During the third quarter, Democrat Marcus Flowers is successfully fundraising off of Republican incumbent Marjorie Taylor Greene’s penchant for controversy in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. Flowers’s campaign raised $1.3 million between July 1 and September 30th, according to Federal Election Commission filings. The campaign also has more than $1 million in cash on hand with more than 162,000 contributions from more than 112,000 donors residing in all 50 states and territories.
“This quarter gas been about in-district growth,” Flowers explained. “We are thrilled with the big expansion of our in-district paid staff and our in-district volunteer team. We are making a historic investment in this district which will pay off on Election Day.”
Flowers announced his intentions to run on March 1st and upon filing he said, “hasn’t done a damn thing for Georgia.”
Greene is a popular figure in far right circles and is a darling of former President Trump. The incumbent has raised $4.7 million overall and reported close $2.8 million in the bank in July.
The 14th district contains portions of northwest Georgia, with the largest cities being Rome, Calhoun, and Dalton. Former President Donald J. Trump carried this district with 75% of the vote in the 2020 Presidential Election. Governor Kemp also won the district carrying 75% of the vote during his 2018 election.
Speaking to The Washington Post in February, Flowers said the unearthed 2019 video of Greene harassing David Hogg, a survivor of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was what prompted him to decide to run against her.
“When I saw what was going on and all these things came to light, I just couldn’t hold the powder any longer,” Flowers said. “We need to bring civility back into our political discourse. She does not represent our district. The people here are lovely. I mean, yeah, there’s an element of extremism here in the district, but it’s by far the minority.”
Greene championed the QAnon conspiracies and powered her campaign with the White grievances that have fueled the Republican Party since the 2010 midterm elections: bemoaning America’s growing diversity, the rising influence of Black and Brown voters, and a desire to push the United States back to times where White men dominated political discourse.
“Her twisted conspiracy theories may have made her famous, but haven’t done a damn thing to help the people here in our district,” Flowers said.
Flowers is among four Democrats who are participating in the May 22, 2022 primary. Lateefah Conner, Wendy Davis, Flowers and Holly McCormack are the Democrats running in the 14th.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Strahan, CEO of healthcare advisory firm J. Osley and Co, announced she would primary Greene on September 14th. Strahan believes Greene’s controversial behavior has helped shift America’s political discourse toward President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
