David Shafer’s decision not to seek another term as Georgia GOP chair after a tortured tenure sets up a wide-open battle to replace him — and a larger debate over the future of the beleaguered organization.
Under Shafer’s watch, the state GOP’s influence withered badly. A lack of confidence in his leadership and his vocal support of Donald Trump-backed candidates over GOP incumbents relegated the state party to the sidelines.
But some Republicans say Shafer’s mishaps only hastened an inevitable trend away from the state party.
Recent changes to campaign finance laws, at both the state and federal level, have created a new normal for money flows around and past state party organizations.
Gov. Brian Kemp and his aides orchestrated the passage of new fundraising mechanisms called “leadership committees” that allow top contenders to raise unlimited funds and circumvent the state GOP.
The rivals lining up to succeed Shafer know they must rehabilitate the organization’s bruised reputation. Lackluster turnout in some metro Atlanta “mass caucus” meetings this weekend offered another reminder.
Rebecca Yardley, chairwoman of the 9th District GOP, entered the race weeks ago with a pledge to unite the party’s grassroots activists who were ready to stage a revolt against Shafer.
Credit: Bob Andres/AJC
Credit: Bob Andres/AJC
But the Shafer wing of the party has its own contender, former state Sen. Josh McKoon, known for promoting both an ethics overhaul and a “religious liberty” measure during his stint in office. Shafer has given McKoon his blessing.
McKoon is promising to focus on the “basic blocking and tackling of politics” ahead of the 2024 election. That includes improved fundraising and grassroots training, elements that Shafer’s critics say went neglected during his tenure.
“As of today, we hold the majority that quickly followed the election of Governor Sonny Perdue. But what about tomorrow?” McKoon wrote, referring to Perdue’s 2002 win.
“Similarly eerie as to what we saw then, we can clearly see this trend of fragmentation within our own party, when what we need at this time is UNITY.”
Already, key Republicans see McKoon as a continuation of all that went wrong under Shafer. James Cooper, the 10th District GOP chair, said McKoon will be “nothing more than Shafer 2.0.”
“It is clear that the outgoing chairman has hand-picked McKoon, and Shafer will continue calling the shots,” said Cooper, who backs Yardley. “We need new leadership at the Georgia Republican Party, not a stand-in for a failed chairman.”
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202X. Speaking of Gov. Brian Kemp, his new federal Hardworking Americans PAC is out with a new video that sure looks like a campaign pitch to us. But with Kemp’s reelection as governor just months behind him, the only question is … what campaign is it a pitch for?
We believe hardworking Americans are the backbone of this country. pic.twitter.com/kW4VuckcC0
— Hardworking Americans Inc. (@HW_Americans) February 9, 2023
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LISTEN UP. A special edition of the Politically Georgia podcast posted Sunday with a deep dive on the hedge funds and investors gobbling up huge portions of Atlanta’s neighborhoods. They’re raising rents, depressing Black home ownership, and leaving tenants to fend for themselves.
Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC
Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC
Our guest is Brian Eason, one of the three reporters, along with Zachary Hansen, Michael Kanell and a huge digital storytelling team, behind the AJC’s news investigation, “The American Dream for Rent.”
Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or Stitcher.
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COURT HISTORY. The Supreme Court of Georgia made history last week. For the first time, an all-female bench heard oral arguments.
It was a case in which five justices were recused or didn’t participate. So the court designated DeKalb County Superior Court Chief Judge LaTisha Dear Jackson to sit in place of Chief Justice Michael Boggs to make a quorum.
Credit: Alyssa Pointer/AJC
Credit: Alyssa Pointer/AJC
She was joined on Thursday by Justices Verda Colvin, Shawn LaGrua and Carla Wong McMillian. (Justice John Ellington is participating in the case, but he didn’t attend the oral arguments.)
Four of the nine justices on the court are women.
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Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
UNDER THE GOLD DOME, Legislative Day 17:
- 8 a.m.: Committee hearings begin;
- 10 a.m.: The House gavels in;
- 1 p.m.: The Senate convenes.
Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC
Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC
On the docket Monday in the state House and Senate:
- The Senate Homeland Security Committee will consider Senate Bill 93, the bill from Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte, R-Dallas, that would ban TikTok from state devices.
- House and Senate Democrats hold a press conference on four bills focused on gun safety and restrictions.
- The state Senate will vote on Senate Bill 44, from state Sen. Bo Hatchett, to create mandatory minimum sentences for gang activities, including gang recruiting. Gov. Brian Kemp’s State of the State address included the legislation as a top priority.
SB 44 will increase mandatory penalties on those who wish to recruit gang members in our state. I’ll continue to protect our children and work with the General Assembly to build a safer, stronger Georgia. https://t.co/5IboV4KFmk
— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) February 7, 2023
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TODAY IN WASHINGTON:
- The U.S. Senate has more confirmations lined up.
- The House is out for two weeks.
- President Joe Biden has no public events scheduled.
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GREENE’S GAME. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene had quite a week in Washington, starting with her viral moments shouting at the president during the State of the Union. But it continued with biting comments to former Twitter executives during a committee hearing and a dressing down of Defense Department officials in a closed-door briefing on the Chinese spy balloon.
The moves were throwbacks to Greene’s roots as a brash and bombastic darling of the far-right. And they were the clearest evidence to date that her recent political maneuvers may demonstrate a newfound savvy but should not be interpreted as a turn toward the center.
***
Credit: Jason Getz/AJC
Credit: Jason Getz/AJC
COMMITTEE UPDATE. U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Jackson, was named Chairman of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology, which falls under the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.
The first-term lawmaker’s subcommittee has jurisdiction over matters related to science policy and science education, including the National Science Foundation.
Collins didn’t go into detail on scientific issues that might come before the subcommittee during the course of his campaign, but he repeatedly spoke out against the federal government mandating COVID-19 vaccines.
In one campaign video, he said his own trucking company refused to require that its truckers get vaccinated.
“This isn’t about COVID,” Collins said. “This is about protecting our freedom.”
A 2021 Biden administration policy required private employers with 100 or more employees to mandate vaccines or weekly testing for employees, although solo employees like most truck drivers were exempt.
***
Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@ajc.com
Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@ajc.com
DOUBLE JEOPARDY. We’re still waiting for word to come down from Fulton County Superior Court on potential indictments from the special grand jury investigation into former President Donald Trump.
But as the AJC’s Tamar Hallerman and Greg Bluestein point out, the decision will have massive political ripple effects no matter what Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis decides to do next.
That’s because both Trump and Willis herself are up for election in 2024. More:
Trump isn't the only figure who could face political backlash. Willis is facing a complicated set of crosscurrents.
There's already considerable tension between her and the Republican-controlled Legislature after the special grand jury Willis advised issued subpoenas for the testimony of several members last summer.
Lawmakers have introduced rules this session that would make it harder for them to be subpoenaed. And they could debate a proposal that would give the state power to sanction prosecutors for shirking their duties and significantly lower the threshold for recall votes.
While state Rep. Houston Gaines and other sponsors say it has nothing to do with Willis' probe — indeed, a version of the legislation was introduced before she gathered the special grand jury — critics worry it could be weaponized against her.
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BEDINGFIELD OUT. White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield announced Friday that she will be leaving her position at the end of the month.
The Sandy Springs native is a long-term Joe Biden aide who has led his communications operations for four years, first during his campaign and later when he became president. Bedingfield did not announce next steps, but it is widely speculated that after some time off she may join the president’s reelection campaign team in a similar role.
Credit: Leigh Vogel/The New York Times
Credit: Leigh Vogel/The New York Times
“Since my time as Vice President, Kate has been a loyal and trusted adviser, through thick and thin,” Biden said in a statement announcing her resignation.
The announcement followed an earlier White House statement in July that Bendingfield would leave, only to announce days later that she planned to stay on in her role.
Friday’s announcement was so definitive that White House named Obama-Biden Administration veteran Ben LaBolt as Bedingfield’s replacement.
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AS ALWAYS, Jolt readers are some of our favorite tipsters. Send your best scoop, gossip and insider info to patricia.murphy@ajc.com, tia.mitchell@ajc.com and greg.bluestein@ajc.com.
