Category: conventions

10 Candidates Endorsed at Regional RA METRO Endorsement Convention!

10 Candidates Endorsed at Regional RA METRO Endorsement Convention!

Three RA chapter Presidents stand on stage to welcome participants

Canton, GA — Three GRA local chapters joined together last Saturday for a combined Regional Metro Endorsement Convention. The Cobb RA chapter, the North Metro RA Chapter (which includes Cherokee & Pickens counties), and the Fulton RA chapter combined to hold a regional endorsement for local races in three congressional districts, spanning ten counties. Many GRA Members have been working for months to recruit candidates to primary RINOs and on Saturday they came together and endorsed ten candidates at this local endorsement convention.

Most of these legislative candidates at the event pledged to join the Georgia Freedom Caucus, affirmed their support for government accountability and indicated they would pattern their time in the legislature after State Senator Colton Moore (R-Dade). State Rep. Charlice Byrd (R-Cherokee) also gave one of the keynote messages at the event, re-capping what happened during the recent legislative session, and called for more candidates to join the caucus.

Cobb RA Chairman Nathaniel Darnell, who presided over the regional endorsement convention, interviewed the candidates from the stage, and participating members took turns asking well-thought-out questions from the floor as well. 

The GRA only endorsed candidates by a two-thirds majority of the voting members at a convention. Here below are the candidates endorsed at this regional convention:

GA State House

• Charlice Byrd, HD 20 (Cherokee)
https://charlicebyrd.com

• Paul Kettering, HD 22 (Cobb & Cherokee)
https://ketteringforgahouse.com

• Gary Chafee, HD 35 (Acworth area).
https://chaffeeforga.com

• Phoebe Eckhardt, HD 47, (Milton area, North Fulton).
http://phoebe4georgiarep.com

• Norine Cantor, HD 30 (Flowery Branch)
https://www.norinecantor.com

• Michael Gordon, HD 49 (Fulton)
https://www.gordon4georgia.org

• Gregg Kirkpatrick, HD 21 (Cherokee)
https://www.kirkpatrickforga.com

Judicial

• Trey Goodwin, Cherokee Chief Magistrate

GA State Senate

• Ben Paul Fremer, SD 32 (challenging incumbent Kay Kirkpatrick)
https://www.benpaulfremer.com

U.S Congress

• Michael Pons for 11th Congressional District (Bartow, Cobb, Cherokee, Gordon, & Pickens)
https://www.mikepons.org

Cobb GOP Passes Two Strong Resolutions Against DEI & for Election Integrity In Spite of Hamstrung Resolutions Procedures

Cobb GOP Passes Two Strong Resolutions Against DEI & for Election Integrity In Spite of Hamstrung Resolutions Procedures

Marietta, GA — At Roswell Street Baptist Church last Saturday, the Cobb County Republican Party held their county convention to elect delegates to the congressional district and state conventions, to adopt rules, and to pass resolutions. Most of the convention went fairly smoothly with only minor changes made to the delegate lists proposed by the Nominating Committee, primarily due to some delegates dropping out because of scheduling conflicts.

Delegates check-in at the convention

However, the convention once again ran into a reoccurring problem for the Cobb GOP with being able to pass resolutions due to the ridiculous red tape Parliamentarian Donna Rowe has put in the Cobb GOP Rules, creating an arduous process to get resolutions submitted and approved. This was done in reaction to the backlash the Cobb GOP received a few years ago when a resolution was overwhelmingly passed by the county committee criticizing Governor Brian Kemp. This time the procedures made it so that a resolution favored by Cobb GOP Chairwoman Salleigh Grubbs could not be voted on by the body.

The resolution would have called for Board of Elections member and lobbyist Ed Lindsey to have been removed from the board and replaced with a grassroots champion for election integrity. Although the Cobb GOP’s procedural rules did not allow for the delegates to consider that resolution, other county GOP conventions did pass resolutions on that subject. Marci McCarthy, Chairwoman of the DeKalb GOP, for example, reported that her county’s convention passed the resolution. As the Over 80K Chair for the GA GOP, Salleigh Grubbs was said to be encouraging other county GOPs with over 80,000 populations to pass the resolution she could not pass in her own county.

The Cobb GOP did, however, manage to pass two strong resolutions at the county convention, which were presented by Cobb RA member Leroy Emkin, who serves as the Chairman of the Resolutions Committee. The first of these denounced the use of “Diversity Equity & Inclusion” (DEI) policies, which are tied to theories of Marxist “social justice,” in the Georgia university system. The second called for election integrity reform. You can see these two proposed resolutions here:

Cobb RA Hosting Joint Regional Endorsement Convention with North Metro RA chapter on April 6th

Cobb RA Hosting Joint Regional Endorsement Convention with North Metro RA chapter on April 6th

The Cobb RAs and the North Metro RAs have decided again to join together for a regional endorsement convention of the local Georgia Republican Assembly chapters in Cobb, Cherokee, and Pickens counties. Since announcing this, the Fulton RA chapter has also decided to join in the event.

Participating RA members will be able to vote on endorsing local candidates in races within this geographical area, including state legislative races, and races for local school board and county commission.

To pre-register for this 2024 local RA Regional Endorsement Convention, please register here. Lunch included.

Early-bird pricing is available if registering before April 6, 2024.

At the door pricing will be $25 per participating RA member. Candidates registering to speak at the event pay a $50 sponsorship. Other like-minded partner organizations pay $75 to hold a table at this regional endorsement convention.

We hope to see you join us!

Cobb RA Convention: Panel with Georgia Freedom Caucus Leadership & Officer Elections

Cobb RA Convention: Panel with Georgia Freedom Caucus Leadership & Officer Elections

We enjoyed a great county convention last Monday for our Cobb RA chapter as local officers were elected & attendees got to hear from Georgia Freedom Caucus leadership State Senator Colton Moore (R-Dade), State Rep. Charlice Byrd (R-Cherokee), Mallory Staples, & Blake Bassham on the dynamics of politics at the state capitol. They discussed up-coming legislative efforts, including ones to revise the RICO laws and provide relief for the alternate electors.

Our friends at TurningPointUSA also held a table at that event and shared about their initiative to increase voter registration.

The members present at the business portion of the county convention voted to elect the following officers for our chapter: Chris Deeb as the Cobb RA President, Nathaniel Darnell as the Chairman, Matthew Hardwick as the 1st Vice President, Jerry Ramsey as the 2nd Vice President, Sophia Farooq as the 3rd Vice President, Nancy Rikard as the Secretary, and Angie Rawles as the Treasurer.

Those who missed the event can now watch the video interview with State Senator Colton Moore (R-Dade) presented that evening here:

Click to watch the video interview with State Senator Colton Moore.

Thanks to everyone who came and participated! Here are some photos from our county convention:

County Convention on November 6th Will Feature Georgia Freedom Caucus Leadership

County Convention on November 6th Will Feature Georgia Freedom Caucus Leadership

We are pleased to announce that we will be hosting a county convention of the Cobb County Republican Assembly. The gathering will involve a business meeting for members-only, followed by breaking bread together over some light refreshments, dessert, coffee, and punch. Then at 7pm we will be hosting a panel of the leadership from the Georgia Freedom Caucus to share a report on what happened (from a truly conservative constitutionalist perspective) behind the scenes at the last legislative session and to tell us what to expect in next year’s 2024 legislative session. We’ve been planning to host them since the previous session ended. But we didn’t expect the Freedom Caucus to gain so much notoriety as they have lately from the controversy regarding Fulton D.A. Fani Willis. So this will be an opportunity for you to hear from them on all of these subjects — and to ask them your questions!

All of the funds raised will go to help our chapter with upcoming outreach efforts during the Republican primary and to reimburse the church for the use of their facility.

Remember that anyone is welcome to register to attend the guest panel with the Georgia Freedom Caucus, but only members may vote in the business portion of the convention. Feel free to invite your friends from Paulding, Douglas, Bartow, and other counties in the surrounding area who would like to hear from the leaders at the Georgia Freedom Caucus.

In conclusion, here are the important details on this local RA chapter event:

Cobb County Republican Assembly Convention:
Georgia Freedom Caucus Live Panel with Q&A
Location: Temple Baptist Church of West Cobb
Address: 5415 Macland Road SW, Powder Springs, GA 30127
Cost: $20 early-bird \ $25 late registration
Refreshments, dessert & drinks included
Business: 6:00pm. Panel: 7:00pm

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE COBB RA COUNTY CONVENTION.

Cobb County GOP Sets New Standards in Honoring Volunteers Ahead of Elected Officials & Political Industry

Cobb County GOP Sets New Standards in Honoring Volunteers Ahead of Elected Officials & Political Industry

The Cobb County GOP sends close to the largest delegation to the state convention most years. It also sends delegations to four congressional districts conventions now.

In the past, elected officials have usually been placed at the front of the line to serve as delegates, even though many of these elected officials stand on the sidelines and don’t participate in controversial votes at the conventions, so as not to upset their constituents. Their delegate votes thus are often wasted.

This year the Nominating Committee for Cobb County adopted a new policy: “We chose to prioritize and give preference to our hard-working grassroots volunteers in the county who have labored to help the organization, the cause, and candidate campaigns completely at their own expense—without expecting any financial reward— over elected officials,” said Cobb Nominating Committee Chairman Nathaniel Darnell. Nathaniel also serves as the Chairman for the Cobb County RA chapterChris Deeb, the President of the Cobb RA chapter, served as Vice Chairman of the Nominating Committee. Nine other conservatives, activists, and former candidates from the county also served on the committee.

Other members of the 2023 Cobb County Nominating Committee

“This was not to disrespect any Republican elected official in Cobb County, but rather to honor the many men and women upon whose shoulders they stand: our grassroots volunteers,” Nathaniel continued. As a result, all Cobb County elected officials were placed on the alternate list by default during early Nominating Committee deliberations. By the conclusion, the committee voted to remove only one Cobb Republican elected official from both the delegate and alternate lists due to bad behavior in the state legislature.

This policy represents a shift in thinking within the Georgia Republican Party: Instead of the grassroots being treated as being at the bottom of the totem pole with the elite elected officials, corporate lobbyists, and paid political industry riding on their backs, true self-sacrificing Patriots were given the foremost respect.

Nathaniel Darnell, Cobb RA Chairman &
GRA NFRA Director

These are people with nothing to gain from their activism (other than just working to make the world a better place). We suggest that this group is more likely to be objective about what is best for the party, since they aren’t thinking about how to climb the ladder or make money in the political industry. 

While some paid members of the political industry, such as Brittany Ellison from east Cobb (who has also publicly posted false and vulgar attacks about fellow Republicans on her social media), took to the microphone to complain about being nominated as merely an alternate behind grassroots volunteers, no one at the Cobb County GOP Convention complained about the elected officials taking a back seat. No one made a motion to move up an elected official in Cobb from an alternate to a delegate position. The Nominating Committee’s policy concerning elected officials was therefore approved by the body at the county convention.

Those who sacrificially give of their “three Ts” (their time, their treasure, and their talents) expecting no personal enrichment, should always be given such preference. They are the heart and soul of the Republican Party.

Coming Up: “The Full Impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Last Term” with Attorney Ben DuPré

Coming Up: “The Full Impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Last Term” with Attorney Ben DuPré

The Cobb County Republican Assembly is pleased to announce a special guest speaker for our county convention on Thursday evening, August 18th at the Cobb County GOP Headquarters: Attorney Ben DuPré, Chief of Staff to the Republican Chief Justice of the Alabama State Supreme Court, will personally provide a message on what is being called “the U.S. Supreme Court’s best term in the history of America!” We will hear a summary and explanation on how the court has overturned major damaging precendent that egregiously deviated from the history and text of the U.S. Constitution to circumvent our elected representative system and imposed tyranny on Americans for decades. We will better understand how the series of court decisions were landmark for gun rights, the lives of the preborn, energy development, bureaucratic over-reach, freedom of religion, school choice, and more!

Attorney Ben DuPré, Chief of Staff for the last two elected Chief Justices of the State of Alabama

Ben DuPré is the husband of Jerusha DuPré and the father of seven children, who are educated at home through Ezekiel Academy. Ben is a constitutional law attorney licensed in Virginia and Alabama. Although born and raised in New York, Ben came south as soon as he could, attending Regent University Law School in Virginia, before moving to Montgomery in 2001 to work for Chief Justice Roy Moore at the Alabama Supreme Court on the same day the Ten Commandments monument was installed. In 2003 Ben left the Court to work with Chief Justice Moore at the Foundation for Moral Law for nine years, defending religious liberty and advocating for the pre-born in Georgia, Alabama, and across the country.

Since 2013, Ben served as Chief of Staff for both Chief Justice Moore and now Chief Justice Tom Parker. Ben serves as a deacon at Evangel Church in Montgomery, and is grateful to be saved by grace and to be a survivor of Roe v. Wade.

Registration for the event includes refreshments, dessert, and a time for Q&A with our guest speaker. Season pass holders get $15 off this and future events we host this year!

Here is a summary of the location and times for our up-coming event:
Cobb RA County Convention
Held at the Cobb GOP Headquarters
799 Roswell Street NW, Marietta, GA 30060
$30 early-bird registration (refreshments & dessert included)
$15 registration with season pass
Thursday, August 18, 2022
7:00 PM EST (guest speaker)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE AUGUST COUNTY CONVENTION.

See the List of Local Candidates the Cobb RAs Have Endorsed

See the List of Local Candidates the Cobb RAs Have Endorsed

Marietta, GA — Participating members of the Cobb County Republican Assembly met today at the Cobb County GOP Headquarters to hear speeches by local candidates and to vote on whether to endorse them and others nominated by the membership. It takes a two-thirds majority of the participating membership for a candidate to be endorsed by the RAs. The local endorsement convention ran from 10:30 am until 2pm, and included lunch. Here are the candidates the Cobb RAs voted to endorse:

Legislative Offices

County Commissioners

  • For Cobb County Commission District 3: Judy Sarden (north central Cobb)
    • Challenging incumbent Republican JoAnn Birrell with a poor vote score
  • For Cobb County Commission District 1: Keli Gambrill (West Cobb)
    • Also won endorsement four years ago when challenging an incumbent & has maintained a strong vote score since being elected

Cobb School Board

  • For Post 4: David Chastain (incumbent)
  • For Post 2: Matthew Anthony Sears

For Solicitor General: Courtney Brubaker

Read More
Cobb RAs Pass a County Platform

Cobb RAs Pass a County Platform

Marietta, GA — Participating members of the Cobb County Republican Assembly on Saturday at our county convention debated, discussed, amended, and ultimately passed a county platform listing the county organization’s policy priorities. The convention started at 10:30am at the Cobb GOP Headquarters and lasted until 2pm. Here is the final version that was adopted:

GOP Accountability: Ensure Republican officers do not donate to or support Democrats.

Implement Election Integrity: Remove all drop boxes, ditch Dominion, require photo IDs, perform audits to paper ballots, provide access to the people to review paper ballots, shrink time window for absentee voting, and clean the voter rolls.

Oppose All Tax Increases, including SPLOSTs.

Oppose All Forms of Cronyism: corporate welfare, government-engineered economic development, (TADs) Tax Allocation districts, and (TIFs) tax increment financing 

Recognize Personhood of Pre-born: Ensure county employee group health insurance plans do not fund abortion, and shutdown the Marietta Planned Parenthood on Cobb Parkway.

Promote School Choice: Oppose all forms of critical theory including but not limited to CRT, SEL & gender theory indoctrination of the youth, and encourage all alternative private education options (such as vouchers or true tax credits) that foster free market competition in education.

Implement Health & Medical Freedom: Promote vaccine choice & mask freedom, and oppose mandated quarantines and lockdowns

Oppose Government & Crony Corporate Internet Censorship: Recognize that the internet is the town square of the 21st century that demands 1st amendment protections from government boards and private government-aligned boards.