The Georgia Republican Party removed Brian K. Pritchard, its first vice chairman, after an administrative law judge found he had voted illegally nine times after moving to the state. This decision comes amidst turmoil within the state Republican Party as supporters of Donald Trump have taken over at the grassroots level, leading to the ousting of previous leaders. Many established Georgia Republicans, including Gov. Brian Kemp, have distanced themselves from the state party organization, with Kemp opting not to appear at the state Republican Convention. The focus on election integrity and Trump’s false claims of fraud in the 2020 election has led to changes in Georgia’s election laws, with Governor Kemp signing a law that could ease the removal of people from the voting rolls through challenges to voter eligibility.
Under pressure from GOP activists, Republicans in Georgia passed a law in 2021 that shortened the time for requesting a mail-in ballot, restricted the use of ballot drop boxes, and made it illegal to provide food or water to voters waiting in line near a polling place. The case against Pritchard was particularly embarrassing to many Republican activists, as Administrative Law Judge Lisa Boggs found that he had lied when he registered to vote in 2008 by swearing he wasn’t serving a sentence for a felony conviction. Pritchard, who hosts an online conservative talk show, has denied any wrongdoing, claiming he didn’t believe he was still on probation at the time. Despite this, he was fined $5,000, ordered to receive a public reprimand, and repay the State Election Board for an investigation into the case.
Pritchard’s removal from the state Republican Party was seen as necessary by party leadership, who emphasized the importance of election integrity. Trump supporters within the party agreed with the decision, stating that the focus should be on electing Donald Trump and fighting for election integrity. Pritchard’s ouster could also impact a brewing fight within the party over who should represent Georgia on the Republican National Committee. Delegates will elect two other members, potentially including individuals like Committeewoman Ginger Howard, Committeeman Jason Thompson, and other challengers who have emerged due to the same forces that elected Pritchard last year.
Among the challengers for the Republican National Committee representation are David Cross, the party’s Second Vice-Chairman who has been a vocal defender of Pritchard, and his wife Shawn Cross. Other expected challengers include Jason Frazier, who has been active in making voter eligibility challenges, and Amy Kremer, a former Tea Party activist and ardent Trump supporter. Kremer led a group that obtained permits for the Jan. 6, 2021, “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, where some attendees later attacked the U.S. Capitol. The fight over who will represent Georgia on the Republican National Committee reflects the broader division within the state party between establishment Republicans and Trump supporters, as the party continues to grapple with the aftermath of the 2020 election and its impact on party leadership.
