Georgia Republican Party Chairman David Shafer’s announcement yesterday that former President Donald Trump will arrive in Columbus on June 10 to address the party’s state convention underscores how important Georgia is in the 2024 election cycle, and it is causing other GOP presidential candidates to think about coming to Columbus.
Former President Donald Trump is returning to Georgia
Insiders say that even though GOP Gov. Brian Kemp is skipping the convention (he is not a Shafer fan), expect top General Assembly Republican leaders to be there.
“President Trump will be heading a lineup of speakers that includes Senator Kelly Loeffler, who has done a tremendous job as chairman of Greater Georgia; our great Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, who will be sponsoring a special event with Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, newly elected Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson, and longtime Public Service Commissioner Bubba McDonald,” Shafer writes in a letter to convention delegates.
“We will also be hearing from outstanding members of our Congressional Delegation: Congressman Rick Allen, Congressman Andrew Clyde, Congressman Mike Collins, Congressman Barry Loudermilk, Congressman Rich McCormick and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene,” he wrote.
Shafer is not running again for the chairmanship at the convention, so there’s already a three-way race to succeed him.
As for the former president, polls in Georgia and nationwide show he is the leader by far among likely Republican voters—so far– to capture the party’s 2024 presidential nomination. A recent University of Georgia poll shows Trump backed for president by 50 percent of likely Georgia GOP voters. The next best Republican is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (who isn’t even a presidential candidate yet). He came in far behind with 20 percent.
