During the 1990s and 2000s, Florida was considered a major swing state — while its neighbor to the north, Georgia, was regarded as a Republican stronghold. But in 2026, Georgia is a swing state, and Florida is dominated by MAGA Republicans.

Georgia has two Democratic U.S. senators (Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock) and a conservative two-term Republican governor: Brian Kemp. President Donald Trump lost the Peach State in 2020 but won it in 2016 and 2024.

The political battle in the Peach State, however, goes beyond Republicans against Democrats, and finds traditional conservatives clashing with MAGA Republicans.

The Wall Street Journal's Lindsay Wise, in an Friday, February 27 post on X, formerly Twitter, observes, "Republicans fret over GOP infighting in Georgia. Rusty Paul, a former state GOP chair, warns, 'The dysfunction has damaged the ability of Republicans to elect candidates.' 'These idiots are making our jobs a lot easier' says Charlie Bailey, Dem state chair."

In a WSJ article published Thursday night, Wise and colleague Cameron McWhirter report that Republican infighting is affecting three key Georgia races in the 2026 midterms.

"Heading into midterms that will determine control of Congress," the Journal reporters explain, "party leaders in Atlanta and Washington had hoped to build party loyalty and unity in Georgia, a red-leaning state that has seen more blue upsets of late. Instead, they have scenes….. (that are) creating heartburn for Republicans who fear a family feud will help Democrats in a crucial election year…. MAGA activists, long accustomed to branding many elected Republicans as RINOs (Republicans in Name Only), are now turning on each other."

Wise and McWhirter continue, "Infighting has consumed three key races — governor, Senate and the House seat — spawning lawsuits, ethics complaints and vicious ads. The Federal Bureau of Investigation recently seized 2020 ballots from Fulton County, a move some Republicans fear will drag the party back into re-litigating an election voters are tired of hearing about."

Democrat Ossoff is seeking reelection, while Kemp is term-limited. And a U.S. House of Representatives seat in Georgia became vacant after former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — a MAGA Republican — resigned from Congress to express her disappointment with Trump's second presidency. In MTG's view, Trump has betrayed the America First agenda he campaigned on in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

One Peach State Republican who is sounding the alarm is Rusty Paul, mayor of Rusty Paul (an Atlantic suburb) and former chairman of the Georgia Republican Party.

Paul told WSJ, "The dysfunction has damaged the ability of Republicans to elect candidates."

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web