Should he seek U.S. Senate post, Georgia speaker would open statehouse door to ideologues

savannahnow.com ^ | 6/3/21 | Adam Van Brimmer

[cotton1706]

Without David Ralston exerting his influence as Georgia House speaker, the likelihood of the Republican caucus installing a hard-right leader is high

Georgia House Speaker David Ralston is exploring a run for the U.S. Senate, a prospect that promises to change business at the Capitol.

The Georgia Capitol, not the one in Washington, D.C.

Ralston's chances against Sen. Raphael Warnock in 2022 aside, he can't challenge for both a federal and a state post at the same time. Without Ralston exerting his influence at the statehouse, the Georgia House Republican caucus could go rogue.

Especially with Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan leaving the Senate after the next session.

For all the partisan legislation passed by the GOP-led Georgia General Assembly in recent years, Ralston has been the difference between the Legislature leaning right and keeling over. He led efforts to water down the voting reforms bill (yes, it could have been much, much worse) and has used committee chair appointments and other levers of influence to prevent other ideologically polarizing measures, such as constitutional carry and religious liberty, from receiving serious consideration.

If he doesn't run for re-election next year, the Republicans will choose a new House speaker when the General Assembly convenes in January 2023. The way the party is trending, the new leader is less likely to be the moderating voice that Ralston is.

A hard-right speaker could paralyze the state lawmaking process, especially at a time when the Republican majority is narrowing.

The Legislature, particularly the House, is a reach-across-the-aisle workplace. Most of the difference-making pieces of legislation that pass have both Republican and Democratic sponsors.

[cotton1706]

Well would you look at this! ANOTHER House Speaker (like Joe Straus in Texas, and John Boehner and Paul Ryan in the National House) that ACTIVELY works to thwart conservative issues.

And yet again, what's the worry? "Oh, no! We may be losing this moderate republican, who is so helpful to us."

[E. Pluribus Unum]

What’s the downside?

[cotton1706]

Oh, and another thing! Wouldn’t Mitch McConnell just LOVE a Ralston type in the Senate! (if he could beat the Democrat, that is, since moderates don’t have the stomach to go after Democrats)

[qaz123]

Ralston is a gigantor POS. Always has been.

[fieldmarshaldj]

What is the point of winning majority control of legislatures if corrupt left-wing Derp State RINOs are elected to lead them ?

[BillyBoy]

>> Well would you look at this! ANOTHER House Speaker (like Joe Straus in Texas, and John Boehner and Paul Ryan in the National House) that ACTIVELY works to thwart conservative issues. <<

Obviously, we must immediately repel the 17th amendment so all these backstabbing RINO state legislator "leaders" can choose our U.S. Senators for us. They will clearly make better choices than GOP primary voters would.

< /sarcasm>

[FLT-bird]

Excellent! This guy sounds like he is a key RINO to get the hell out of there. Constitutional Carry and much much tougher Election Integrity laws are two of the best things the Georgia Legislature could pass.

[Eleutheria5]

“Georgia House Speaker David Ralston is exploring a run for the U.S. Senate”

You mean, the two left-wing ideologues who stole the last election aren’t going to last?