ATLANTA (AP) — Fallout from the 2020 presidential election feels like it may never end in Georgia.
Maybe more any other state, the decisions made after Democrat Joe Biden's narrow win — and Donald Trump's false claims of victory — still define politics in the Peach State.
In Georgia, 2020 may guide the Republican choice for governor in 2026, influence the Democratic primary for governor, and resonate in the U.S. Senate race.
Brad Raffensperger, the Republican secretary of state who rebuffed Trump's efforts to overturn Biden's Georgia victory is running for governor in 2026. Former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who also opposed Trump's push, is seeking the governorship as a “proud Democrat.” The current lieutenant governor, Republican Burt Jones, wears his support of Trump's 2020 cause as a badge of honor.
And Georgia's incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is seeking reelection, might not have won in January 2021 but for 2020's chaotic fallout.
“It’s all tied up in the staying power of one Donald Trump,” said Jay Morgan, former executive director of the Georgia Republican Party, explaining why ripples from 2020 still matter.
Some Republicans fear showcasing those differences could repulse some voters. Buzz Brockaway, a former Republican state legislator, said there's a chance “relitigating the 2020 election" will dominate some Georgia races. “If you’re a Republican, that’s bad news, because no one cares beyond a few activists," he said.
Trump falsely claims 274 FBI agents were placed in the January 6 crowd. DOJ report found no evidence FBI agents orchestrated the Capitol riot. 1,400 arrests made and 1,000 convictions tied to the...