Georgia GOP Old Guard Loses Primaries as Trump-Aligned Candidates Ride $300 Million Clout
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · May 20
Georgia GOP Old Guard Loses Primaries as Trump-Aligned Candidates Ride $300 Million Clout
7 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 20
Brad Raffensperger, Chris Carr and Gabriel Sterling all lost Georgia Republican primaries, marking the clearest sign yet that statewide GOP voters are rejecting anti-Trump holdouts.
Trump-style loyalty has become a practical test for candidates, party figures said, with his endorsement—or the ability to claim alignment—now crucial as his political operation holds about $300 million.
Across the marquee governor and Senate contests, winners embraced Trump’s brand: Burt Jones had his explicit backing, while Senate hopeful Mike Collins advanced after campaigning as a hardline Trump ally.
The shift could reshape a premier battleground in 2026, but it also revives a risk Georgia Republicans faced in 2022, when hardline MAGA nominees helped Democrats in key general-election races.
What does the success of 'outsider' personas reveal about the evolving preferences of Georgia's primary voters?
As campaign spending shatters records in Georgia, is money becoming the primary factor in electoral success?
With a populist focus dominating primaries, how might this strategy impact outcomes in a general election?