Fani Willis Gets a Double Dose of Brutal Re-Election News
It’s probably indisputable to say that Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis is not having a stellar year.
Her pursuit of former President Donald Trump and others for purported interference in the 2020 election has been undercut by revelations about her association with her special prosecutor in the case, Nathan Wade.
Willis’ recent testimony on the matter didn’t help her cause, as she appeared imprudent and tainted.
Now there’s a possibility that she won’t retain her position as the district attorney of Fulton County for much longer.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution disclosed on Friday that Willis now faces two contenders in this year’s local elections — one Democrat and one Republican.
Her previously uncontested re-election bid suddenly turned potentially contentious within the span of an hour.
In the Democratic primary on May 21, Willis will compete against Christian Wise Smith, a progressive former prosecutor and city solicitor who challenged her in 2020.
“Today, I officially qualified for the office of Fulton County District Attorney,” he announced in a Friday post on X. “This decision was made with Fulton County residents at heart.
“In the coming weeks, I … look forward to engaging the community and earning the vote in Fulton County.”
Today, I officially qualified for the office of Fulton County District Attorney. This decision was made with Fulton County residents at heart. In the coming weeks, I hope look forward to engaging the community and earning the vote in Fulton County.
— Christian Wise Smith (@chriswisesmith) March 8, 2024
Also on Friday, Republican attorney Courtney Kramer, who was part of Trump’s legal team in 2020 and handled other election-related matters for the Georgia GOP, submitted paperwork to run for Fulton County district attorney, as per the Journal-Constitution.
BREAKING 🚨🚨
— Phil Holloway ✈️ (@PhilHollowayEsq) March 8, 2024
Attorney Courtney Kramer @supreme_court1 has qualified to run for Fulton DA in a challenge to #FaniWillis
Kramer pledges to focus on the Atlanta crime crisis, violent crime, human trafficking, organized retail theft
Things that matter most to Fulton residents pic.twitter.com/1yE3bYZyUv
Republican Courtney Kramer, an attorney, has also entered the race for Fulton DA pic.twitter.com/B0w1ax5QbS
— Tamar Hallerman (@TamarHallerman) March 8, 2024
The newspaper suggested that Willis is anticipated to prevail due to her public visibility and her standing as the Democratic incumbent in the Democratic stronghold of Atlanta.
However, Willis' high public profile has its drawbacks.
Considering she faces disqualification hearings over her connection with a subordinate, there are likely many voters in Fulton County who desire her removal.
In her challengers, we find two candidates with vastly different motivations for running.
Wise Smith campaigned in 2020 on platforms of progressive policies like abolishing the death penalty, doing away with cash bail, and decriminalizing drug use.
In contrast, Kramer has accused Willis of transforming the DA’s office into a "clown show" and pledged to cease the prosecution of Trump.
She remarked about the prosecutor, “The moment she decided to indict President Trump and 19 other defendants was the moment I said I had enough. The resources that were used in that investigation could’ve been used for many other things and been much more beneficial for the citizens of Fulton County.”
As for who will emerge victorious, it remains uncertain.
But one thing is clear: This is not the kind of news Willis hoped to wake up to on Friday.