ATLANTA – Marjorie Taylor Greene, an enterprising woman who has advocated for the far-right coalition theory QAnon and been criticized for a series of racist remarks, has won the Republican nomination for the 14th Congressional District of Georgia.
Greene beat neurosurgeon John Cowan in a primary runoff for the open seat on Tuesday in the deep-red neighborhood in northwest Georgia, despite several GOP officials launching their campaign after videos surfaced showing them being racist, anti-Semitic and anti-Semitic express Muslim views.
President Donald Trump congratulated Greene on Wednesday morning.
“WE HAVE WON! Thank you for your support! Save America. Stop socialism,” Greene tweeted late Tuesday. A video posted on her victory party’s Twitter account showed a room full of supporters gathering close together. Bad, as one , wore face masks to protect against the coronavirus.
In a victory speech posted on social media, Greene said she decided to enter politics because the country is going in the wrong direction.
‘That the Republican establishment was against me. The DC swamp has been against me. And the lying fake news media hate my gut, ”she said. “Yep, it’s a badge of honor.”
She has gathered tens of thousands of followers on social media, where she often posts videos of herself talking directly to the camera. Those videos have helped support her popularity with her base, while also drawing strong condemnation from some future colleagues in Congress.
In a series of videos that appeared just after Greene first placed Republican primary on June 9, she complains of an “Islamic invasion” in government offices, claims that Black and Spanish men are being held back by “bound and dealing drugs,” and sends a anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that billionaire philanthropist George Soros, who is Jewish, collaborated with the Nazis.
Several high-profile Republicans then spoke out against her. Louisiana House Minority Whip Steve Scalise quickly threw his support behind Cowan, while rep. Georgia’s Jody Hice dismissed a Greene award.
Greene is also part of a growing list of candidates who have voiced support for QAnon, the far-right American conspiracy theory popular with some supporters of President Donald Trump. Lauren Boebert, another candidate who has expressed support for QAnon, has called for a five-term congressman in a Republican primary in Colorado.
Greene has positioned herself as a dumb Trump supporter and emphasizes a strong pro-gun, pro-border wall and anti-abortion message. She has also connected with voters through an intensive effort to travel the neighborhood and meet people on the ground.
Larry Silker, a 72-year-old retiree, cast a ballot for Greene at an early polling station in Dallas, Georgia last week.
‘She seems to be a go-getter, you know. She looks like everyone knows she can, and I like that, ”said Silker.
Asked if he had seen criticism of Greene’s comments, Silker said: ‘Well, you know, you see it. But do you put faith into it? You just have to be more discriminating with the help you render toward other people. ”
