National GOP leaders target southwest Georgia race in hopes to unseat Democratic incumbent

A Republican runoff in southwest Georgia is gaining nationwide consideration.

What’s occurring: Jeremy Hunt and Chris West are vying for the possibility to unseat Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) — a virtually 30-year veteran of the Home.

• Hunt has pulled in cash and endorsements from GOP get together leaders hoping to flip the seat, together with from the likes of former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley who headlined a Columbus rally Wednesday for Hunt.

Why it issues: After redistricting, Georgia’s 2nd district — which stretches from Columbus right down to the Florida border — is taken into account the one aggressive Congressional race within the state in November.

The massive image: Hunt, an Military veteran and regulation college pupil, can also be gaining consideration as one among an unprecedented variety of Republican candidates of coloration working this yr. Hunt, who’s Black, tells Axios he was not recruited.

• In Columbus, Haley advised reporters she’s backing Hunt as a result of, “it’s not nearly successful races, it’s about getting the suitable varieties of folks in these races.”
• Haley mentioned she’s been targeted on “attempting to develop the tent” of Republican politics and promised elevated illustration for the GOP will occur this yr “in droves.”

The opposite aspect: West, an legal professional from Thomasville and officer within the state Air Nationwide Guard, argues he’s the “homegrown” candidate. He has attacked Hunt’s current transfer to the district and pulled in endorsements from state lawmakers and former major opponents. However his fundraising has lagged.

By the numbers: Hunt has out-spent West roughly 10 to 1, by not solely elevating almost double the amount of cash, but additionally by pulling in additional than $700,000 from nationwide exterior teams together with the American Patriots PAC.

What they’re saying: West tells Axios: “We wish to ship someone to Washington to characterize us, not Washington sending someone to us, to characterize us in Washington.”

• Hunt, however, factors to his household historical past within the district and tells Axios he’s “grateful” he’s been capable of elevate cash. “That is the rationale we’ve not been capable of beat Sanford Bishop,” he mentioned.

Zoom in: Hunt argues that he’s providing Black conservatives within the district a brand new possibility and that he’s “the one candidate who can defeat Sanford Bishop.”

• “We have been bringing our message to locations the place it hasn’t been earlier than, and we’re actually enthusiastic about that.” He tells Axios he’s visited Black church buildings which have by no means had Republicans converse from their pulpits.

What’s subsequent: The runoff is June 21. Rep. Bishop has almost $800,000 in his marketing campaign account.