Trump Taken Aback: Raffensperger’s Victory Shakes Georgia GOP Primary
The victory of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in the Republican primary left former President Donald Trump “stunned,” as reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Raffensperger clinched the GOP primary last Tuesday with 52 percent of the vote, surpassing Rep. Jody Hice’s 33 percent, thereby avoiding a runoff election.
Trump, who had endorsed Hice, was taken aback by Raffensperger’s win, considering him as his preferred candidate. Raffensperger’s refusal to comply with Trump’s requests to uncover additional votes to dispute President Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia’s 2020 election further surprised the former president.
The incumbent secretary of state dominated most counties in Georgia during the primary, except for those within the predominantly rural 10th House district represented by Hice.
Sources close to Trump revealed that he anticipated Raffensperger’s defeat, given Hice’s emphasis on the incumbent’s management of the 2020 election.
However, Raffensperger’s victory with over 50 percent of the vote eliminated the need for a runoff, enabling him to shift focus to the upcoming fall contest. Meanwhile, the two Democratic contenders, state Rep. Bee Nguyen and former state Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler, are set for a June 21 runoff to determine their party’s nominee.
Trump’s influence within the Republican Party was tested by Raffensperger’s triumph, especially following Trump-backed JD Vance’s victory in the Ohio GOP primary.
Despite Trump’s persistent efforts to sway election outcomes, his influence was not absolute. Both Raffensperger’s win and Gov. Brian Kemp’s substantial victory in the gubernatorial primary over Trump-supported former Sen. David Perdue underscored the limits of Trump’s power.
While Trump continues to assert his claims regarding the 2020 election, key figures within the GOP, including former Gov. Chris Christie, advocate shifting focus towards the upcoming midterm elections and the 2024 presidential race.