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Trump Impeachment Star Witness Makes Longshot Run For Senate

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a former National Security Council official best known for his role in President Donald Trumpโ€™s first impeachment, announced Tuesday that he is entering Floridaโ€™s 2026 U.S. Senate race as a Democrat, challenging Republican Sen. Ashley Moody.

Vindman rose to national prominence in 2019 after testifying against President Trump over a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyโ€”testimony that became central to Democratsโ€™ first impeachment effort. That impeachment ultimately failed, with the Senate acquitting Trump in a 52โ€“48 vote largely along party lines.

In his campaign launch video, Vindman leaned heavily on footage from the impeachment proceedings, framing his candidacy as an extension of his opposition to Trump. โ€œThe last time you saw me was here,โ€ Vindman said, referring to the impeachment hearing. โ€œSwearing an oath to tell the truth about a president who broke his.โ€

Vindman went on to describe Trump as a โ€œwannabe tyrantโ€ and claimed the former president unleashed a โ€œreign of terror and retributionโ€ against him and his familyโ€”language that underscores how central anti-Trump activism is likely to be to his campaign pitch.

A political newcomer with no prior electoral experience, Vindman faces steep odds in Florida, a state that has moved decisively to the right in recent election cycles. Trump carried the Sunshine State by 13 points in November 2024, and Republicans currently hold every statewide elected office. Florida has not elected a Democratic senator since Bill Nelsonโ€™s narrow reelection victory in 2012.

Vindman, an Iraq War veteran, retired from the Army in 2020 after a decades-long military career. He later filed a lawsuit against Trump and several former aides, alleging โ€œintimidation and retaliation,โ€ but the suit was unsuccessful. His wife, Rachel Vindman, publicly criticized former President Joe Biden for declining to issue pardons to the couple at the end of his term.

โ€œWhatever happens to my family, know this: No pardons were offered or discussed,โ€ Rachel Vindman wrote in a post on Bluesky. She added that she โ€œcannot begin to describe the level of betrayal and hurtโ€ she felt toward the Biden administration.

Sen. Ashley Moody, a Republican and former Florida attorney general, was appointed to the Senate by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill the seat vacated by Marco Rubio after Rubio became secretary of state. Moody is running for reelection with the backing of President Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, giving her a significant institutional and fundraising advantage.

The Cook Political Report currently rates the race as โ€œsolid Republican,โ€ its strongest rating for GOP-held seatsโ€”reflecting Floridaโ€™s recent political realignment and Democratsโ€™ continued struggles to remain competitive statewide.

The 2026 contest is a special election to serve the final two years of Rubioโ€™s term. The winner will need to run again in 2028 to secure a full six-year term.

Vindman has lived in Broward County since 2023, a Democratic stronghold in South Florida. His twin brother, Eugene Vindman, represents a safely Democratic House district in northern Virginia, further highlighting the familyโ€™s close ties to Democratic politics.

Nationally, Democrats face a difficult map in 2026 as they attempt a longshot effort to retake control of the Senate. To do so, they would need to defend vulnerable seats in states like Michigan and Georgia while flipping at least four Republican-held seatsโ€”an outcome most analysts consider unlikely.

Trump Jokes About Keeping NYSE Bell For White House Ballroom

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President Donald J. Trump hosts a Rose Garden Club dinner in honor of Police Week in the White House Rose Garden, Monday, May 11, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

WASHINGTON โ€” President Donald Trump joked Monday that he planned to keep the New York Stock Exchange’s ceremonial opening bell for display in his new White House ballroom, prompting criticism from opponents and renewed attention to the administration’s ongoing renovation projects.

Trump became the first president to ring the NYSE opening bell remotely from the Oval Office during an event marking the launch of the administration’s new “Trump Accounts” investment program for eligible children.

After ringing the bell, Trump quipped, “I’m not giving it back,” before later repeating the remark during a White House luncheon.

‘They’ll Have To Fight Like Hell’

Speaking to guests in the Rose Garden, Trump again pointed to the bell and joked about making it part of the White House.

“There’s the bell right there. It’s so beautiful, I’m not giving it back. I don’t know if it’s supposed to go back, but they’re gonna have to fight like hell to get it back,” Trump said.

It was not immediately clear whether the president was speaking entirely in jest, and there has been no indication that the NYSE bell will remain at the White House.

Latest In Series Of Similar Jokes

The remark follows several similar episodes in recent months.

Last month, Olympic speed skating champion Jordan Stolz placed one of his gold medals around Trump’s neck during an event in Wisconsin. Trump joked that he was “keeping it” before returning the medal.

He made a similar quip after FIFA President Gianni Infantino brought the FIFA World Cup trophy to the White House ahead of next year’s tournament, later saying FIFA had permitted the trophy to remain on display.

Ballroom Project Draws Renewed Attention

Trump’s latest comments also focused attention on the White House ballroom project, one of the administration’s most ambitious renovation efforts.

The ballroom, originally projected to cost about $200 million, has since grown substantially in scope. Recent reports indicate estimated costs have risen to roughly $600 million, though the administration disputes claims that taxpayers will bear a significant portion of the expense.

The White House has said the ballroom will provide a secure venue for large state functions and official events.

Critics Question Costs

Democrats and preservation groups have continued criticizing the project, arguing the administration understated its expected cost and failed to adequately explain how construction will ultimately be financed.

The White House has maintained that private donors are funding much of the project and has defended the renovation as a long-overdue modernization of the executive mansion.

Whether Trump’s comments about the NYSE bell were serious or simply another off-the-cuff joke, they quickly became the latest flashpoint in the broader debate surrounding the president’s efforts to reshape the White House during his second term.

READ NEXT: Former Democrat Star Arrested On Drug Charges

Is Vivek Ramaswamy The GOPโ€™s New Trump โ€˜Liteโ€™?

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Vivek Ramaswamy speaking with attendees at the 2022 AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

ANALYSIS- Who is this skinny guy with the funny-sounding name? (That was his opening line at the debate). Vivek Ramaswamy wasnโ€™t supposed to be at the center of the first Republican presidential candidate debate in Milwaukee.

Ron DeSantis was supposed to be the viable GOP alternative to Donald Trump. A two-term governor of the third most populous state in the union, DeSantis, a Navy veteran who served in Iraq, is as conservative as they come.

And he has a proven track record of fighting the left in Florida – and winning.

But despite his solid bona fides and resume, DeSantis has a personality problem. He just doesnโ€™t exude charm or confidence, and thatโ€™s hurting him โ€“ a lot.

Meanwhile, Ramaswamy the 38-year-old Trump-defending, Cincinnati-born, biotech billionaire (worth at least $950 million), son of Pakistani immigrants, kind of stole the show at the debate.

According to former FBI agent and body language expert, Joe Navarro: โ€œ[Ramaswamy] consistently looked the most comfortable on stage.โ€

He was also the most openly and unabashedly pro-Trump. He was the first candidate to raise their hand when asked who would support the former President as the party nominee even if he is convicted on felony charges that heโ€™s facing.

He has also promised to pardon Trump if elected. But he went even farther than that.

โ€œPresident Trump, I believe, was the best president of the 21st century,โ€ Ramaswamy said in a clip from the debate Trump posted on Truth Social.

And Trump loved it.

โ€œThis answer gave Vivek Ramaswamy a big WIN in the debate because of a thing called TRUTH. Thank you, Vivek!โ€

The ever-smiling political newbie Ramaswamy, who seemed to be having a blast on stage, was also the target of many of his GOP rivals.

As TIME reported:

Maybe it was Ramaswamyโ€™s consistent and confounding defense of All Things Trump. Maybe it was his smooth talk and culture-war acumen. Maybe it was just the fact that Ramaswamy frankly does not care how things were done before and might just have enough self-made money to go the distance.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie snarled that he had โ€œhad enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like ChatGPT,โ€ an A.I. battery. He then dismissed Ramaswamy as someone on the same level as a political figure universally loathed in the GOP. โ€œThe last person in one of these debatesโ€ฆ who stood in the middle of the stage and said, โ€˜What is a skinny guy with an odd last name doing up here?โ€™ was Barack Obama. And I am afraid we are dealing with the same type of amateur standing on the stage tonight,โ€ Christie said.

But the quick witted Ramaswamyโ€™s riposte to Christie was a zinger: โ€œGive me a hug like you did to Obama, and youโ€™ll help elect me just like you did to Obama. Give me the damn hug, brother.โ€

Ramaswamy was referring to the 2012 incident when Christie was accused of โ€œhuggingโ€ Obama during his visit in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy which hit days before the 2012 presidential election.

Itโ€™s a claim that Christie has been denying since then, saying: โ€œI didnโ€™t hug him.โ€

Photos at the time seem to back up Christie, but the zinger still worked.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN under Trump, and ex-South Carolina governor, Nikki Haley, who is of Indian descent, hit Ramaswamy too: โ€œYou have no foreign policy experience, and it shows.โ€

I would agree with that assessment and believe he has made a few deeply flawed important national security statements – including on Ukraine and Israel.

But he is super smart and can learn quickly.

Then Vice President Mike Pence took a Christie-like jab at Ramaswamy, attacking the very same quality that originally helped raise Trump in the GOP base โ€“ that he is not a politician.

โ€œNow itโ€™s not the time for on-the-job training,โ€ retorted Pence. โ€œWe donโ€™t need to bring in a rookie. We donโ€™t need to bring in people with no experience.โ€

AS TIME noted: โ€œAttacks during debates are the norm but this was different. Ramaswamyโ€™s competitors really donโ€™t like him. Not even a little.โ€

However, there is one important GOP rival who seems to like Ramaswamy โ€“ Donald Trump. And that could be all that matters.

Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of Great America News Desk.

Mike Lindell Announces Run For Minnesota Governor

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It’s official…

On Thursday, MyPillow founder and Trump loyalist, Mike Lindell, announced he is running to become the next governor of Minnesota.

Lindell made the announcement onย Steve Bannonโ€™sย War Room. The CEO vowed to โ€œstand against rampant fraudโ€ under current Gov.ย Tim Walzย (D).

Lindell continued:

Iโ€™m still standing; MyPillow is still standing; and now I want you to know that I will stand for you as the next governor of the state of Minnesota. I will stand for you against the rampant fraud under Governor Walz. I will stand with you against a crime that threatens the safety of your family. I will stand for you against government-sponsored [unintelligible] your livelihood, via exploiting property taxes, excessive fees, and unfair sales tax. Iโ€™ll stand for you against unnecessary regulation that strangle the entrepreneurial spirit. I will stand for businesses of all sizes โ€” small, medium, large, doesnโ€™t matter. We need to defend those who provide our citizens with jobs that they need toโ€ฆ in turn take care of our families.

I will stand for those of you that are struggling with addiction. I will stand for you by making Minnesotaโ€™s education system one of the best. I am not alone in standing for you. Iโ€™ve never been alone. My Lord and Saviorย Jesus Christย has been standing beside me all the way. Through the good times and the bad, sheโ€™s never let me down; and with Godโ€™s grace, I will never let you down, either.

Mike Lindell via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Watch:

Lindell adds uncertainty in an already crowded Republican field that includes Lisa Demuth, the speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives; Scott Jensen, a former state senator and the 2022 Republican nominee for governor; Chris Madel, a prominent lawyer in Minnesota; and State Representative Kristin Robbins.

They are competing for the chance to challenge Gov. Tim Walz (D) who is running for a third term.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

Trump Endorses Ex-McCarthy Aide To Fill Open Seat

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

This is a big boost…

Former President Donald Trump has chosen to throw his support behind ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthyโ€™s chosen successor for his empty seat in Congress, Vince Fong.

Fong, a California Assembly member who worked as McCarthyโ€™s district director for almost a decade, is one of nine candidates running to replace him in Central Valley for his House seat.

Fox News has more:

“I am proud to join Californiaโ€™s Republican Congressional Delegation, and give Vince Fong my Complete and Total Endorsement!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Vince was one of only 6 Republicans in the State Assembly to stand with me, and reject the Second Impeachment Hoax. In Congress, Vince will work with me to Grow the Economy, Lower your Taxes, Cut Burdensome Regulations, Champion American Energy, and Protect and Defend the Second Amendment, which is under siege by the Radical Left.”

Endorsing Boudreaux last month, Grenell and Patel described him as the anti-establishment, America First choice.ย “Sheriff Mike Boudreaux is an America First patriot who has proven he is a principled fighter for freedom,” Grenell said, The Porterville Recorder reported at the time. “California needs leaders with courage to stand up to Washington bureaucrats. His record proves he is the right choice for the Valley.”

Patel said,ย “Sheriff Boudreaux is the kind of leader we need in Congress, one with the courage to stand up and fight, not back down, and put American first,” The Recorder reported.

Trumpโ€™s endorsement of Fong is likely to give him a boost with voters who may have been wary over his years-long ties to the GOP establishment. Fong wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, soon after the former presidentโ€™s announcement, “Thank youโ€ฆ for your endorsement! Letโ€™s get to work to secure the border, improve our economy, and defend our water and energy resources!”

Democrat State Senator Announces Switch to GOP

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Democrats via Pixabay images

As the Democrat Party steadily inches leftward toward outright disaster members are seeking to distance themselves from increasingly radical values by any means necessary.

A prominent West Virginia Democrat state senator officially flipped his registration to Republican this week. State Senator Glenn Jeffries submitted paperwork to join the Republican caucus after being elected in 2016 to serve as a Democrat. 

According to The Daily Wire, Republicans now hold a majority in the state senate of 31 senators. 

โ€œI have the greatest respect for the many friends and supporters I have been blessed with during my time in public office,โ€ Jeffries said in his announcement. โ€œI hope to continue and strengthen those relationships going forward.โ€

โ€œOur politics have gotten so personal and difficult. I want to make sure that I serve constituents and our state in a respectful, thoughtful way that leads to a better life for all West Virginians,โ€ he added. 

Jeffries didn’t disclose what exactly led up to his decision to abandon the Democrat Party however in a release, the West Virginia Democrats said the change was because of โ€œdiscomfort with Democratic Party values.โ€

His change in party status was first announced by the Putnam County Republican Executive Committee. 

โ€œI warmly welcome Senator Glenn Jeffries into the West Virginia Republican Party,โ€ Tony Hodge, the Putnam County Republican Party Chairman and the Co-Chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party, said. โ€œSenator Jeffries has proven himself to be a very hard worker for Putnam County. His efforts to improve infrastructure such as water and sewer services as well as road maintenance have been exemplary.โ€

Senate President Craig Blair welcomed Jeffries to the GOP in a statement this week.

โ€œWith Senator Jeffries as a member of our caucus, we stand at 31 members strong. Glenn has been a leader in the minority caucus with his work in economic development and infrastructure,โ€ Blair said. โ€œAs a successful small business owner, he knows what meeting a payroll, hard work, responsibility, and teamwork mean. I know he has been โ€“ and will continue to be โ€“ an incredibly valuable member of the West Virginia Senate.โ€

As progressive Democrats continue to push the party towards insanity will moderate Dems make the eventual switch to the GOP? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

Report: Alleged Trump Bomber Charged

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Political threats are on the rise…

On Monday, A man pleaded not guilty after he allegedly drove past a security checkpoint and claimed to have an explosive device at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Michigan, last week.

Steven William Nauta was arrested after police say he drove around barricades set up for Trumpโ€™s rally and told police that he had a C4 explosive, WOOD TV 8 reported. According to a court document, Nauta โ€œheld up a bottle to police and stated that it was โ€˜C4โ€™ explosive and that it was the โ€˜real deal.’โ€ After being told to stop by officers, Nauta allegedly โ€œsped offโ€ before stopping and throwing bags of fertilizer on the ground.

The Daily Wire reports:

โ€œWhen (Nauta) finally stopped, he removed bags of fertilizer from his vehicle and threw them on the ground to make it appear that they were explosives while disobeying officersโ€™ commands,โ€ the court document states. The 65-year-old was eventually detained by police, and the man allegedly told officers that he intended to make them believe that he had explosives. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said there was no active bomb in Nautaโ€™s vehicle.

Nautaโ€™s virtual court appearance from a jail cell was a bizarre scene as the man took his shirt off at one point and made profane hand gestures, according to WOOD TV 8. Nauta was charged with one felony count each of a false report or threat of terrorism, possession of bombs with unlawful intent, third-degree fleeing a police officer, and resulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer.

Kent County, Michigan, District Court Judge Nicholas Christensen set the manโ€™s bond at $1 million, and Nauta replied, โ€œWell, your honor, given my situation, I think Iโ€™m better off just staying in here. Very cruel world out there. Probably a lot better off here.โ€

The judge told Nauta, โ€œItโ€™s not lost on this court here today that your alleged actions were directed to stopping or hindering a fundamental aspect of this countryโ€™s democratic process: a political rally.โ€

The Michigan manโ€™s alleged bomb threat came just two weeks after Secret Service agents apprehended an alleged suspect with a gun near Trump’s golf course. Ryan Routh pleaded not guilty in court on Monday.

The Republican nominee said on Monday that he has requested more Secret Service agents, but alleged that Democrats are โ€œnot giving us the proper number of people within Secret Service that are necessary for Security.โ€

โ€œWe need more Secret Service, and we need them NOW,โ€ Trump wrote. โ€œIt is ELECTION INTERFERENCE that we have to turn away thousands of people from arenas and venues because it is not being provided to us.โ€

Former Georgia Republican Lawmaker Officially Ditches GOP For Dems

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A Republican lawmaker is jumping ship…

Geoff Duncan, who previously served as Georgia’s Lt. Governor, revealed he has officially registered as a Democrat.

Duncan, who served as lieutenant governor as a Republican from 2019 until 2023, wrote in an op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday that his path to becoming a Democrat began before Presidentย Donald Trumpย attempted to overturn his loss to former President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, which Duncan criticized at the time.

“My journey to becoming a Democrat started well before Donald Trump tried to steal the 2020 election in Georgia,” Duncan wrote in the newspaper.

“Thereโ€™s no date on a calendar or line in the sand that points to the exact moment in time my political heart changed, but it has,” he continued. “My decision was centered around my daily struggle to love my neighbor, as a Republican.”

Duncan pointed to several policy issues that played a part in his decision to change parties, criticizing Republicans for their handling of issues such as health care, Medicaid, gun safety, immigration and how to help poor people.

The former Republican said GOP lawmakers have argued for decades that the solution to not having health insurance is to have a job, but noted that most uninsured people in the Peach State live in working households yet do not have insurance because of affordability or eligibility. 

“So, the reality is they have a job, just the wrong job,” Duncan wrote. “One that doesn’t offer health insurance or generate enough spare money each month to afford their own health insurance plan.”

Duncanโ€™s party switch comes after the Georgia Republican Party expelled him from the party earlier this year over alleged disloyalty. The party’s resolution cited his endorsement of Biden in the 2024 presidential election and, once he dropped out, his endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as alleged efforts to undermine and sabotage someย Republican candidates, including current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and failed 2022 Senate candidate Herschel Walker.ย 

The former Republican also spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August in support of Harris.

Report: Youngkin’s Trump White House Hopes Dim After Virginia Setback

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President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

The political fallout from Virginiaโ€™s redistricting referendum is reaching beyond the state, cutting into Glenn Youngkinโ€™s standing at a moment that matters for his future.

In recent weeks, the former governor had been floated as a possible pick for a Trump administration role, with secretary of labor among the positions mentioned. He was seen as a Republican who could point to a win in a blue-leaning state and bring a different profile into a national cabinet.

That window now looks narrower.

Timing Undercuts Momentum

The criticism from inside GOP circles is landing at a particularly inconvenient time for Youngkin.

According to Politicoโ€™s Dasha Burns, administration officials are blaming him for not doing enough to stop the redistricting measure, which passed by a slim margin and could shift up to four House seats toward Democrats. Itโ€™s the kind of loss that gets noticed in Washington, especially when control of the House is on the line.

And itโ€™s not just about the outcome. Itโ€™s about perception.

A senior official, speaking anonymously, put it bluntly: โ€œHe doesnโ€™t have enough friends here.โ€ That comment points to a problem that goes beyond one referendum. It suggests Youngkin lacks the internal support that often decides who gets a seat at the table.

Burns continues:

Becca Glover, executive director of Youngkinโ€™s Spirit of Virginia PAC, defended the former governorโ€™s efforts, noting he raised and contributed nearly $500,000 to Virginians for Fair Maps and supported the Congressional Leadership Fund and Fair Mapsโ€™ fundraising efforts.

โ€œThe governor hit the campaign trail making many stops across the Commonwealth from Wise to Virginia Beach to Leesburg to motivate the grassroots to vote no,โ€ Glover said. โ€œHe was proud to be part of a team including Speaker [Mike] Johnson and other former governors to get out the vote.โ€

Glover also pointed to the dozens of interviews Youngkin did and his efforts at retail campaigning.

โ€œHe continues to ask that the Supreme Court of Virginia to strike down this unconstitutional power grab,โ€ Glover said.

A source briefed on White House discussions pushed back, saying Youngkinโ€™s actions helped set the stage for the current difficulties facing him and his party in Virginia.

โ€œLook, thereโ€™s plenty of blame to go around. But if Youngkin hadnโ€™t left the special session open, Louise Lucas would never have had the chance to ram through those maps,โ€ the person said, referring to the Democratic state senator who played a key role in advancing the redistricting effort. โ€œSo he has some responsibility for losing these seats.โ€

From Rising Star to Question Mark

Youngkinโ€™s appeal to national Republicans has always been tied to his 2021 victory and his ability to win in a competitive state without fully leaning into Trump-style politics.

But that brand cuts both ways.

Inside a Trump-aligned orbit, relationships and loyalty still carry more weight than rรฉsumรฉ lines. Another loss in Virginia, even one tied to a ballot measure, gives skeptics more reason to question how much influence Youngkin really has, both at home and in the broader party.

That matters when administration roles are being discussed behind closed doors.

Fewer Openings, More Competition

Even under the best conditions, cabinet-level positions are limited and highly competitive. Candidates need more than a strong narrative. They need advocates inside the administration willing to push their case.

Right now, the signals suggest Youngkin doesnโ€™t have that backing.

The criticism tied to the referendum may not be decisive on its own. But combined with lingering doubts about his connections in Washington, it adds friction at the worst possible time.

READ NEXT: Indicted Democrat Who Resigned From Congress Plans Reelection Bid

Georgia Official Who Broke With Trump In 2020 Announces Gubernatorial Bid

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Georgia National Guard from United States, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) has officially entered the race for governor, setting the stage for a competitive Republican primary to succeed outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp (R), who is term-limited. In a two-minute campaign launch ad released Wednesday, Raffensperger portrayed himself as a principled conservative willing to take tough stands, vowing to uphold the Constitution and defend Georgia values.

โ€œIโ€™m a conservative Republican, and Iโ€™m prepared to make the tough decisions,โ€ Raffensperger declared in the ad. โ€œI follow the law and the Constitution, and I always do the right thing for Georgia, no matter what.โ€

Watch:

The announcement pits Raffensperger against prominent GOP contenders including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who has received former President Donald Trumpโ€™s endorsement, and Attorney General Chris Carr, both of whom have strong support among grassroots conservatives. The winner of the GOP primary will likely face a high-profile Democratic opponent next November.

Revisiting the 2020 Election Clash With Trump

Raffensperger became a household name during the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, when Georgia became a critical battleground. After President Trump narrowly lost the state to Joe Biden by just under 12,000 votes, Trump and his allies raised concerns about election irregularities and widespread allegations of voter fraud. Raffensperger, as the stateโ€™s chief elections officer, found himself at the center of the storm.

Despite mounting pressure from Trump and many Georgia Republicans to challenge or overturn the results, Raffensperger maintained that his officeโ€™s audits and recounts showed no evidence of widespread fraud that would change the outcome. In a now-famous phone call, Trump urged Raffensperger to โ€œfindโ€ enough votes to change the result โ€” a conversation that later became a flashpoint in national debates over election integrity and presidential power.

While Raffenspergerโ€™s stance drew praise from Democrats and corporate media, it also alienated many in the Republican base, who felt he failed to investigate potential irregularities aggressively enough. That divide has lingered within Georgia GOP politics and is certain to shadow his gubernatorial campaign. Many grassroots conservatives remain skeptical of Raffensperger, while others credit him for adhering to the letter of the law during an unprecedented political firestorm.


A Crowded Field on Both Sides

The Republican primary is shaping up to be one of the most watched in the nation. With Raffensperger, Jones, and Carr already in the race, GOP voters will have a clear choice between different brands of Republican leadership โ€” from establishment-minded governance to more populist, Trump-aligned approaches.

On the Democratic side, the field is also taking shape. Declared candidates include former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former GOP Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, former state Sen. Jason Esteves, state Rep. Derrick Jackson, former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, and former pastor Olu Brown. There is also persistent speculation that Stacey Abrams could enter the race again, potentially setting up a dramatic rematch after her narrow 2018 and 2022 defeats.

Georgia has transformed into a true political battleground over the last decade, with Republicans still holding most statewide offices but Democrats making steady gains. The 2026 gubernatorial race will be pivotal in determining whether Georgia remains under GOP control or flips blue.

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates Kempโ€™s seat a โ€œtoss up.โ€

Can Raffensperger manage to make peace with Trump and secure his endorsement? Tell us what you think in the comments below!