NPR traveled to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Georgia district to hear what her constituents thought about their congresswoman’s decision to resign next year after a falling out with President Trump.
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene recently announced that she is stepping down from her seat mid-term. Her last day in office will be January 5. The decision came after a simmering feud between Representative Greene and President Trump over the Epstein files and other issues. Greene, of course, rose to national fame as a staunch backer of Trump and the MAGA movement. But in recent weeks, Trump revoked his endorsement of her. Greene said that she did not want her district to have to endure a, quote, “hateful primary.” Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Sarah Kallis traveled to Greene’s northwest Georgia district after she announced her resignation to see what her constituents had to say. Sarah, thanks for being on the line.
SARAH KALLIS, BYLINE: Thank you for having me.
DETROW: So I’m curious – what was the mood like in the district?
KALLIS: Well, it’s safe to say that people were shocked by her announcement. I noticed that people were very hesitant to talk to press. I actually went up to her district two days before she announced her resignation as well. And when I went up then, constituents were coming up to me. They wanted to give their opinion and their name. But this time when I went up, very few people wanted to talk, and even fewer wanted to give a name or any identifying information. Some of them said they were worried about family backlash, especially with the upcoming holiday.
DETROW: Tell us about what the people who did talk to you said, though.
KALLIS: Well, again, folks were definitely very surprised, and it’s important to note here that she’s very popular in her district. They voted overwhelmingly for both her and President Trump in 2024. Here is Floyd Farless from Rome, which is Greene’s hometown, who said he voted for her last year.
FLOYD FARLESS: I wish she had not done it at this situation. It does leave us without representation till somebody’s appointed. She has been somewhat of a firebrand, but every area has got their own. And she would have been reelected, for sure, here. I don’t think there’d be any question about it.
KALLIS: And it’s important to note here that Farless used the word appointed, but that seat will actually be vacant until a special election is called when voters will select a new representative, and they are sworn in.
DETROW: Curious what else you heard from voters.
KALLIS: Well, constituents represented a pretty wide range of opinions. You know, some said that they support her doing what she needs to do. They had some theories that she might be concerned about her personal safety. And then there were some others that echoed Farless’ concerns, especially about the lack of representation in Congress in between that period where she resigns and the special election happens to replace her. And that likely would be sometime in February. And some constituents also cited some unfounded conspiracy theories about her resignation, which include some claims that the Democratic Party undermined her. And it’s important to note here that Greene rose to prominence for pushing conspiracy theories like QAnon when she first ran in 2020.
DETROW: So that’s voters. What about local Republican Party leaders?
KALLIS: So the GOP chair for Greene’s district, Jackie Harling, said that she was shocked and saddened as well, which definitely seems to be the theme here, but she understands her decision ultimately.
JACKIE HARLING: I do not blame her for making the choice to basically jump out of the torture chamber. When your family is threatened, it’s a whole different ball of wax.
KALLIS: Greene has said that she’s received death threats throughout her time in Congress. And Harling says that she still fully supports President Trump, but she also told me that the rift between Trump and Greene has been pretty difficult for her.
HARLING: I still support him. I am a big believer in showing grace and forgiveness.
KALLIS: And now attention for Harling and the district GOP is turning to the special election that’s going to happen early next year.
DETROW: What else can you tell us about that campaign in its earliest days?
KALLIS: Well, it’s the most conservative district in Georgia, and there won’t be a primary because of Georgia laws. So a crowded field is definitely possible in this race, with candidates on both sides of the aisle. And if no one gets that 50% of the vote, it’s going to have to go to a runoff, which would leave the district without representation in Washington for even longer. And Congressman Greene said on social media that she’s not going to endorse in this race. But Trump has been pretty active in endorsements in congressional races, so it’s possible he’ll endorse here.
DETROW: That is Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Sarah Kallis. Thank you so much.
KALLIS: Thank you.
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