Donald Trump's recent visit to Georgia has reopened old ugly wounds from his 2020 loss to President Joe Biden, exposing deep fractures within the state's Republican Party, that has moderate Republicans and the far-right MAGA faction locked in an escalating civil war over the party's direction.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Georgia Republicans are embroiled in a "family feud" that has longtime GOP leaders concerned about the fallout in November's general election. The Journal reports: "Heading into midterms that will determine control of Congress, party leaders in Atlanta and Washington had hoped to build party loyalty and unity in Georgia," yet recent developments are causing significant concern among senior officials.
The infighting has become particularly acute in three critical races—governor, Senate, and a House seat—marked by lawsuits, ethics complaints, and aggressive advertising. The Journal's Cameron McWhirter and Lindsay Wise note: "MAGA activists, long accustomed to branding many elected Republicans as RINOs (Republicans in Name Only), are now turning on each other."
Former Georgia GOP official B.J. Van Gundy acknowledged the severity: "Am I anxious? Yes. I hope we have time to fix this." Former state GOP chairman Rusty Paul agreed, stating: "The dysfunction has damaged the ability of Republicans to elect candidates."
The damage has proven so extensive that national GOP leadership has effectively conceded the Senate race held by Jon Ossoff (D), redirecting resources and attention elsewhere.
The governor's race has deteriorated into a bitter contest. A mysterious political action committee called Georgians for Integrity, whose funding source remains unknown, has spent approximately $17 million attacking Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Trump's endorsed candidate, with ads calling him "shady." The Georgia GOP subsequently filed an ethics complaint against the group.
Democrats have taken notice of the Republican dysfunction. Democratic state chairman Charlie Bailey bluntly admitted to the Journal: "These idiots are making our jobs a lot easier."
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