2024 GA Primary Election: Fani Willis and Scott McAfee face challengers

ATLANTA, Ga. — The road to the 2024 Georgia primary has been a rocky one for Democratic Fulton County Prosecutor Fani Willis and her counterpart, nonpartisan Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee .

Willis has attracted national attention over the past year as his office leads the prosecution of an election subversion case against former President Donald Trump and 18 allies. McAfee has also been in the spotlight since he is at the helm of the business.

Both are seeking re-election to their respective positions. (Early voting has ended. See the steps below for how to vote on Primary Day, May 21.)

RELATED: Biden and Trump score early victories in GA primary; Biden’s projected candidate

On the ballot, Willis faces his challengers, Republican attorney Courtney Kramer and Democratic author and attorney Christian Wise Smith. Kramer served in the Trump White House, but CNN said she had a strong chance of winning the job in heavily Democratic Fulton County.

Willis declined a debate invitation in mid-April from the Atlanta Press Club, Atlanta News First reported.

A poll last month showed Willis leading in his race, with 79% support, compared to 9% for his second challenger Wise Smith, FOX 5 reported.

Meanwhile, McAfee is one of several judges challenged in Atlanta’s 5th Circuit Superior Court, including criminal defense attorney and radio host Robert Patillo. If Patillo prevails, he is expected to take over the cases on McAfee’s docket, which could include the Trump election case, CNN reported.

Those listed on the ballot for Superior Court Judge are as follows, alongside McAfee:

• Shukura Lageane Ingram (holder)
• Shermela Williams (holder)
• Emily Richardson (holder)
• Tiffany Johnson
• Robert Patillo
• Rachel Krause (incumbent)
• Brandi Reeves
• Melynee Leftridge Harris (starter)
• Ural D. Glanville (holder)
• Belinda Edwards (incumbent)
• Eric Dunaway (holder)
• Thomas A. Cox Jr. (incumbent)
• Rachelle Carnesale (holder)
• Kimberly M. Esmond Adams (incumbent)

All candidates for the position of Superior Court judge are impartial.

Accusations, appeals and non-resolution

Trump, a Republican, was accused of trying to interfere with the 2020 presidential election, in which he lost the race to current Democratic President Joe Biden. Trump and 18 others were indicted on multiple counts in August 2023 after being accused of trying to overturn the election results in Georgia, which helped give Biden a narrow victory.

Since the indictments, Willis has faced backlash as she fights appeals and accusations against her regarding embezzlement and her alleged inappropriate relationship with her former attorney general, Nathan Wade.

RELATED: GA lawmaker calls for investigation into Fulton DA amid allegations of misconduct

McAfee oversaw hearings and appeals in the election interference case against Trump.

The Trump defendants have filed multiple motions to impeach Willis. But they’re not the only ones who want Willis out of the business.

Willis was accused of having a romantic relationship with Wade, and a whistleblower accused Willis’ office of misusing federal money from the Justice Department.

Several politicians have called for Willis’ removal from the election interference case and accused her of criminal misconduct, including U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

A motion brought by former Trump campaign official Mike Roman forced Wade to leave the Trump case when McAfee ruled in mid-March that Wade or Willis should leave the case due to the appearance of irregularity arising from the couple’s former romantic relationship.

RELATED: Trump may appeal ruling keeping Fulton DA in RICO case, judge: report

The judge said there was no “real conflict” because of their relationship, which would have disqualified Willis. Wade ultimately resigned from the case.

A Georgia appeals court said it would review McAfee’s decision, Axios reported.

McAfee allowed Trump and others to appeal his decision allowing Willis to remain on the subversion case, and since then, several appeals have been filed to remove Willis from the case.

Former Georgia GOP Director David Shafer, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.former New York Mayor Rudy Giulianiformer Coffee County Republican Party Chairwoman Cathy Latham and Roman all joined Trump in appealing McAfee’s Willis decision.

RELATED: GA Lawmaker Floats to Impeach Fulton DA Amid Trump Indictment

No rulings have yet been made on those appeals, and Willis remained on the case as of press time.

Trump was initially charged with suspicion of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, three counts of solicitation of violation of oath by a public official, conspiracy to impersonate an official public, two counts of first-degree conspiracy to commit forgery, and two counts of indictment. of conspiracy to commit false statements and writings, conspiracy to commit the filing of false documents, filing of false documents and false statements and writings.

However, McAfee on March 13 dismissed six counts of solicitation of violation of oath by a public official against Trump, Giuliani, Meadows, Cheeley and attorneys Ray Smith and John Eastman.

No official trial date has been set for Trump.

How to vote in person on Election Day in Georgia

Register to vote with the Secretary of State’s office. Check if you are eligible and submit a voter registration application before the deadline. Also check to see if your voter registration is active on the Secretary of State’s My Voter page.

Have a valid photo ID. Georgia residents must present a valid photo ID when voting in person. Acceptable forms of voter identification include a driver’s license or U.S. passport. The state of Georgia also offers a free voter ID card, which can be issued at any county registrar’s office and can be used to vote.

Go to your polling station

On election day, you must vote at the designated polling station. You can find your assigned polling location on your voter registration card, by logging into the Secretary of State’s My Voter page, or by contacting your county board registrar’s office. Polling stations are open on election day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you are in line at 7 p.m., you are allowed to vote.

When you arrive at your polling place, show your photo ID to the poll worker. They will check your photo ID, verify that you are registered and at the correct voting location, issue you a voter access card or ballot, as applicable, and allow you to vote. Learn how to vote at polling places in Georgia.

If you show up at your polling place but have not met all of the conditions listed above, you have the right to request a provisional ballot. Your vote will count as long as you resolve eligibility issues within three days of Election Day. Learn more about provisional ballots.

If you have a problem voting, contact your county registrar’s office or the Georgia Secretary of State. Call the Secretary of State at 404-656-2871 (in metro Atlanta) or 877-725-9797 (elsewhere in Georgia) to report a problem. You can also file a complaint online with the Secretary of State’s Division of Elections.