Geoff Duncan, Georgia governor who fought Trump’s false electoral fraud claims, won’t search re-election

Top line

Georgia Governor Geoff Duncan (R) announced on Monday that he would not run for a second term for Georgia Governor Price for rejecting false claims made by former President Donald Trump over widespread election fraud.

Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan (R) speaks from his desk on the floor of the Georgia State Senate … [+] February 4, 2020 in Atlanta. (AP Photo / John Bazemore)

Associated press

Key factors

Though Duncan never specifically mentioned Trump in his announcement, he said, “The national events of the past six months have deeply affected my family in ways I would never have imagined.”

Duncan, who was elected with 52% of the vote in 2018, said he now plans to create a national organization called “GOP 2.0” specifically aimed at restoring the “empathy” and “respectful tone” Duncan claims he has left a lot with the Republican Party.

Duncan and other top Republicans like Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger have suffered a massive political blow among Trump supporters since the election after infuriating the former president by refusing to help him with the election results by 2020 to reverse in Georgia.

Standing for re-election, Kemp now faces a major challenge from ex-MP Vernon Jones, loved by many Trump supporters, while lawmakers have stripped Raffensperger of his role as chairman of the state election committee.

Trump has encouraged Kemp to a primary challenge several times, but he has yet to provide confirmation for the governor’s race.

Crucial quote

“It always feels coldest just before the sun comes up. I believe this is exactly when the Republican Party is trapped and I am determined to do my part to make the better days for our Conservative Party to create all over the world. ” Country, “said Duncan.

Key background

Trump was the first Republican to lose the long-reliable red state of Georgia since George HW Bush in 1992 – a loss Trump refused to accept. He repeatedly urged the Republican leadership of Georgia to reverse the election result there, including a damned exchange calling on Raffensperger to “find” the votes needed to undo Trump’s loss – but Trump’s demands and claims were repeated declined. The governance-Trump rift was a major backdrop during the critical Georgia Senate runoff election in January. Democrats managed to oust both GOP incumbents and take control of the Senate by winning both seats – a loss that many have attributed to Trump’s hostile rhetoric and obsession with the state’s election results.

tangent

Duncan, who oversees the Senate, also lost support from the Trump-backing base in March when he boycotted the trial over a bill tabled by the GOP aimed at severely restricting access to postal votes.

Surprising fact

Kemp took most of the heat off Trump after the election, but the governor’s support for a restrictive new electoral law appears to have pretty much bolstered his support. A poll by April Morning Consult found that Kemp’s approval rating among Republican voters stands at 74% – an increase of 15 percentage points since the electoral law was signed.

further reading

‘Feel the Vern’: Trump’s favorite and ex-Democrat Jones calls on Georgia Gov. Kemp (Forbes) out

Georgia GOP’s attempt to restrict postal voting results in boycott of own party (Forbes)

“Just Plain Wrong”: Georgia GOP officials slam Slam Trump’s “inappropriate” election fraud appeal with Secretary of State (Forbes)

Georgia GOP election officer blames Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene for the loss of the Senate (Forbes)