Five Republican candidates are vying for the party’s nomination in Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District to replace U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson. Brian Jack, who previously worked for former President Donald Trump, tried to make the debate about his ties to Trump, but the other candidates largely ignored Trump’s endorsement of Jack. Despite this, Jack continued to emphasize his work in the Trump administration, promising to continue that work if elected to Congress. The district covers areas along the Alabama border and east into the Atlanta suburbs.
While Crane suggested that Trump’s endorsement of Jack was an attempt by Washington insiders to choose the next representative, attacks on Jack, who is leading in fundraising, were minimal. Crane, Bennett, and Singleton positioned themselves as more conservative, with each stating they would join the Freedom Caucus if elected. Singleton, who had conflicts with GOP leadership in the state House, emphasized that he fights for good policy, not against people. All candidates were against recreational abortion and voiced support for more restrictions on immigration, with some supporting mass deportations.
The candidates were asked about their views on reproductive rights and abortion. Jack echoed Trump’s stance that restrictions should be left to the states, while Dugan noted his support for Georgia’s current abortion restrictions. The other candidates expressed no doubts about implementing strict legal standards that could lead to a total ban on abortion and in vitro fertilization. Despite no reliable evidence contradicting Joe Biden’s win in Georgia in 2020, all candidates believed Trump was the rightful winner. They also supported Republican-backed changes to the state’s election laws.
In terms of immigration policy, all candidates voiced support for more restrictions and some backed mass deportations of individuals who entered the country illegally. Jack stated he would have voted against a recent foreign aid package until border security concerns were addressed, while Dugan criticized the Biden administration’s proposed bill on border security. The candidates expressed mistrust of Dominion ballot marking devices, with Bennett echoing common Republican beliefs about the distrust of voting machines. Overall, the debate highlighted the candidates’ support for conservative policies and their alignment with Trump’s positions on various issues.
