Georgia GOP Convention Passes Resolution Opposing Raffenspergers Republican Candidacy

Georgia’s Republican Party has expressed its opposition to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger running as a Republican in future elections. This sentiment was overwhelmingly adopted at the state GOP convention in Dalton, where delegates passed a resolution stating the party should not allow Raffensperger to qualify as a Republican. This resolution reflects the deep-seated hostility many Republican activists hold towards Raffensperger due to his refusal to assist Donald Trump in overturning the 2020 election results in Georgia.

Alex Johnson, chair of the Georgia Republican Assembly, criticized Raffensperger for ignoring and disrespecting the party, particularly regarding attempts to change the election system. Johnson argued that Raffensperger’s actions have been hostile towards the party and its presidential nominee.

However, Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon clarified that despite the convention’s resolution, state law mandates the party to permit Raffensperger to run as a Republican. McKoon stated, “I don’t really see a way for the Georgia Republican Party to decline someone the opportunity to qualify.”

Raffensperger’s spokespersons did not immediately comment on the matter. The two-term secretary of state is contemplating a run for governor or U.S. Senate in 2026.

Georgia’s lack of party registration and open primary elections complicate determining true party affiliation. Some Republicans advocate for a system of voter registration by party and closed primaries, allowing only party members to vote. They also believe party officials should decide which candidates can run as Republicans.

The Georgia Republican Party’s executive committee previously expelled former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan after he endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris for president, banning him from party events and future Republican candidacies. However, the party rejected a 2023 attempt to ban ideological traitors from primary ballots, and judges blocked efforts by a county party in northwest Georgia to control local candidate qualifications.

In a Catoosa County ruling, the state Supreme Court did not address whether parties can create rules for candidate qualifications beyond those in Georgia law. Nathaniel Darnell, president of the Georgia Republican Assembly, compared this to forcing a Baptist church to ordain a non-Baptist, arguing it violates freedom of association. A federal judge rejected this argument, but some Catoosa County Republicans have appealed the case, awaiting a ruling from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Those advocating for gatekeeper roles generally aim to shift the party further to the right. The state convention called for repealing both the state income tax and local property taxes. Opponents argue that primary election voters should determine who embodies Republican principles. U.S. District Judge Billy Ray, a former Gwinnett County Republican Party chair, rejected the Catoosa County case, stating that a party’s associational rights are not absolute and that voters should decide primaries.