In a vacant congressional seat in Georgia, a Republican candidate is forging close ties with Trump

ATLANTA– Brian Jack left no daylight between himself and Donald Trump, making him the Republican nominee for Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District. The former political director in the Trump White House isn’t changing his approach as he faces Democratic outsider Maura Keller.

During a half-hour debate at the Atlanta Press Club, Jack mentioned six times how he worked with Trump. The former Republican president has repeatedly supported Jack, including during a speech Tuesday in Atlanta.

Both major parties are running in all 14 of Georgia’s congressional districts, where Republicans currently have a 9-5 majority. In the next most important race besides the 3rd, Republican Wayne Johnson is trying to unseat long-time incumbent Democrat Sanford Bishop in the 2nd District in southwest Georgia.

But with no other statewide elections on the line, the presidential race is dwarfing everything else in Georgia politics. Bishop and many other incumbents are spending more time campaigning for presidential candidates than fending off their own enemies in districts that are even less competitive after court-ordered redistricting in 2023.

When asked during Sunday’s debate whether he disagreed with Trump on anything – such as how Trump responded when a mob stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 – Jack instead emphasized that voters viewed the election of him and Trump as should consider a package deal to return to Trump’s policies on economic issues, immigration and public safety.

“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together,” said Jack.

It’s a safe strategy for the 36-year-old Peachtree City native, who worked for then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy after Trump left office. The 3rd District lies on the Alabama state line from Carrollton in the south to Columbus and borders the southern suburbs of Atlanta in the east. It’s a vacancy because Republican incumbent Drew Ferguson is retiring. Republicans typically receive about two-thirds of the vote in the district, according to the Princeton Gerrymandering Project.

Keller, Jack’s Democratic opponent, is a retired Army lieutenant colonel and Fayetteville resident. She advocates for abortion rights, better veteran services and higher wages.

“I am a candidate with common sense and sound policies and I respectfully ask for your vote,” Keller said during the debate. “Unlike my opponent – ​​he only cares about one person, and that is Donald Trump and the extreme agenda he is pursuing – I have been here for 28 years and will make sure my primary focus is on you.”

Republicans had high hopes of defeating Bishop in 2022, but the Democrat made it to his 16th term with 55% of the vote. Johnson, a Republican who worked under Trump at the U.S. Department of Education, is promising to focus on economic recovery in the 2nd District, which spans 30 counties in southwest Georgia and extends to Columbus and Macon.

“Why do you think people will be better off if they give you two more years in office than they have in the last three decades?” Johnson asked rhetorically at a debate at the Atlanta Press Club from which Bishop was absent.

Johnson proposes that the federal government provide subsidies so someone can buy a home with a monthly payment of $1,000 and a car with a monthly payment of $200. He portrays himself as a moderate on abortion, but says Georgia’s ban on most abortions after fetal cardiac activity begins is “close to halfway okay.”

Bishop also describes himself as a moderate and predominantly woos white farmers who drive the rural economy and support military bases. He focuses on legislative successes and what his seniority helps him achieve, and touts the benefits of recent federal spending packages.

But the incumbent doesn’t mind partisan red meat. While Johnson debated Bishop’s empty podium in Atlanta on Sunday, Bishop was in Albany with former President Bill Clinton to rally voters for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. There, Bishop spelled out the decision, saying Republicans would “abolish the Education Department, cut the margin, take over the Justice Department and put the president above the law.” It’s good or bad. Forward or backward.”

Like Bishop, many other incumbents are prioritizing presidential politics. That’s certainly true for Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is ignoring Democrat Shawn Harris in northwest Georgia’s 14th District. First-term incumbent Republican Mike Collins in the 10th District east of Atlanta is supporting GOP candidates outside Georgia rather than fighting Democrat Lexy Doherty.

But at least they are recognized as real democrats. The party rejected its candidate in the 11th District, northwest of Atlanta. Katy Stamper, who won a Democratic primary, was a conservative activist when she ran under a different name. Democratic Party officials are instead urging their supporters to turn to Tracey Verhoeven against Republican incumbent Barry Loudermilk.

In the 12th District surrounding Augusta, Republican Rick Allen is seeking his sixth term against a familiar challenger – Liz Johnson, the Democratic nominee for the third straight election. In the 1st District on Georgia’s coast, Republican Buddy Carter is also fighting for his sixth term against Democrat Patti Hewitt.

Other Democratic underdogs include Bob Christian against incumbent Rich McCormick in the redrawn 7th District, Darrius Butler against incumbent Austin Scott in the 8th District in central and southern Georgia, and Tambrei Cash against incumbent Andrew Clyde in the 9th District in Northeast from Georgia.

The Republicans also have hopeless candidates. Democratic U.S. Reps. Lucy McBath and David Scott, who easily won primaries in heavily redistricted metro Atlanta districts, have an easier chance in the general election. McBath faces Republican Jeff Criswell in the 6th District and Scott faces Republican Jonathan Chavez in the 13th District.

In the 5th District in Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties, John “Bongo” Salvesen is competing with U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams. Longtime GOP activist Eugene Yu is running against Democrat Hank Johnson, whose 4th District now stretches from DeKalb County to southwestern Gwinnett County.

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Associated Press writer Charlotte Kramon contributed.