Georgia GOP congressional hopefuls face off over foreign policy approach as Trump casts shadow

Georgia congressional hopefuls squared off in an Atlanta Press Club debate Sunday ahead of the state's May 21 primary election. John McCosh/Georgia Recorder

The five Republicans hoping to replace Congressman Drew Ferguson in Georgia’s District 3 after November’s election sought to set themselves apart Sunday when they took the stage in the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series.

Sunday’s debates also featured Democrats from District 6 and District 13 as well as Republicans from District 3. All of the debates are available to stream for free on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s website.

The District 3 candidates are Jim Bennett, a businessman, former police officer and state GOP committeeman; Mike Crane, a businessman and former state senator; Mike Dugan, an Army veteran and former state senator; Brian Jack, an advisor to former President Donald Trump and Philip Singleton, an Army veteran and former state representative.

Ferguson is not seeking reelection, and the winner of the May 21 Republican primary will have a clear path to victory in the conservative district, but they will still have to best the winner of the Democratic primary, retired physician Val Almonord or nuclear medicine technologist Maura Keller, in November.

The men all tried to cast themselves as the most conservative candidate in the race. All said they are pro-life, pro-military and pro-border security. By a show of hands, each of the candidates said Trump won Georgia in the 2020 election despite a lack of evidence that President Joe Biden benefited from widespread fraud. They all said they would support sending more money to Israel, and they all opposed sending money to Ukraine.

Bennett said he was the only one to announce his candidacy before Ferguson announced his retirement because he wants to bring a change.

“I entered this race on July 4, 2023, because specifically of Dr. Ferguson’s voting record,” he said. “In 2018, he voted against the Border Reform and Immigration Reform Bill. In 2021, he voted for Nancy Pelosi’s omnibus spending bill, which increased the size and scope of government by 40%. I won’t do either of those things, but I also won’t vote for every single debt ceiling increase as Dr. Ferguson did for the entirety of his tenure.”

Trump-endorsed Jack sought to play up his connection to the former president.

“I would put my head down and do the job that you hired me to do, as voters of our congressional district,” he said. “That’s what I did working for President Trump for the last eight years. You never saw my name in headlines, despite working for him in the White House and the Oval Office those four years, because I put my head down and did the job in front of us. And I think that’s the most important thing we can do, as members of Congress, is try to move the ball forward and push ahead to enact that America First agenda that unleashed our economy, secured our border, and enabled us to have the prosperity that we experienced.

Dugan, who served as state Senate majority leader, said his accomplishments, including passing the state’s six-week abortion ban and campus carry, show that he knows how to get things done.

“Everybody up here is a strong conservative,” he said. “The difference is I’m the only one that’s actually worked and delivered results. I’m not just going someplace to vote no all the time. I’m running for Congress because I’ve always been driven by a sense of duty and a focus on results. During my time as an Army ranger, I learned a lot about leadership. I learned that leadership means making tough decisions. It means working for others. It means admitting when you’re wrong and not making the same mistake twice. I carried those leadership lessons with me as majority leader in the Georgia Senate.”

Singleton, a founding member of the state Legislature’s Georgia Freedom Caucus who often butted heads with GOP leadership before being drawn out of his district, said he has legislative experience but isn’t afraid to shake things up.

“It’s important to be able to send people that know how to get things done and don’t buy into the rhetoric that you have to be go along get along all the time to get things done. Statesmanship matters, Reagan Republicanism matters. So, I always will fight for issues and not fight against people. I always focus on what’s good for the district and I will always represent the people of Georgia’s 3rd.”

Crane said he is the outsider in the race.

“As this is being aired, starting tomorrow, you get to decide who the next congressman from the third district is going to be, certainly on the Republican side. And so my question to you is, do you want to take responsibility for that vote? Or do you want to let Washington and the D.C. insiders do what they’ve done for the last several cycles? And that is choose the next representative from the 3rd District.”

Absent Incumbents

Sunday’s debates also featured Republicans opposing Congressman Sanford Bishop in District 2 as well as Democrats hoping to challenge Congressman David Scott in District 13 and Congresswoman Lucy McBath in District 6.

Neither incumbent showed up to the debate, and the challengers took several opportunities to point that out.

“I think it does a disservice to our communities,” said former East Point City Council Member Karen Rene, who is challenging Scott. “It is important as elected officials to be engaged, to be where the residents are and to make sure that we are listening and being involved. This is a process where residents, our constituents, have an opportunity to not just hear our voice but understand where we are going and our, perhaps, ideas of helping our communities grow.”

Another Scott challenger, attorney Brian Johnson, was more blunt.

“Congressman Scott, why are you a Democrat? What is it that you believe, what is it that you’ve done that makes you a Democrat? You call yourself a conservative Democrat or a moderate Democrat, but what is it that you believe about our district? What are you doing for our district and how long do you plan to hold on in office? Do you plan on dying in office or do you plan on retiring in office?”

Marcus Flowers, an Army veteran with eyes on Scott’s seat, also had harsh words for the 20-plus year incumbent.

“The first thing you have to do to win a fight is to show up,” he said. “My opponent, Mr. Scott, couldn’t even do that today. You know, according to his colleagues, he isn’t even showing up in Congress for you, for me. That’s the biggest thing that needs to change.”

Cobb County Commissioner Jerica Richardson, who is running against McBath, was more diplomatic in her criticism of her opponent.

“I have a significant amount of respect for the congresswoman and appreciate all that she has done to serve us in the House, but I really do believe that if we’re going to look at this new majority Black district, the newest one in the state of Georgia, we’ve got to be able to be there for people, to be there to listen to what those needs are, because the communities that comprise this district are incredibly diverse with all kinds of needs,” she said.

McBath chose to run in the 6th District after state lawmakers redrew her 7th District to be friendlier to a Republican. She switched from the 6th to the 7th in 2022 after a similar redraw.

Foreign policy

Most of the candidates across the debates were questioned about Congress’ recent $96 billion foreign aid bill which provides money for Ukraine and Israel, and their responses illustrated divides in both parties.

The District 6 hopefuls both said that they support the right to protest, a reference to increasing tensions at universities including in Georgia over Israel’s killing of Palestinian civilians, but would have voted yes on the bill.

“I believe in protests,” said state Rep. Mandisha Thomas. “I’m originally from Oakland, California, the land of protesting. We did so many protests, and I don’t think that it’s out of bounds for this social time. I am in favor of the foreign aid package of $96 billion dollars. And part of my leadership is to actually continue with our constituents and having them come in and voice their concerns about how this actually works.”

Rashid Malik, an entrepreneur challenging Scott, advocates for an independent Palestine.

“As we move forward with the present situation in the world, I came to the conclusion we have got two major issues now,” he said. “One is to have 100% peace in the Middle East and the world, and second is preventing World War III. Once we have World War III, there will be no issues to talk about.”

Rene and Brian Johnson called for a cease fire, while Flowers said the U.S. should “ensure we support democracies like Ukraine and Israel all over the world.”

Over in District 2, Chuck Hand, a construction superintendent, said he opposes foreign aid because the U.S. can’t afford current spending levels.

“You can’t spend what you don’t have,” he said. “It’s as simple as that. And by all means, they have my prayers. They don’t have my dollar because I don’t have a dollar to give.”

Wayne Johnson, a businessman and former official in the Trump administration, said foreign aid is nuanced.

“There is a role for foreign aid,” he said. “Foreign aid is a form of international diplomacy. You know, I spent a lot of time in South America, and I know that if we do not provide elements of aid to South America, China will. And so, consequentially, we’re in a little bit of an international race to see who can win the most favor, but we’ve got to put limits on just what’s the price tag for that favor.”

Other District 2 Republican hopefuls said they want to cut spending and put America first, but Israel is a special case.

“I believe that we should take care of the issues here at home before we start looking at Ukraine and all the frivolous spending that were given to them,” said Michael Nixon, a Navy and Air Force veteran and director at a rural hospital.

“Israel was our ally for many, many years, and we should never walk back on Israel,” he added. “When it comes to Israel, you have to pick a side. But I will tell you, the God of Israel will win, and I stand with Israel and America should stand with Israel, and this administration shouldn’t walk back from Israel.”

Regina “Reggie” Liparoto, a substitute teacher with her eyes on Bishop’s job, agreed.

“We have to be careful who’s involved with that and who wants the new world order,” she said. “If you don’t know what that means, I suggest you look up and read a little bit more about it. But we have to look at America first. And we do need to support Israel, it’s very important. Israel is the chosen people, we have to do that.”

Early voting starts Monday for the May 21 primary election and runs through May 17. During early voting, you can cast your ballot at any location within your county, though if you vote on Election Day, you can only do so at your assigned precinct. For more information, visit the Georgia secretary of state’s My Voter Page.

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