It seems former President Donald Trump just can’t let go of the 2020 election results, especially in Georgia. He’s been relentlessly pushing the false narrative that widespread fraud cost him the victory, and this idea continues to cast a long shadow over the state’s political landscape. It’s almost certain to be a major talking point in Georgia’s upcoming four-week runoff campaign, as Republican voters choose their nominees for governor, secretary of state, and the U.S. Senate. This persistence is remarkable, considering Georgia’s presidential ballots were counted three times, including once by hand, and each count confirmed Joe Biden’s win. Despite these clear affirmations, the drumbeat of “stolen election” continues to echo, shaping the choices and rhetoric of many candidates. This unwavering focus on a past, settled election feels to many like a distraction, a rehashing of old grievances rather than a forward-looking strategy.
Among those vying for office are some serious Trump loyalists. One of them actually served as an “alternate elector” in Trump’s attempt to overturn Biden’s win. Then there’s the congressional candidate who won his first race by claiming Trump really won in 2020. And to top it off, a hopeful secretary of state candidate is echoing Trump’s conspiracy theories as he tries to become Georgia’s top elections official. These individuals have fully embraced Trump’s narrative, seeing it as a key to political success within the Republican party. Their campaigns are deeply intertwined with the former president’s election claims, almost as if repeating these claims is a prerequisite for entry into certain GOP circles. This trend highlights how deeply Trump’s influence has infiltrated the local political discourse, making it difficult for some candidates to move past the 2020 election.
The ongoing legal and political battles over how elections are run in Fulton County, a heavily Democratic area that includes Atlanta, only add fuel to this fire. Trump has always targeted Fulton County with his criticisms, and the FBI’s search of the county’s election office earlier this year, where they seized ballots and records from 2020, only amplified his claims. What’s clear from the first round of primary results is that for many in the GOP, standing with Trump, even on his false election claims, is a winning strategy. Candidates who dared to oppose Trump’s efforts in 2020 were largely defeated. However, some conservatives are starting to worry that this intense focus on past election grievances might backfire in the general election, potentially alienating a broader electorate. They fear that continuously dwelling on “what ifs” rather than focusing on tangible issues could make the party look out of touch or even a bit foolish to independent voters.
Debbie Dooley, an early supporter of Trump and a Tea Party organizer, isn’t shy about her concerns. “We’re going to look stupid,” she warned, questioning the benefit of continuing to argue that Trump won. “What are you going to say — Trump won, and he was always the president? It serves no purpose.” She believes Republicans should pivot to more pressing issues like the economy and frame any discussions about election procedures around “securing future elections, looking forward.” But whether Trump sees it that way is another story. He’s already endorsed Burt Jones, one of his 2020 alternate electors, in the governor’s race, and Dooley wouldn’t be surprised if Trump campaigns in Georgia and rehashes his 2020 grievances. The struggle within the party is palpable: loyalists who believe embracing Trump’s narrative is essential versus those who worry it’s a political cul-de-sac.
The candidates themselves reveal this internal party struggle. Burt Jones, who was a state lawmaker in 2020 and joined Trump’s efforts to overturn Biden’s narrow victory, parlayed that loyalty into becoming lieutenant governor in 2022 and securing an early endorsement from Trump for governor. He won a significant portion of Republican votes in the primary, regularly touting “election integrity.” His runoff opponent, Rick Jackson, a billionaire and political newcomer, largely avoids the 2020 election topic. Yet, he spent millions on an ad attacking outgoing Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who famously resisted Trump’s pressure to “find 11,800 votes.” The ad, chillingly, depicted a child asking why his mother chose the name Brad, with the mother replying her second choice was “Judas” – a clear jab at Raffensperger for his perceived betrayal of Trump. Raffensperger, notably, finished a distant third. This shows how deeply the loyalty test runs, and how even those who don’t directly echo Trump’s claims still feel compelled to demonstrate their alignment with his grievances through veiled attacks.
In another example, Rep. Mike Collins, who led the Senate GOP primary, has consistently pushed the false narrative that Biden’s win was rigged. He even notably featured this argument in his 2022 congressional campaign, brandishing a long gun in an ad while bemoaning the “federal hijacking” of the 2020 election and dramatically shooting a mock voting machine. His opponent, former college football coach Derek Dooley, has been more cautious, but both candidates are signaling their allegiance to Trump. Even Governor Brian Kemp, who initially drew Trump’s ire for certifying Biden’s electors, has seemingly mended fences with the former president, suggesting a strategic realignment within the party. Meanwhile, in the race to succeed Raffensperger as secretary of state, State Rep. Tim Fleming and former state Rep. Vernon Jones, a staunch Trump loyalist, are the top contenders. Jones, a former Democrat, fully embraces the “stop the steal” movement, openly stating, “I stand with those who believe there was election fraud.” Fleming, while using the softer term “irregularities,” also avoids refuting Trump’s claims outright. These races are not just about policy; they are a referendum on loyalty to Donald Trump and his persistent narrative of a stolen election.