campaign headquarters in July 2004. McKinney won the election and returned the post she had occupied for 10 years.

McKinney, a critic of U.S. policy in Afghanistan, speaks at a House International Relations subcommittee hearing on Afghanistan and the Taliban on Oct. 31, 2001. McKinney makes the point that an unexploded U.S. cluster bomb packet, left, looks very similar, in size and color, to a U.S. air-dropped food ration, right.

McKinney and her father, Billy McKinney, a former Democratic Georgia state legislator, at the statehouse.

McKinney points out Capitol Hill landmarks to Shanterri Grier, then 14, on April 26, 1996. McKinney has been a mentor to Shanterri and brought her to Washington for Take our Daughters to Work Day.

Cynthia McKinney makes her concession speech on Aug. 21, 2002. McKinney lost the primary in part because Republicans crossed over to vote for her opponent. McKinney had said that President Bush had knowledge of the 9/11 attacks but did not act because his friends sought to profit. Her hopes were also hurt when her father blamed Jews for her opponents success.

McKinney (bottom) recites the Pledge of Allegiance during the opening session of the 109th Congress on Jan. 4, 2005. McKinney returned to Congress after losing the 2002 election.

1/14

Former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who has made her share of controversial comments, has left the Democratic Party and is running for president as the Green Party candidate.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Jesse Jackson

PHOTOS: Civil rights icon Jesse Jackson found stage and home in Atlanta

Spring training Day 5 (Saturday)

PHOTOS: Day 5 of spring training for the Braves

Valentines for Veterans

Metro Atlanta students write valentines to veterans

GHSA Championship, Dance, Akins Ford Arena, Athens

PHOTOS: Georgia teams dance way to state championships

More Galleries

01202026 day of protests

PHOTOS: Metro Atlanta ICE protest join national effort

PHOTOS: Georgia's first snowfall of the year

PHOTOS: Georgia's first snowfall of the year

Macon High School Restaurant

PHOTOS: The Compass Rose Cafe serves up quality food with heaping side dishes of life skills

Juwad Maynard holds a banner during a protest in Atlanta on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, against the U.S. military action in Venezuela. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

PHOTOS: People gather in downtown Atlanta to protest U.S. military action in Venezuela