Georgia Republican Party
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Georgia Republican Party
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Chairperson | John Padgett |
| Senate leader | Casey Cagle |
| House leader | David Ralston |
| Founded | 1854 |
| Headquarters | 3110 Maple Drive Atlanta, GA 30305 |
| Ideology |
Conservatism Fiscal conservatism Social conservatism |
| National affiliation | Republican Party |
| Colors | Red |
| Seats in the Upper House |
38 / 56
|
| Seats in the Lower House |
119 / 180
|
| Website | |
| www.gagop.org | |
The Georgia Republican Party is one of the two major political parties in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is affiliated with the United States Republican Party (GOP).
Governor Nathan Deal is the titular head of the Georgia Republican Party. John Padgett is the current State Chairman. Adam Pipkin is the executive director. Randy Evans serves as Republican National Committeeman representing Georgia. Linda Herren is the past National Committeewoman. Ginger Howard was elected at the 2016 State Convention as the current RNC Committeewoman. Leo J Smith is the much interviewed state director for minority engagement. Republicans hold every elected position in the state for the first time since Reconstruction.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) handles the national party day-to-day operations. Campaigns, events, and other party related activities are handled by the RNC. Reince Priebus is the current Chairman of RNC, having won the last election after controversial Chairman Michael Steele withdrew his rebid nomination. The chairman of the RNC is chosen by the President when the Republicans have the White House or otherwise by the party's state committees. Interestingly, there has never been a chairman from Georgia. The RNC, under the direction of the party's presidential candidate, supervises the Republican National Convention, raises funds, and coordinates campaign strategy. On the local level there are similar state committees in every state and most large cities, counties and legislative districts, but they have far less money and influence than the national body.
Current and recent officeholders were primarily known as Democrats until the gradual change of the South. It was also customary for Southern States to propel actual skilled candidates to office, not career politicians. Character and experience in the South is seemingly a bigger deal than a charismatic figure.
After the American Civil War, Georgia was initially placed under a military governorship, but in 1868 the Republican Party succeeded in capturing the legislature and electing Rufus Bullock as governor. Support for the Republicans came from the 44% of the state's population that was African American, along with whites from the mountainous north. Bullock was the first Republican governor of Georgia, but he was threatened with impeachment and fled the state in 1871, leaving the governorship to Benjamin Conley, the president of the Georgia Senate. (In modern times the lieutenant governor is the next in line if the governor cannot serve, but the role of lieutenant governor had not yet been created by that time.) Conley, the second Republican governor of the state, only lasted 72 days: the legislature quickly called a special election, and Conley was succeeded by a Democrat, James Milton Smith, resulting in the end of Reconstruction in Georgia.
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