Nearly Half of Georgia Republicans Back Trump Takeover of State Elections Despite Unconstitutional Risks

A recent University of Georgia poll exposes a dangerous willingness among nearly half of Georgia Republicans to accept an unconstitutional federal takeover of their state’s elections, a move championed by Donald Trump as part of his broader campaign to control election outcomes.

The survey, reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, found that 44% of Republican primary voters in Georgia approve of federal intervention in state elections, with 31% strongly endorsing the idea. Another 7% remain undecided. This support coincides with the Trump administration’s unprecedented actions in Fulton County, Georgia’s most populous Black voting district, including the FBI’s seizure of ballots and demands for personal data from election workers. These aggressive tactics were justified by baseless claims of widespread voter fraud that have been thoroughly debunked.

Even more striking is the overwhelming Republican backing for the FBI’s controversial raid in Fulton County, with 75% approving and 61% strongly approving. This indicates that Trump’s persistent lies about the 2020 election being “stolen” have deeply influenced a significant portion of Georgia’s GOP base.

Yet the poll also reveals a sharp divide: 48% of Georgia Republicans oppose federal takeover efforts, underscoring internal tensions within the party. This split is reflected in the state’s hotly contested governor’s race, where two leading GOP candidates—Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and billionaire Rick Jackson—are aggressively courting Trump’s endorsement by pushing for voting restrictions and election control. Meanwhile, incumbent Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who resisted Trump’s demand to “find” extra votes in 2020, trails far behind.

Raffensperger and Governor Brian Kemp, both of whom resisted Trump’s 2020 pressure campaign and won re-election in 2022 despite Trump-backed challengers, represent the faction of Georgia Republicans still committed to election integrity. But the growing popularity of Trump-aligned candidates signals a shift toward embracing authoritarian tactics that threaten the state’s democratic processes.

In stark contrast, Georgia Democrats overwhelmingly reject any federal takeover, with 94% strongly disapproving, highlighting the partisan divide over election legitimacy and control.

This poll is a sobering reminder that Trump’s campaign to undermine democracy is not just rhetoric. It has taken root among a large segment of Georgia Republicans, putting the state’s elections—and by extension, American democracy—at real risk of manipulation and authoritarian overreach. We must hold these efforts accountable and push back hard against any attempts to seize control of our elections under false pretenses.