Last week was a big week for Republicans in Georgia. It began with former University of Georgia football star Herschel Walker launching his U.S. Senate campaign with former President Donald Trump’s support. That was followed by state Sen. Burt Jones — an ardent Trump supporter and self-described “underdog”—kicking off his campaign for lieutenant governor.
Herschel Walker
The week ended with the annual 8th Congressional District GOP Fish Fry in Perry — one of the largest events on the state’s political calendar.
I witnessed Jones launching his campaign last Thursday before a packed crowd at the Idlewilde Event Center in Flovilla, near his hometown of Jackson. Nearly 1,000 turned out for the event featuring special guest former U.S Sen. David Perdue, who introduced Jones to the crowd. Many in the crowd speculated that Perdue might use the platform to hint at a challenge against Gov. Brian Kemp in 2022 May GOP primary— but Perdue gave no such indication.
Sen. Burt Jones
“When you look at small towns like Jackson, Ga., and like a lot of counties and cities here in our state, we all have a lot of the same needs,” Jones said. “We usually have needs like health care needs or we have transportation needs or we have job limitations or education limitations. So growing up in a small town, I’ve witnessed firsthand what it was like to watch people working together in communities and getting things done. I think Atlanta and D.C. could learn a lot from rural America.”
Calling himself an “underdog” in this race for lieutenant governor, Jones said that he has been looked at as an underdog since being a walk-on for the University of Georgia football team. But by the end of his career at UGA, Jones was a scholarship player and was elected special teams captain of the 2002 Bulldogs who won the Southeastern Conference championship.
He went on to say that his decision to run for office echoed a Winston Churchill quote about getting into politics for ambition but staying because of anger and frustration. “Well, I didn’t get into politics for ambition, but I’m staying in politics because of anger and frustration. I can tell you that we see so much potential for this state, but I see very little leadership,” the state lawmaker said.
Jones’ announcement sets up a GOP showdown among two state senators for the office. Senate President Pro Tem Butch Miller of Gainesville is also in the May primary. But Jones said Thursday, “I’m the only consistent conservative in this race. The only problem with that is sometimes I’ve got to stand alone.” (Several Democrats will also be jockeying for their party’s lieutenant gubernatorial nomination.)
The 8th District Fish Fry always draws candidates and Republicans from across the state. This year former governor and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue — who actually started the fish fry– welcomed everyone and reminded them that it’s important to remember all Republicans play for the same team.
“We are still on the same team, the best team in America: the Republican Party and the Georgia Republican Party,” Sonny Perdue said.
Many of the Republican candidates hoping to defeat Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in the 2022 November election were on hand — although Herschel Walker was not in Perry on Saturday. Military veteran Latham Saddler, whose following seems to be growing, was there campaigning. So was Kelvin King, who just completed a 30-day road trip across all 159 counties. Also, state Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black (now running for the U.S. Senate) was there handing out fresh watermelon to attendees– something he has done every year.
Secretary of State candidates Congressman Jody Hice, former Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle and T.J. Hudson, former Treutlen County probate judge, were there too. But Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, running for re-election, was noticeably absent.
State Senator Bruce Thompson, running for Labor Commissioner, spoke to the crowd. Labor Commissioner Mark Butler, running for re-election, didn’t show up.
