Amy Kremer, a conservative activist from suburban Atlanta, has been at the forefront of the fight to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Standing near the White House on January 6, 2021, she addressed thousands of Donald Trump supporters, claiming that the election was fraudulent. Kremer’s group secured the permit for the “Save America” rally where Trump urged the crowd to “fight like hell,” and she was instrumental in fundraising for the “Stop the Steal” movement, which propagated the false narrative that Biden’s victory was stolen.
As Trump gears up for a potential return to the White House, Kremer is vying for one of two Georgia seats on the Republican National Committee. The upcoming state party convention is expected to reveal how deeply entrenched the GOP is in the aftermath of the 2020 election, not just in Georgia but across the country.
Despite Kremer’s criticisms of the RNC for not doing enough to support Trump and his allies, Georgia’s GOP has experienced a fracture with Governor Brian Kemp establishing a separate political operation after Trump denounced him for accepting the election results. This divide escalated with some party leaders endorsing former U.S. Senator David Perdue’s failed challenge to Kemp in 2022. The state party remains a significant player in grooming future candidates, especially as Georgia’s Republican-dominated legislature continues to enact laws reflecting activist demands.
The state convention delegates will decide on new representatives for the national party’s governing body, with incumbents Jason Thompson and Ginger Howard seeking re-election. Both Thompson and Howard have been vocal proponents of election integrity, but they are also emphasizing the need for experienced leadership to secure resources for the upcoming November election in a state where Democratic victories have upended longstanding Republican control.
The challenges facing Georgia’s GOP are manifold, with internal conflicts and external pressures contributing to a fractured party landscape. Thompson is facing scrutiny for his family’s connections to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, while Howard is being criticized for not being assertive enough. The upcoming state convention will be a critical juncture for the party to decide its future direction and leadership.
In the midst of these internal struggles, grassroots engagement and election integrity are emerging as key issues for the Georgia GOP. Challengers like David Cross and Jason Frazier are pushing for a more aggressive stance on election integrity, arguing that it must be a top priority moving forward. The sense of grievance and desire for confrontation among challengers reflects a broader sentiment within the party that the system is rigged and in need of significant overhaul.
As the state convention approaches, the Georgia GOP finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with internal divisions and external pressures. The outcome of the convention and the selection of new leadership will be pivotal in shaping the party’s trajectory moving forward, as it navigates the challenges of a post-2020 political landscape. The Georgia Republican Party remains an influential player in state politics, with the potential to shape the future of the party both in Georgia and on a national level.
