A push by Georgia Republicans to block their own Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, from running as a Republican could fizzle out just as fast as it started. But the political fireworks it sparked may keep burning well into the 2026 cycle.
At the state GOP convention in Dalton this past weekend, delegates voted overwhelmingly for a resolution aimed at disqualifying Raffensperger from the party’s future primaries. The motion may read like a declaration of war — but legally, it doesn’t carry the muscle to exile him. Politically though? That’s a different story.
GOP Resolution Targets Raffensperger After Years of Tension
Saturday’s resolution was less about procedure and more about protest. Party delegates, many of whom still hold a grudge over the 2020 election fallout, used the platform to go after a familiar foe.
In their eyes, Raffensperger’s greatest sin wasn’t just his refusal to help Donald Trump overturn the 2020 election. It was the way he stood firm publicly — refusing pressure, affirming results, and even leaking the now-infamous phone call where Trump urged him to “find 11,780 votes.”
The resolution stated that the GOP “shall not take any action to allow Brad Raffensperger to qualify as a Republican.” But experts note that resolutions don’t create enforceable law — they express opinion.
Legal Reality: Parties Can’t Just Ban Candidates They Dislike
So can a political party actually stop an elected official from running with their label? Not quite.
Georgia law doesn’t give parties unilateral power to bar candidates from running in their primaries. Once Raffensperger submits the required paperwork and fee, he’s in — assuming he meets basic eligibility. That’s the standard for everyone, from county commission hopefuls to U.S. Senate contenders.
And so far, the Secretary of State hasn’t blinked. In fact, Brad Raffensperger hasn’t even announced whether he’s running again in 2026. But it’s not like he’s hiding, either. He’s made appearances in national media, criticized conspiracy theories, and spoken at public events. He’s still out there — and very much a Republican.
The Real Battle Is Internal: Party vs. Officeholder
Alex Johnson, who leads the Georgia Republican Assembly, wasn’t shy about his reasons. He said Raffensperger “generally ignores and disrespects” party leadership and refuses to support election-related reforms favored by the base.
“He doesn’t listen to anything that the Republican Party has asked him to do,” Johnson told reporters on Monday. “He is hostile and has been hostile towards our presidential nominee and now a person who is president.”
That’s blunt. And it reflects a growing divide inside the GOP — between elected Republicans in statewide office and party activists who think those officials have lost touch.
Some Republican insiders argue the party is burning political capital by going after one of its own. Others say purging “disloyal” members is the only way to preserve what they see as the party’s true identity.
No Stranger to Intra-Party Fights
This isn’t Raffensperger’s first rodeo.
He was censured by county GOP organizations back in 2021. He faced death threats after the 2020 election. And in 2022, he ran for reelection anyway — facing a Trump-endorsed challenger in the primary and still winning handily.
That’s not just a win. That’s surviving the full weight of MAGA-era opposition.
So if the goal now is to kneecap him before he even steps into the ring again, history suggests that’s easier said than done.
-
In the 2022 GOP primary, Raffensperger won with 52% of the vote.
-
Trump-backed challenger Jody Hice came in a distant second with about 33%.
-
Raffensperger carried 158 of Georgia’s 159 counties in that primary.
The Power of the Base vs. the Ballot Box
Here’s where things get messier.
State party conventions are dominated by the most dedicated activists. They show up. They vote. They shape resolutions. But they’re not always representative of the broader Republican electorate.
Raffensperger’s support base doesn’t look like the convention hall in Dalton. It looks more like the suburbs around Atlanta — moderate Republicans, independents, and even some crossover Democrats who supported him because he didn’t budge under pressure.
So while grassroots fury can make headlines, it doesn’t always translate into votes. And that’s what makes the whole thing tricky. If Raffensperger runs again, the primary voters — not party leaders — will make the final call.
Georgia GOP’s Bigger Struggle: Defining Who Belongs
This skirmish says less about Brad Raffensperger and more about what the Georgia Republican Party is turning into.
It’s a fight over the soul of the party, yes, but also over control. Who gets to decide who’s a “real” Republican? The voters? The convention crowd? Trump?
Right now, the party is sending a message. But there’s a good chance that message gets overridden — again — by voters who are tired of loyalty tests and more focused on competence.
And then there’s this: for all the fury, the party rewarded Officer Wilson — the cop who rescued a kitten from under a McDonald’s car last week — with a sweet tea. Maybe it’s a stretch, but the symbolism’s hard to ignore. Sometimes, doing the right thing isn’t popular. But it still counts.
