CHAMBLEE, Ga. (AP) — For most ambitious politicians, having the name recognition of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger would be considered a blessing.
“I think most people by now know who I am,” the Republican gubernatorial candidate quipped Tuesday while campaign workers erected signs bearing his name prior to an event in the Atlanta suburb of Chamblee.
However, that widespread recognition could hurt Raffensperger in next Tuesday’s primary election since it originated from his resistance to Donald Trump’s efforts to reverse Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential win. He stood among the few Georgia officials who drew Trump’s ire by refusing his false claims, and despite securing reelection in 2022, numerous Republicans continue to regard him as disloyal.
The 70-year-old politician is now investing millions of his personal funds in an effort to redefine his public image, returning to who he was prior to that controversial period.
“I really think I need to let people know that I’m actually a conservative Christian businessman,” Raffensperger recently told members of the media. “If you don’t realize, that’s where I cut my teeth.”
Whether GOP voters will overlook Raffensperger’s perceived betrayal within a party still devoted to Trump remains uncertain. He has encountered threats throughout recent years, and campaign spokesman Ryan Mahoney reported that Raffensperger received notification of a serious threat Monday while beginning a statewide campaign tour.
According to Mahoney, a Mississippi sheriff’s department obtained a four-page document containing Raffensperger’s photograph with “boom” inscribed on his forehead. Law enforcement officials have not yet confirmed any ongoing investigation.
Security personnel conducted a sweep of Macon airport before Raffensperger’s Tuesday arrival, during which a police dog discovered a suspicious item that required evacuation procedures. The object proved harmless, and Raffensperger delivered his remarks on the airport tarmac.
Raffensperger positions himself as an option for Georgia voters who might be growing weary of a costly and contentious primary battle between Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and healthcare mogul Rick Jackson, both spending enormous amounts attacking one another.
A Raffensperger television commercial shows Jones and Jackson shooting firearms recklessly skyward while Raffensperger methodically aims at individual targets. Another advertisement characterizes “creepy Rick Jackson” and “big baby Burt Jones” hurling mud at each other in a farm setting.
“All they have been talking about is each other and running each other down,” Raffensperger stated Tuesday. “No one’s talking about the most important person. And that’s our fellow Georgian.”
Raffensperger’s path to the nomination appears challenging. Should he advance to a June 16 runoff, the race could transform into a battle over conservative credentials, creating an atmosphere where Raffensperger would encounter even harsher criticism regarding his Trump disloyalty.
Given his direct oversight of election operations as secretary of state, Raffensperger has become a target for numerous Republicans, including those not particularly aligned with Trump. His relationship with Jones has been especially strained, as Jones was among 16 Georgia Republicans who proclaimed themselves “duly elected and qualified” Trump electors in 2020 despite Biden’s state victory.
Georgia Republican Party delegates voted in June to prohibit Raffensperger from seeking office under their party label, citing his opposition to Trump, though the party ultimately certified his candidacy. A judge dismissed a legal challenge last month attempting to remove him from the primary ballot.
Raffensperger’s campaign calculates that approximately one-fifth of the state’s Republican voters would never support him, a group they label “never-Raffensperger.”
Sabrina Mao, a Cobb County resident attending a Jones campaign event Tuesday in Smyrna, stated, “Everybody knows there is fraud in voting.”
“I don’t think he was doing anything good,” Mao commented about Raffensperger. “He’s just a follower. I don’t think he’s a leader.”
Raffensperger represents a return to traditional Republican politics. While competing campaigns feature loud country music and barbecue events, Raffensperger’s preferred approach involves addressing Rotary Club gatherings.
He sold his concrete reinforcement business, Tendon Systems, for an undisclosed sum in 2023. Through last week, Raffensperger had provided $6 million in campaign loans and allocated at least $4.2 million for advertising. These figures are modest compared to Jackson and Jones, who are self-financing their campaigns at historic levels. Jones has contributed $17 million to his campaign, while Jackson has invested a remarkable $83 million in his gubernatorial pursuit.
Beyond Jones and Jackson, Raffensperger faces competition from Republican Attorney General Chris Carr, who targets many of the same voter demographics as Raffensperger.
Democratic primary contenders include former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, state Sen. Jason Esteves, and former state Labor Commissioner Mike Thurmond.
Geoff Duncan, a former Republican lieutenant governor who also rejected Trump’s 2020 election reversal attempts, is seeking the Democratic nomination.
While Raffensperger defends Georgia’s election procedures, he quickly shifts discussion to his preferred topics of generating well-paying employment, reducing property taxes, improving school security, and supporting Trump’s manufacturing job initiatives.
“If you can create and, build great paying jobs for people, you can change their lives,” Raffensperger remarked last month when responding to a reporter’s inquiry about Georgia’s electoral system.
He regularly presents himself as opposing Democrat Stacey Abrams, a vocal critic of Republican election management, attempting to rally Republicans who strongly dislike Abrams.
“Brad Raffensperger secures Georgia’s elections like Joe Biden secures the border — and no amount of false advertising can erase that record,” Jones campaign manager Kendyl Parker wrote to television stations Tuesday, requesting removal of Raffensperger’s attack advertisement, which also references Abrams and Biden.
Critical supporters Raffensperger requires include suburban voters who have supported conservative candidates but remain skeptical of Trump. In 2022, for instance, many voted for Republican Gov. Brian Kemp while choosing Democrat Raphael Warnock for Senate due to concerns about GOP candidate Herschel Walker.
Katherine Weber of suburban Sandy Springs described herself as “Republican, but not pro-Trump” after voting last month.
“I voted for Brad Raffensperger,” Weber said. “I feel like he is a man of integrity and not swayed by politics. He doesn’t do whatever Trump says.”
