Amid FBI investigation, Trump's 2020 election obsession is still shaping Georgia politics

FBI Probe Brings 2020 Election Obsession Back into Focus in Georgia's Gubernatorial Primary

Six years after President Donald Trump's unsuccessful attempt to overturn the 2020 election results, his obsession with the event continues to shape Georgia politics. The FBI's latest investigation, which centered on Fulton County elections facility records related to the 2020 contest, has reignited tensions between Trump and his Republican allies.

Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who was part of Trump's slate of presidential electors in 2020, has secured Trump's endorsement for the crowded primary election for governor. Other prominent Republicans vying for the top spot, including Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and state Attorney General Chris Carr, have been at odds with Trump over his false claims about voter fraud.

The FBI search, which was a surprise development, may help Jones energize MAGA loyalists but could also pose risks in the general election. Analysts argue that by focusing on the 2020 election, Jones is attempting to demonstrate loyalty to Trump, which could resonate with Republican primary voters.

Despite this strategy, there are concerns among Democrats that it could backfire if Jones advances through the spring gubernatorial primary. A Democratic nominee could capitalize on public disapproval of Jones's involvement in Trump's post-election campaign and pivot towards addressing pressing issues like the cost of living.

Georgia remains a swing state, and the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the governorship as a toss-up. The focus on the 2020 election may also distract voters from other concerns, according to Keisha Lance Bottoms, Democratic gubernatorial candidate.

Meanwhile, some Republicans are speaking out against Jones's approach, with former DeKalb County CEO Mike Thurmond labeling him "a politician who bows to Trump's delusions." Former state Sen. Jason Esteves has taken a different stance, questioning whether Duncan is the right person to push back against Trump and Jones after he previously stepped aside for Burt Jones.

As the primary election approaches, Georgia Republicans are once again entangled in a contentious debate over the legitimacy of the 2020 results. The FBI probe serves as a reminder that this controversy remains at the forefront of Republican politics, with far-reaching implications for the state's leadership and voters alike.

I'm not sure why Trump's obsession with the 2020 election is still such a big deal six years later... like, we got it, he lost . Can't they just move on? The FBI's investigation might be a good thing for Jones to get some attention, but it also puts him at risk in the general election if voters get tired of all the drama . It's just gonna make Georgia politics so much more confusing. And what's up with the Republican candidates not being able to agree on this stuff?

lol what's up with trump still being obsessed over the 2020 election like, dude it's already been 6 years can't he just move on? and now burt jones is trying to ride this coattails all the way to governor i mean idk if it'll work for him but it's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out in the primary Democrats are already capitalizing off of his involvement with trump's post-election campaign and it could backfire big time

omg u guys i cant even right now lol the Feds are back in on this whole trump voter fraud thing and it just brings me back to 2020 when i was literally glued to my screen watching the election unfold i remember feeling so anxious and frustrated with the whole situation... and now it seems like burt jones is trying to ride that wave into the governor's primary election but let's be real if he loses to dems who's gonna win? also what's with trump's obsession with this stuff? cant he just chill for once?

This guy Jones is basically trying to say "Hey, I'm loyal to Trump, even if it means being part of the crazy train" like he's some kind of award winner . Newsflash Burt: your strategy isn't a charm . If you're going to play with fire, be prepared for the flames to get out of control . And btw, who else is gonna capitalize on public disapproval? The democratic nominee probably just wants to be the voice of reason . Anyway, it's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out... or not

omg can't believe trump is still dragging up the 2020 election like it's still a thing in 2025 #TrumpStillHates2020Election

anyway so Jones gets Trump's endorsement which is wild considering all the drama between them in 2020 #JonesGotTrumpsEndorsement

i feel bad for democrats though they gotta deal with Jones trying to prove his loyalty to trump and it might backfire on him #JonesLoyaltyTest

and what about other republicans like raffensperger and carr? are they just gonna sit back and let Jones take the lead? #MagaLoyalists

cost of living is a huge issue in georgia btw not just politics #GeorgiaGubernatorialPrimary

man i'm so done with trump and his crew always stirring up drama like this the whole 2020 election thing has been a huge distraction from actual issues in georgia now it seems like lt gov jones is trying to ride the coattails of trump's fame and get elected governor, but honestly i think he's just gonna end up losing to whoever the dems choose and even if he does win, do we really want a politician who's only loyal to one guy?

OMG I'm literally amazed how some people can still bring up the 2020 election six years later... like what even is the point? It's just a waste of time and energy that could be spent on actual issues affecting Georgians, you know? Like the cost of living and education. And yeah, Burt Jones trying to ride Trump's coattails might not pay off in the long run... I mean, come on, people are smarter than that

I'm still surprised how obsessed Trump is about the 2020 election results six years later. It just shows how polarizing he can be. As a neutral observer, I think it's interesting that Lt. Gov Burt Jones is trying to tap into that same enthusiasm by getting Trump's endorsement, but it also risks alienating more moderate voters who aren't as invested in the drama surrounding Trump's post-election claims .

The concern among Democrats about Jones's strategy is valid - if he advances through the primary, they could capitalize on public disapproval and pivot towards addressing pressing issues like the cost of living. It's also worth noting that Georgia remains a swing state, so whoever wins the primary might still face significant opposition from voters who aren't directly aligned with Trump or his agenda .

The focus on the 2020 election is likely to distract voters from other concerns, but it's also clear that Republicans are still deeply divided over the legitimacy of those results. As we head into the primary election, I think it'll be fascinating to see how this plays out and what issues really resonate with Georgia voters

omg can't believe we're still seeing this drama unfold six years later it's like the 2020 election is still a superpower in Georgia politics and i gotta wonder if the FBI search is actually gonna energize MAGA fans or create more problems for burt jones what's next? will we see more of this obsession with voter fraud or are folks starting to move on from it?

I'm low-key worried about what's gonna happen in Georgia's gubernatorial primary . Burt Jones trying to ride Trump's coattails is a pretty bold move, but I don't know if it's gonna pay off. The thing is, by focusing on the 2020 election, he's essentially saying "hey, I'm still with Trump" - and that might be a major turnoff for some voters who are already sick of the drama . Meanwhile, Democrats are onto it too, and if they can capitalize on Jones's involvement in Trump's post-election campaign, it could get ugly fast . One thing's for sure: Georgia's governorship is gonna be super contentious this spring...

man I'm so done with trump's obsession over the 2020 election it's like he can't move on from his own ego but honestly if burt jones is trying to prove his loyalty by bringing this up it's just gonna backfire in a big way democrats are right we need to focus on real issues like the cost of living and healthcare not some tired conspiracy theory about voter fraud and let's be real whoever wins the primary better be ready to move forward with something positive for georgia not stuck in the past

It's wild how much attention Trump still gets six years after the fact Like, can't we just move on? His obsession with the 2020 election is still causing a stir in Georgia politics and it's getting old. The guy's got a whole new primary to focus on but instead of talking about actual governance stuff he's still going on about voter fraud and that's not exactly helping him out Jones might be able to ride the Trump wave for now, but I'm sure Democrats are gonna have fun with this as an election issue

omg I cant even believe how much drama is going on in Georgia rn! it's like they're trying to out-do each other on who's most obsessed with trump lol Burt Jones is lowkey my least fave candidate tho I mean idk about his strategy, is he really gonna try to ride the wave of trump's false claims? but at the same time, idk how he can just ignore all the ppl who are still hurting from the 2020 election it's like, cant we all just move on and focus on the issues that matter now?!

I'm not buying the drama around Trump's obsession with the 2020 election . It's just a distraction from real issues like the cost of living in Georgia. Jones is trying to get ahead by kissing up to Trump, but it'll backfire when voters realize he's more concerned about being part of the MAGA crowd than addressing their problems. The FBI probe might energize some Republicans, but it's not going to solve anything. We need leaders who focus on the issues, not just who's most loyal to Trump

It's crazy how 6 years later the 2020 election is still haunting Georgia politics. This just shows how Trump's obsession with voter fraud can be super toxic to some people. Jones trying to get Trump's endorsement might help him in the primary, but if he gets too close to Trump's agenda, it could hurt him in the general election . As a retiree, I've seen my fair share of politics, and this whole thing just seems like more division and less about the issues that matter.

I think it's super convenient that the FBI is digging up old dirt on the 2020 election now that Burt Jones is running for governor... like he needs some kinda validation from Trump to be a serious contender? And what's up with all these Republicans complaining about Jones being "loyal" to Trump? Shouldn't they be more worried about Jones trying to push through some actual policy changes instead of just toeing the party line?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing... I mean, it's been six years since Trump lost the election, but he just can't seem to let it go, right? And now Burt Jones is riding that wave of "MAGA loyalty" and it's getting me worried. It feels like they're more focused on appeasing Trump than actually addressing the real issues in Georgia... like the cost of living and stuff. I guess it's possible that Jones could energize some voters, but at what cost? If he loses to a Democrat who can pivot towards those actual issues, it could be a big blow for Republicans.

And honestly, I think Jones is playing with fire by trying to prove his loyalty to Trump. It's just gonna come back and bite him... or worse, hurt the Republican ticket as a whole.

Ugh, can't believe Trump is still stirring up drama about the 2020 election ! Six years on and he's still peddling conspiracy theories like they're going out of style . And now Burt Jones is trying to ride this wave to become governor? More like a guaranteed loss for Georgia voters . The FBI probe just adds fuel to the fire, but honestly who cares about the details? It's all just Trump being Trump . What I really want to know is what's going on with the cost of living in GA? That's what matters most to me, not some old election drama . Can we please move on from this and focus on the real issues?

omg cant believe how much drama is going on in ga right now!! burt jones is like so desperate to please trump but honestly idk if it'll pay off for him in the long run... he's got some serious baggage from that 2020 election and i'm not sure voters will just forgive and forget