Dalton, GA — In spite of some frustrations delegates experienced at the GA GOP State Convention last Saturday, the grassroots patriot activists who teamed up with the GRA walked away with some landmark accomplishments! Some may not yet even realize the full significance of these accomplishments.

“Based on my 16 years involved in the party,” said GRA Chairman Alex Johnson, “I don’t know if I have ever seen the people as organized to make the state party do anything. Until this year. So, that’s why this is important.” Not only did the grassroots/anti-Establishment/Georgia Republican Assembly (GRA) win overwhelmingly, but it also has put the Georgia GOP on course for renewed relevance!

Not only was the GRA-endorsed State Senator Colton Moore (R-Dade) praised and Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) censured, but also the GA GOP was prohibited Brad Raffensperger from qualifying as a Republican! 

While the GA GOP Executive Committee had previously used a resolution to ban former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan from qualifying in the future as a Republican, this past weekend the convention delegates overwhelmingly passed a resolution “Maintaining Republican Unity and Branding,” which prohibited the GA GOP from ever qualifying the current Secretary of State again as a Republican in the future!

Unlike past resolutions of the party, which just state an opinion like “we oppose” or “we support” or “we send a letter,” this was a binding mandate for action by the GA GOP, which requires the GA GOP to enact the will of the party in not qualifying Raffensperger and also requires that the GA GOP fully defend against any lawsuits as a result of it.

GRA Candidate Winners

Furthermore, out of the nine candidates elected at the GA GOP convention to the GA GOP Executive Committee, seven are either GRA members or GRA endorsed! GRA-endorsed candidate James Dvorak from Cherokee County won election as the Over 80K Chairman Friday evening, and GRA-endorsed Laurie McClain from Gwinnett won re-election as the GA GOP Treasurer Saturday afternoon.

Many of the other candidates who won election were also GRA members, including Josh McKoon (GA GOP Chairman), Salleigh Grubbs (1st Vice Chairman), Seanie Zappendorf (2nd Vice Chairman), Suzi Voyles (Secretary), and Jenny Eckman(Assistant Treasurer).

GRA members banded together specifically to block candidates considered Establishment oriented who would be opposed to accountability such as Betsy Kramer and Alice O’Lenick, and the GRA succeeded.

This is a testament to how principled, grassroots citizens can work together to ensure that the GA GOP actually works for the people and accountability, not for politicians.

Things Turn Ugly

Regretfully, parliamentary procedure rules were broken in various ways at the state convention.

The effort to consider voting with paper ballots was thwarted by a series of unjustified misconduct at the convention. There was a large and well-advertised effort to potentially use paper ballots, instead of electronic voting devices, for the party officer elections. This was in part to illustrate the GOP’s commitment to replacing Dominion voting machines with paper ballots for public office elections, and also to demonstrate a method showing how a local precinct might efficiently count paper ballots. To be successful, delegates had to amend the proposed convention rules. To prevent that from happening, the four microphones on the convention floor were blocked by other delegates.

Delegates were outraged when a motion to “call the question” (to vote on approving the proposed convention rules) occurred before there was any debate! It was obvious that the body wanted to debate the subject, since there were 3-4 people waiting in line at each microphone. 

It is important that when people spend their time and money to go to a convention and want to persuade people or debate an issue, that they are given the opportunity to do so. Voting to “call the question” without hearing any debate will often lead to disappointed and angry participants, as was the case this past Saturday.

To make things worse, the convention chairman moved forward as if the vote to call the question was the vote on adoption of the rules. This was a glaring mistake on the part of the Chairman, and further frustrated the delegates.

The GRA condemns these flagrant violations of Roberts’s Rules and the absence of neutrality exhibited by those on stage. Our GRA members should not imitate the techniques nor the “end justifies the means” philosophy of the Establishment, no matter how eager they might be for a specific outcome. We look forward to hosting more mock conventions and Robert’s Rules trainings in the future.

Did you attend the GA GOP State Convention? What was your experience like? Send us your feedback on this survey!

Thanks to your continued effort, we’ve seen a major grassroots victory at the District GAGOP Conventions—and the Establishment is rattled. A lot has gone on since our last message to you, which talked about how people want you to show up at conventions and not know how to participate. But due to your work, the District GAGOP Conventions last month were a great success, with many great grassroots/anti-Establishment people getting elected and re-elected.

We’re proud to report: grassroots is winning. GRA-endorsed district chairmen candidates like Richard Jordan and David Oles just took the helm in key districts.

The GRA membership had our state endorsing convention on May 10, 2025. This convention is very notable because those who choose to attend come from over a thousand principled Republican grassroots activists from around the state.

At GRA, it’s not donors or insiders who decide—it’s the members. If a candidate earns two-thirds of the vote at convention, they get our endorsement. That’s how we stay true to Republican principles—and how we win.

The GRA is truly member-run, meaning that people who agree with basic Republican principles and accountability for politicians (1) Join; (2) Come to our conventions to endorse the truly grassroots and principled candidate that aligns with those principles; (3) If they receive a 2/3 vote, they are endorsed and the GRA membership rallies to get them elected. 

This is in contrast to just about every other political group or endorsement, where the endorsement is just the product of either (1) One person’s opinion; or (2) Paid for by donors to the “group”. At our conventions, every member gets to vote, and all members’ votes count equally. GRA members have the power, and that terrifies the Establishment hacks who count on personal friendships and connections to outweigh good policies and principles. If you’re in doubt about who to vote for, vote for the GRA endorsed candidates.

The GRA membership chose not to endorse in several key races, reserving our support only for those who meet the highest grassroots standards. These positions shape the direction of the Georgia GOP. If we lose them to Establishment control, we risk more candidates like Geoff Duncan slipping through the cracks.

The GRA did vote to endorse the following candidates, receiving over 2/3 of the members voting in each race:

• Joanna Hildreth (Under 80k Caucus Chair: ask your county chair to vote for her!)
• James Dvorak (Over 80k Caucus Chair: ask your county chair to vote for him!)
• Norine Cantor (2nd Vice Chair)
• Laurie McClain (Treasurer)
• Kylie Kremer (Assistant Secretary)

I’d like to especially add a few comments regarding Joanna Hildreth, since the vote on her endorsement was unanimous, and you may recognize her name.

Joanna is the Catoosa County Republican Party Chairman, and if you look back at these past messages (and this one), is the head of the county party that actively is working to keep the government from forcing us (as Republicans) from having to put people on the Republican primary ballot who endorse Democrats and vote to raise taxes and restrict property rights. And she started this fight prior to the GAGOP, this year, voting to keep Geoff Duncan (former Lt. Governor who backed Kamala Harris) from ever being on a Georgia Republican primary ballot.

While only the chairmen of the Under 80k counties vote in this race, I urge you to immediately contact your county chairman and let them know you hope they support Joanna Hildreth as Under 80k Chair and you want the party to fight against attempts to destroy our brand, which will hurt our ability to win in 2026.

Stand with the grassroots. Stand for principles. Stand for accountability.

Last Saturday, the 5th District GA GOP organization held its District Convention a week early ahead of the other districts. A local DeKalb RA chapter made endorsements for that event in advance, and they were mostly successful. 

Anita Lane Favors was the GRA-endorsed candidate for the 5th District Chair position, and she successfully won the seat! Attorney Catherine Bernard was one of the GRA-endorsed candidates for State Committee, and she was successfully re-elected as well. Catherine also serves as our Senior GRA NFRA Director. Non-establishment candidate Rich Clarke from DeKalb also won election to the state committee.

Regretfully, Establishment candidate Travis Bowden also won re-election to the state committee when the convention had the candidates run not for specific slots. Instead, the state committee seats were awarded to the top three candidates who received the most votes. Catherine received the most votes at the convention (only one delegate voted against her). Travis received the second most votes. Rich received third place. GRA-member Julie Allen from Fulton came in fourth, and so was not elected to the state committee.

When delegates were asked how they could vote to elect Travis Bowden while also electing non-Establishment candidates such as Catherine and Rich, multiple participants said that they were simply not familiar with Travis’ reputation and track record, but were impressed with the brief speech he gave at the convention.

Travis has worked in the political industry for years, defended bad politicians, and has often been belligerent to grassroots activists across the state. This is why it is so important for delegates to really know their candidates and not be misled merely by a brief speech at a convention.

Even so, we are grateful to see progress in the heart of the Atlanta area each year! This is a long game, and we are optimistic about what the future holds.

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.”

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.

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!

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!

Click here to read the 14 Resolutions that passed in Catoosa.

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.

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.

Columbus — Over 1,300 delegates from across the state assembled at the GA GOP State Convention last weekend, electing the remaining 14 At-Large National Delegates and Alternates from Georgia to the Republican National Convention, electing the National Committeeman and National Committeewoman, and voting on proposed resolutions.

GRA members garnered some big wins at the convention! Six more of the 14 at-large delegates elected Saturday to the Republican National Convention are GRA members. Joanna Hildreth, our GRA Secretary and the Chair of the Catoosa GOP (which has been bravely fighting the County Commission candidate qualifying battle) was one of the delegates that was endorsed by former President Donald Trump ahead of time.

GRA 1st Vice President Brant Frost V and GRA member Caroline Jeffords were both elected to serve as the sole GA GOP representatives on the Republican National Convention’s Rules Committee — arguably the most influential committee at the National Convention.

These positions will be key as the RNC in Milwaukee looks at making several significant improvements on the rules of the national Republican organization this year. One proposal, for example, would apportion congressional districts with more Republican voters with more national delegates in the future. This would mean a district like Marjorie Taylor Greene‘s or Andrew Clyde‘s would receive more delegates than a highly Democrat-populated district like Nancy Pelosi‘s in California. Right now, all congressional districts get an even number of three delegates.

In addition, GRA members Suzi Voyles and Josh McKoon (also the GA GOP Chairman) were elected to the Republican National Platform & Resolutions Committee. Their leadership will be key in guarding our national Republican platform, which is the contract between the Republican Party and the grassroots. We are counting on them ensuring that the national platform does not get watered down from the shining standard it has been over the last 48 years to guard “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in America. Please pray for them.

In the race for National Committeeman, GRA member Jason Thompson was re-elected. He had been challenged by GRA member Jason Frazier and David Cross. When Frazier came in third place by one vote on the first ballot, many Frazier supporters voted for Thompson on the second ballot, which put Thompson over the top. Jason Thompson was first elected to the position of National Committeeman by the GA GOP State Committee in 2017.

But the incumbent did not win in the National Committeewoman’s race. Ginger Howard was challenged by election integrity activists Amy Kremer and Shawn Cross. On the first ballot, Mrs. Cross was eliminated, and on the second ballot it appears most of her supporters voted for Kremer, who defeated Howard.

In January 2021, Kremer’s organization Women for America First hosted a “Stop the Steal” rally in D.C. while, she says, the RNC was at the Ritz Carlton. Amy is a fighter, who prioritizes activism over cocktail parties.  Amy and her team didn’t tell anyone to go into the Capitol on January 6th, and didn’t go there herself, but nevertheless she and ten others affiliated with the group were subpoenaed by the House Select Committee.