Two Republican congressional candidates in Georgia, Chuck Hand and Wayne Johnson, were in a heated debate ahead of a primary runoff on June 18. Hand, who was convicted of a misdemeanor for illegally demonstrating inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, walked out of the televised debate after allegations were made against him by a third-place candidate from the initial primary. Hand refused to debate Johnson after allegations were made about his criminal history and his involvement in the Capitol riot. This volatile turn in Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District has put a spotlight on the Republican candidates vying for a chance to challenge longtime Democratic incumbent Rep. Sanford Bishop in November.
Michael Nixon, the third-place candidate who endorsed Johnson, brought up past criminal charges against Hand during the debate. Hand, who was sentenced to 20 days in federal prison and six months of probation for his involvement in the Capitol riot, walked out of the debate following these allegations. Johnson criticized Hand’s behavior and questioned his fitness to be the Republican nominee in the race. Despite Hand walking out, Johnson continued to address reporters and reaffirmed his commitment to appealing to both Republican and Democratic voters in the district.
After leaving the debate, Hand spoke with reporters for nearly 20 minutes, criticizing Johnson and Nixon for their tactics during the debate. Hand accused Johnson of orchestrating the attacks against him and expressed particular displeasure with the mention of his wife’s past conviction for illegal sale of oxycodone. Hand emphasized his working-class roots and commitment to improving economic conditions in the district, positioning himself as a candidate who would bring together diverse groups of voters under the banner of Donald Trump.
Both candidates are competing in a runoff election after Johnson received almost 45% of the vote in the initial primary, while Hand received almost 32%. Early in-person voting began ahead of the June 18 election, with both candidates vying for the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Sanford Bishop in November. Johnson, who has taken a more moderate position and emphasized the importance of appealing to Black Democratic voters in the district, continues to push his message of unity and progress for the community. Despite the heated debate and controversies surrounding the candidates, the election will ultimately be decided by the voters of Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District.
