NEWNAN, Ga. (AP) – Brian Jack returned to Georgia with the support of former President Donald Trump and numerous connections in Washington. Now, as he runs for office for the first time, he just needs to close a deal with Republican primary voters in the safe Republican 3rd Congressional District.
On the stump, Jack emphasizes his close relationship with Trump at every opportunity. He worked on the 2016 presidential campaign and served as White House political director for four years. Jack is a strong fundraiser, and his previous TV ads have featured Trump praising him. In one, there's a clip from an appearance in Atlanta where Trump calls Jack a “MAGA man.”
“I'm very proud not only to have President Trump's support, but to have worked for him for the past eight years,” Jack said during an April 23 appearance in Columbus. I helped his campaign in 2016. I helped him enact this legislation during my four years at his side in the White House. ”
Trump's support has proven strong in Republican primaries across the country.But Trump nodded. nothing was certain In Georgia. Six candidates who Trump supported for the 2022 presidential bid lost in the state's Republican primary, including former Sen. David Perdue. who lost in a challenge to incumbent Governor Brian Kemp.
Opponents have avoided attacking Trump, but have focused on Jack's subsequent work as speaker of the House. kevin mccarthy The 36-year-old Peachtree City native suggests he's more of a Washington guy than a Georgia 3rd Congressional District guy.
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“The Legislature is sent there to represent the people. It's not sent there to represent any particular politician,” former state Rep. Philip Singleton said April 8 in Fayette. He said this at a forum held at the building. “So his qualifications to be my establishment opponent in this campaign is that you have to understand that he is a Trump henchman and has been a political operative for 16 years. Washington's political elite. We don’t need people like that serving us.”
District 3 borders the Alabama state line from Carrollton to Columbus on the south and connects to Atlanta's southern suburbs on the east. The person who represented it for four terms was Drew Ferguson, plans to resign after failing to advance in the House Republican leadership. Mr. Ferguson is a staunch conservative, but he is not the kind of person who would incite right-wing mobs.
Jack has four Republican opponents in the May 21 primary, including former state Sen. Mike Crane and former state Sen. mike dugan, Republican activist Jim Bennett and Singleton, who currently serves as Congressional Chief of Staff. Dugan points to his accomplishments as the former majority leader in the state Senate, suggesting he can get things done while the other three have a track record. Pile driving position Right on Jack on issues including abortion.
The campaign so far has been fairly measured, but the June 18 run-off election, which will be required if no one wins a majority, could bring sharper attacks. The Republican candidate will face either Val Almonaud or Maura Keller, the winner of the Democratic primary.
Many voters are not paying attention to elections that are likely to have low turnout. Some of her interests, like Newnan resident Lisa Gunter, say Trump's consent isn't the only factor she's considering.
Gunter, a freelance paralegal, said of Trump's support for Jack: “His comments carry a little weight.”
More importantly, he's someone who will deliver on his promise to bring change to Washington, Gunter said, adding: “I'm ready to clean house.”
“They're all basically saying the same thing,” Gunter said. “The only question is, who's going to go out there and do what I want them to do?”
Candidates are trying to exploit dissatisfaction among Republican primary voters in a variety of ways. Mr. Dugan, who has blazed a somewhat moderate path, said that during his time as majority leader, the state Senate cut taxes, placed strict limits on abortion, shortened the period for requesting absentee ballots, and increased the number of votes cast at the ballot box. He points out that he has limited people, and claims that he can unite people.
Mr. Singleton proved to be a thorn in the side of Republican leadership and was forced out of his state legislative district for redistricting, but he is prepared to fight to balance the budget and keep his conservative principles intact. I promise there will be. Singleton said if the law subtracts from his view of liberty and freedom, “I'm there to oppose and resist that.”
Mr. Klain appeals to religious conservatives, emphasizing their longstanding opposition to abortion and arguing that political reform can only come from a moral renewal.
“The Lord called me to Washington, but not me. He called you. He called us.” Mr. Crane spoke to an audience in Fayetteville on April 8. “He called himself to Washington,'' he said. “Washington will rise not only when it drains the swamp, but also when it fills it with justice.”
Bennett has been in the race the longest and said he was motivated to run because of his grievances with Ferguson. He is the least well-funded, having raised just $38,000 as of March 31st. Mr. Jack raised the most money, $623,000, with large donations from political committees controlled by Mr. McCarthy and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. Mr. Crane raised $505,000, Mr. Dugan $268,000 and Mr. Singleton $143,000.
But Jack entered the race late, and it's not clear whether his financial advantage is large enough to win the May 21 primary outright. No other candidates are betting on a runoff.
“We don't need to convince people not to vote for Brian Jack,” Singleton said. “No one knows who Brian Jack is.”