In a shocking move, a judge today dismissed the case Donna Curling, et al. v. Brad Raffensperger, et al., claiming a lack of standing, even though the judge had previously ruled that standing was not a problem, and the judge had entertained many arguments on the merits of the case. GRA member David Oles has served as one of the attorneys on the case, representing Ricardo Davis from Cherokee County.
Key Facts: • Case Background: The lawsuit, Donna Curling, et al. v. Brad Raffensperger, et al., was filed in 2017 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, challenging the constitutionality of Georgia’s electronic in-person voting system. It spanned seven years, including a 17-day bench trial in January 2024.
• Plaintiffs: Georgia voters (e.g., Donna Curling, Jeffrey Schoenberg) and the Coalition for Good Governance (CGG), a nonprofit focused on constitutional rights and government accountability.
• Defendants: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and members of the Georgia State Election Board, sued in their official capacities.
• Original System: The case initially targeted Georgia’s Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) system, used since 2002. In 2019, the court enjoined its use.
• New System: Georgia adopted the Dominion Ballot-Marking-Device (BMD) system in 2019, implemented in 2020, which uses touchscreen devices to produce paper ballots with QR codes for tabulation.
• Voting Process: Voters select options on a BMD touchscreen, review them on-screen, print a ballot with human-readable text and a QR code, and scan it. The QR code, unreadable by humans, is used for tabulation.
Atlanta, GA — On Wednesday, around 200 pro-life advocates crowded outside the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee for a hearing for the Prenatal Equal Protection Act (HB 441). Six years after the passage of the Heartbeat Law, and nearly three years after the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Georgia Republicans who control the State House finally allowed a committee hearing for a bill that would provide equal protection for pre-born children.
“It’s simple. We believe that the murder of anyone should be illegal for everyone,” said GRA President Nathaniel Darnell.
Click to watch GRA President Nathaniel Darnell testify in favor of the bill.
The crowd was so large the Georgia State Patrol officers struggled to keep a path clear through the hallway leading to the committee room. Opponents of the bill were wearing yellow stickers that said “Support and Compassion – not punishment.” Others wore T-shirts saying “Trust Black Women”. However they were far outnumbered, perhaps 4-1, by pro-life families complete with toddling children and strollers.
“In my obstetrics training I learned that I am always caring for two patients, the mother and the baby,” said Dr. Coleman Boyd. “As a physician I have never seen a case where killing the child would save the life of the mother.”
Dr. Boyd held a toddler, Haddasah, through his testimony and introduced her as his adopted daughter. He said she was conceived in rape. “Her 13-year old mother came to live with us, gave birth, and she was blessed to give this child life and now she is the delight of her soul.”
Watch Dr. Coleman Boyd testify in favor of the Preborn Equal Protection Act
HB 441 would ensure the same homicide laws that protect toddlers would also protect pre-born children.
Watch Jeff Durbin with “End Abortion Now” testify and answer questions from Democrat Reps.
Abortion advocates pretend all 4th amendment privacy rights would disappear if this bill were passed allowing women to be investigated for miscarriage, and allowing the government to immediately begin spying on people in their homes, which is absurd.
Rep. Charlice Byrd opposes Democrat signs
The Fourth Amendment states: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
If there is no reason to suspect foul play, there is no reason to investigate.
Are parents investigated every time a toddler tragically drowns in a swimming pool?
Did parents lose all privacy rights when our current homicide laws were adopted?
Everyone knows that little kids are extremely vulnerable and can be easily hurt or killed, and pre-born babies even more so. Georgia law distinguishes between the intentional murder of a toddler and the tragic accidental death of a toddler and it would be the same with miscarriage. Even with the flaws in our legal system a jury should be able to distinguish between elective abortion and accidental miscarriage, just like they do with the accidental death of toddlers.
Additionally, you would still have all the wonderful legal requirements like due process, trial by jury, presumption of innocence until proven guilty, etc. These would help to ensure justice is done, and no innocent person would get punished.
What about women who are victims of human trafficking?
The pro-life Establishment wants laws to carve out a special exemption for expectant mothers, so that they have complete legal immunity to commit an abortion. They claim that because of the existence of trafficking victims, therefore the law should exempt all expectant mothers from any consequences.
Certainly some post-abortive mothers are victims and not responsible for the abortion (trafficking victims, etc.) but we can’t assume all women are victims in prenatal homicide. Under HB 441 every case will need to be considered based on the facts and evidence and whether you can prove beyond reasonable doubt that someone (the doctor/parents/grandparent/pimp etc.) knew their victim was a human being and they had intent to kill. If you can prove that, why should it matter if you are a medical professional?
This is justice, when the law is applied equally to everyone.
“Parents have a responsibility to protect their children,” said Jason Storms, National Director of Operation Save America, during the hearing. Georgia law currently recognizes parental and familial responsibilities in our child support, alimony, and criminal neglect laws. It is not unreasonable to assume that those parental responsibilities apply to children before they are born.
Chairman Tyler Paul Smith (R-Bremen) did not call for a vote on HB 441, but allowed the legislators to ask questions and explore the merits of the bill. It was disappointing to see so many Republican legislators leave the committee room mid-way through the hearing. We are grateful Rep. Charlice Byrd (R-Woodstock) was present throughout all the public testimony. Since crossover day has passed and HB 441 did not get a committee and house vote in time, the bill will likely not be taken up again until 2026, but Republican activists intend to use this time to continue to impress on their legislators the urgency of this life and death legislation.
Ringgold, GA — On Tuesday evening, the Republican delegates of the Catoosa County Republican Convention elected a full pro-accountability slate of officers in spite of heavy opposition from the rejected RINO Catoosa County Commissioners and other government employees.
The fake Republican commissioners, who sued the local party after being denied a place on the Republicans primary ballot last year, but were forced on by a local judge, mounted a force of nearly 100 people at the county convention of 214 to attempt to take over the party and neutralize any future accountability efforts. The stakes were high for both sides. If successful in seizing the Catoosa Republican Party leadership, the Commissioners could have ended the “freedom of association” lawsuit which is currently pending in the federal 11th Circuit Court. But the commissioners plans were thwarted by the accountability oriented local patriots who showed up in greater numbers.
“It was a victory for the grassroots and the Republicans that worked so hard to elect President Trump and J.D. Vance,” Chairwoman Joanna Hildreth told The Chattanooga Times Free Press. “I’m just thrilled that we had a victory tonight, because it just reinforces all the hard work that they’ve done and they’re ready to keep doing.”
Joanna Hildreth celebrating with GRA President Nathaniel Darnell
The patriot activists at the Catoosa Precinct Caucus a month earlier had successfully blocked one of the rejected RINO commissioner candidates from being a delegate, but the other four commissioners were among the delegates leading the attempted take over.
The commissioners’ contingent included the county manager, the clerk, the county C.F.O., 4 of the 5 school board members, the school superintendent, the Mayor of Fort Oglethorpe, a city council member, various appointed county board members, a couple of lobbyists including former State Senator Jeff Mullis (whom Sen. Colton Moore replaced). Not to mention a judge’s wife and another judge’s executive director. These government employees know that it is nigh impossible to get elected to local office unless they qualify as a Republican on the ballot in rural counties like Catoosa. These people, along with their families, composed a pretty formidable crowd. The battle lines were drawn disctinctly between fed up tax-payers and tax-dollar recipients who work for the local civil government in some capacity. It was truly “the swamp” versus the people.
“Today the Republican voters of Catoosa County declared that they support the GOP holding politicians accountable, by re-electing GRA-member Joanna Hildreth and members of her team!” said Nathaniel Darnell, GRA President. “This convention provides demonstrable proof that the majority of Republican voters support their local party leadership acting on their behalf and exercising the right to freedom of association.”
Long lines filled the hallways of the small town event center as delegates got credentialed, with wait times resembling the GOP conventions of much larger counties like Cobb or Cherokee due to the sheer volume.
The tension in the room was thick from the beginning and peaked when it came time to elect a convention chairman. The 14th District GOP Chairwoman Denise Burns (also a GRA member) was nominated, followed by Jeremy Jones, a public defender attorney on the payroll of the government, and the previous Catoosa County Party Chairman. Both sides knew that this vote was a microcosm for the entire convention and would reflect the voting strength of the two sides.
Denise Burns taking the gavel to chair the convention
A standing vote was called, and Denise Burns squeaked out ahead with a vote of 111 to 103 — an eight vote lead!
This proved that the community engagement and brave example of the Catoosa GOP leadership had grown the party and inspired many new members. The Catoosa GOP’s bold opposition to tax increases, cronyism and the tyrannical chicken ordinance had attracted and informed more and more voters who were united by their shared principles and their intense opposition to the tyranny they had experienced from their local government.
Chairwoman Joanna Hildreth reported that in 2023 the Catoosa GOP set an all time record for the highest attendance at their county convention, and this year’s precinct caucus exceeded that record!
GRA member & Whitfield County GOP Chairman Eddie Caldwell served as the Parliamentarian.
After the vote to elect Denise Burns as convention chairman, members from the government employees group, realizing they didn’t have the numbers, tried to make a motion to adjourn. That motion was ruled out of order, and the supporters of the RINO commissioners, who had been somewhat racous and disorderly all along, got angry and stormed out of the convention hall following the new convention Chairwoman’s refusal to recognize the outburst of an enraged delegate ranting from the floor.
They were done. A crowd of 50 or more people all vacated their seats and gathered in the hallway outside the convention hall to rant and perhaps regroup. But most never returned to their seats, giving an easy victory to Joanna Hildreth and her slate, as the business of the convention continued without them. This rash emotional decision to leave left no opposition to the nominating committee’s slate of officers, the slate of delegates to the District and State conventions, and no opposition to the 14 resolutions — five of which banned and censured the RINO commissioners by name!
The newly elected Executive Committee officers of the Catoosa County GOP
These resolutions articulated the citizens’ grievances with the un-Republicans’ policies and the actions of past Commissioners Steven Henry, Chuck Harris, Jeff Long, Vanita Hullander, and Larry Black, and officially “expelled” them from the party — banning them from qualifying as candidates of the Catoosa County Republican Party in any capacity. The resolution also demands that the commissioners “cease and desist” from calling themselves a “Republican.” This was not a decision of the party leadership but of the entire delegation at the county convention, and they were met with thunderous applause.
Other resolutions included one that condemned and censured the local Catoosa civil government for taking away personal property rights of citizens who want to raise chickens on their private property. Another resolved to block from qualifying any legislator who votes in favor of Sen. Ed Setzler’s (R-Cobb) S.B. 15 or any other legislation to make local partisan races non-partisan. This legislation appears to be a direct attack on the Republican Party, an attempt to shield legislators from any accountability, and an attempt to conceal from voters the ideological leaning of candidates.
County Republican Party organizations receive a significant amount of income from candidates when they pay their qualifying fee. Making local races non-partisan would also cut off that income from the local party and instead give any fees to the government.
This is just another example of the disdain, disloyalty and hostility elected officials have shown to the GOP, the party of which they claim to be a member.
GRA members at the Catoosa County GOP Convention GRA members at the Catoosa County GOP Convention
If the commissioners and their supporters at the Catoosa Convention hadn’t been so heated and emotional, they might could have still accomplished some of their agenda. If one member of their group had attended a GRA Convention training, they might have known how to succeed.
It is remarkable that, with so many commissioners and school board members in the room, they were not more adept at knowing the appropriate motions to achieve the outcome they desired.
We, however, are grateful that in God’s kind providence, good leadership will continue in Catoosa — as will the lawsuit to protect the GOP’s “freedom of association” provided for in the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
The Georgia GOP is run by an executive committee that consists of numerous officers, most of whom are elected this year through the conventions.
If you wish to have your voice heard through the Republican Party, or to improve the party, you have a couple main options:
1. Run for Party Office – (LAST CHANCE!)
2. Resolutions
To run for state party office, today is the LAST DAY you can declare to do so. The convention call makes it very clear that if you want to run for State Chairman, First Vice Chairman, Second Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, or Assistant Secretary, you MUST submit a “notice of candidacy” and “a political resume” to the State Secretary of the Georgia GOP *before* 5:00 PM today, March 15, 2025.
If you agree with basic Republican principles, which are held by the Georgia Republican Assembly (GRA), and want to see both politicians and those who run for party office held accountable to them, you should consider applying to join the GRA, and then attending our endorsing convention on May 10, 2025.
The GRA Convention is where YOUR opinion matters.
The GRA is the state chapter of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA), which both endorsed President Trump and is devoted to organizing and unifying truly principled grassroots Republicans to stop fake Republicans and hold politicians accountable. While the Establishment wants you to just follow after a candidate without knowing what they’ve done or will do, the GRA is devoted to making sure you have a clear report of everything going on, and that you can work together with and be coordinated with like-minded people from throughout the state. The GRA is the premier grassroots vehicle for having your voice heard, as all GRA endorsements are made by people like you, who actually care about getting the decision right, not following what paid political industry operatives tell you or by a small group of people.
GRA endorsed candidates are the best ones for the party and the only way we beat the Establishment and drain the swamp. You should be a part. And you should avoid listening to the attacks and fearmongering that people (often originating from the paid political industry) create for all levels of party office: if someone is trying to divide you in the elections for county, district, or state GOP offices, they are likely trying to manipulate you into a less than ideal outcome. Get involved in your local GRA chapter and refuse to commit support to people until the GRA has endorsed.
Regarding resolutions, the GAGOP passes resolutions that don’t seem to have an impact. That’s because certain people don’t want the party to do anything except follow after politicians, instead of holding them accountable to you. That’s why people are always in a rush to adjourn conventions instead of letting more business take place. You can fix that.
This year, don’t let them stop the grassroots. Vote against attempts to adjourn or shut down debate.
As county conventions approach, it’s vitally important that you make sure you both submit resolutions to various conventions, and get other likeminded people involved. Why? Because resolutions from the party can be actions that influence what happens (such as the recent decision by the State GOP to prohibit Geoff Duncan from qualifying as a Republican in the future), or create state the party’s opinion on important issues.
I will likely be submitting versions of the following resolutions to be considered at the state convention. These are personal projects. You can, if you agree with them, edit them and make sure to have similar versions adopted at your county and district conventions (there are .doc versions for you to edit):
Now more than ever, we need dedicated individuals like you to step up and make a difference. The GRA is a grassroots volunteer organization committed to empowering members and ensuring that our party stays true to its principles. We stand for transparency, accountability, and the power of “we the people.” I encourage you to join the GRA and be a part of this vital movement.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to Republican values. Together, we can build a stronger, more principled party that truly represents the voice of the people. Let’s continue to stand for truth, integrity, and the principles that make our party great.
The GRA: You may hear about the GRA (www.GeorgiaRA.com), and often from Establishment people (i.e. people who see politics as something to serve the political industry/politicians, instead of instituting good principled policies that help “we the people”.) They will fail to mention that the GRA is the “Republican Wing of the Republican Party”, part of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies which is also a volunteer grassroots group that started many, many years ago. They will also fail to mention that the GRA members are the principled, grassroots people who are trying to have the party do the things that politicians are constantly promising to the public.
Thank you for all you do to advance the Republican brand and values. If you are in favor of improving the party for the grassroots and working together to do it and to get fake Republicans and the paid political industry out of grassroots politics, I encourage you to look into the Georgia Republican Assembly (GRA), a state affiliate of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies, and apply to join here (www.GeorgiaRA.com) if you agree with our principles.
More and more candidates continue to announce for state party officer positions, and they are all invited to particpate in our state Endorsement Convention. The registration for the GRA’s 2025 State Endorsement Convention is open! This year, the Endorsement Convention will be held in Canton, GA on May 10th. We welcome you to join us to hear from the candidates running for state party office and to vote (if you’re a GRA member) on who we should endorse as an organization. Remember, it takes a two-thirds majority of the participating members to endorse any candidate. Here is the list of candidates we know have announced so far:
GA GOP State Party Chairman: Josh McKoon v. David Cross
GA GOP 1st Vice Chair: Salleigh Grubbs
GA GOP 2nd Vice Chairman: Seanie Zappendorf v. Norine Cantor v. Betsey Kramer
GA GOP Secretary: Susie Voyles v. Cindiella Nixon
GA GOP Assistant Secretary: Caroline Jeffords v. Ja’Quon Stembridge
GA GOP Treasurer: Laurie McClain v. Jeff DellaMaggiora
GA GOP Assistant Treasurer: Jenny Eckman
If you would like to run for a position on the GA GOP Executive Committee, you must submit your intent to run by March 15th! If you want to vote in the GRA Endorsement Convention, your membership application must be approved no later than April 10th.
You can attend the Endorsement Convention even if you are not a member. Registration comes with a boxed lunch.
At our endorsement convention last year, members appreciated being able to hear from the candidates and ask questions about their stance on issues and their vision for the party.
Bobbi moved to Tunnel Hill with her husband in 2020 to escape the harmful leftist policies destroying California. They are refugees seeking a more free, simple, family-friendly life.
Bobbi has five school-aged children. She spends her days around the kitchen table in their suburban Catoosa County home, teaching her children and feeding them nutritious food. When she is not there, she is usually by the side of birthing women, working as a doula or teaching roller skating.
“We were super excited to live where there were lots of conservative people,” Bobbi said.
Bobbi knew nothing about the Catoosa County commissioners, and didn’t set out to be any kind of political activist or culture warrior. The war came to her – to her front door.
On April 19th 2022 Bobbi was anxiously awaiting a violation notice from the Catoosa County government. It was 8:00 am and she had just learned from a neighbor that a zoning official was on his way to give notice of a violation to the Wilkey family regarding their backyard chickens.
Bobbi sprang into action.
By 8:30 she had all the chickens packed up and removed from the house to a big dog kennel on a friend’s farm. Then she and her children waited in the homeschool room with bated breath, uncertain about the fate of their pets.
Then it happened. But there was no inspection, no altercation. Just a slip of paper silently taped to the door that charged them with having “Non-domesticated animals in a residential zone” and a handwritten addition “chickens”.
“Our chickens had to be removed in 10 days or we would have a $1,000 fine for every day we kept them. But they didn’t even inspect to see if we had chickens!”
The Wilkey’s backyard looked like it belonged to the quintessential suburban family. Completely fenced off with a play set, a couple garden boxes, and a small chicken coop. It was half an acre and the property was zoned residential, but bordered a 100 acre cow pasture.
They later learned that the violation notice was the result of one complaint email being sent to the Catoosa County zoning authorities.
“It was just one angry lady, and I had never had a bad interaction with her,” said Bobbi.
One of the children had accidentally left the door of the chicken coop ajar, and a chicken temporarily escaped the coop and was quickly returned, but not before being observed by a neighbor.
Unlike a nuisance ordinance, which requires three people to sign affidavits to warrant someone coming out to your house to give a warning, the Wilkey’s lost their chickens and got entangled in this controversy as a result of one email.
“I was completely blind-sided. Before buying chickens, we had asked all our direct neighbors if it would bother them if we got chickens. They were fine with it.”
THE COMMISSIONERS
“That’s when I went to my first Commissioners meeting.”
Bobbi brought her family and explained that she didn’t even have chickens on her property at the time the violation was issued. Furthermore, she argued that chicken ownership is objectively good. It is not criminal or immoral. Families have raised yard fowl on their private property for thousands of years. It gives children chores by which they can contribute to the family economy, and it teaches them responsibility. It helps with pests and provides fertilizer.
Producing your own food is a fundamental human freedom and one would think the benefits would be apparent, especially to commissioners who claimed to be Republicans. Isn’t that the party of freedom, capitalism, and family values?
“I have five small children. Inflation has hit our family so hard. Food is expensive to feed our children, and we would really love to have a few backyard chickens.”
Even Bobbi’s children spoke before the commissioners.
Atlanta, GA — Tomorrow, March 6th, is Crossover Day at the state capitol. Any legislation that has not already passed from one side of the state legislature to the other will not pass this legislative session this year unless it gets a vote on the floor by tomorrow. Grassroots activities have been making a concerted effort to contact their legislators and urge them to pass good bills and to stop bad ones.
While stellar pro-life and election integrity bills remain stalled without a committee hearing, the Georgia General Assembly has been fast-trackingcorporate welfare and big government expansion bills of numerous kinds. What’s alarming is that this is being done by a Republican-controlled state legislature!
Hundreds Attend Rally for H.B 441
Monday morning, hundreds of pro-life activists gathered at Liberty Plaza at the capitol to urge legislators to give H.B. 441, the Pro-Life Equal Protection Act, a hearing in the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. The committee Chairman State Rep. Tyler Paul Smith (R-Bremen) said that he was favorable to the bill, but was “waiting for the Speaker [Jon Burns] to give the green light” before a hearing would be scheduled.
We are calling on supporters to contact Speaker Jon Burns’ office and urge him to give Rep. Smith the “green light” now! Call the Speaker at (404) 656-5020 and tell his office to give H.B. 441 a hearing before Crossover Day! You can also email him at jon.burns@house.ga.gov.
Equal protection is the idea that murder of anyone should be illegal for everyone. The rally was called the “Christians for the Pre-Born” rally, and was largely coordinated by local pastors who came with their congregations.
Members of Pray’s Mill Baptist Church in Douglasville who attended the rally for HB 441.
The rally featured several pastors from across the state such as Josh Buice and Virgil Walker from G3 Ministries, and Wes Fuller from middle Georgia. Out of state proponents Jeff Durbin from End Abortion Now and Brian Gunter (formerly with Louisiana Right to Life) also gave rousing speeches. GRA NFRA Director Abigail Darnell presented a strong message on behalf of Georgia Right to Life in favor of the bill. This is the first time a pro-life Equal Protection bill has been properly assgined to a committee dealing with criminal activity rather than healthcare.
GRA-endorsed State Reps. Noelle Kahaian (R-Locust Grove) and Charlice Byrd (R-Woodstock), who are co-sponsors for H.B. 441, were among the attendees.
Hundreds of people litter the lawn at the Liberty Plaza.Reps. Noelle Kahaian & Charlice Byrd at the rally for HB 441.GRA members Abigail Darnell from Cobb & Holly Kesler from Chatham at the rally for HB 441
Sen.Moore Drops “Paper Ballot” Election Integrity Bill
Meanwhile, on the Senate side, GRA-endorsed State Sen. Colton Moore (R-Dade) last week introduced S.B. 303, an Election Integrity bill that would exchange the Dominion machines for paper ballots — a key issue for many election integrity advocates. While both paper and computer ballots can be made fraudulent, the concern is that it is easier for a lay person to detect cheating in a paper ballot system than with a system like Dominion. Senate Republican Majority Leader Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) and Senator Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) have also co-signed onto the bill.
Even though the bill has been assigned to the Senate Ethics Committee, supporters have been frustrated that the bill was not getting a hearing scheduled before Crossover Day.
Georgians for Truth put out an alert calling for activists to contact legislators and urge them to support S.B. 303 and 215. H.B. 215 aims to enhance the integrity and accuracy of Georgia’s voter registration system by regulating how voter data is shared and used, restricting participation in certain organizations, and authorizing new mechanisms for maintaining voter lists. Chiefly, it will force the SOS to exit from ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center). Most surrounding states have exited from this system as it has failed its purpose.
