Trump Picks Burt And the Real Prize is Who Doesn’t Run

Donald Trump’s endorsement of Lt. Governor Burt Jones for Governor is hardly a shock. Jones has been a loyal foot soldier in MAGA world, so this was more about timing than suspense.

But the timing matters.

If you were wondering why Marjorie Taylor Greene had her recent public meltdown about the “good old boys club” in Georgia politics, this might just be your answer. Politico notes that Trump’s move was meant to consolidate MAGA behind Jones. That is the kind of thing that would make MTG’s ears burn. So she responded in typical MTG fashion by pretending she was not bothered while launching into a tirade about how the Georgia GOP is out of touch.

On Peach Pundit the Podcast™, Buzz floated the idea that she might be setting herself up to be the heir apparent to MAGA. Enter Laura Loomer, who promptly dropped the hammer on both that notion and MTG’s favorite narrative that it is the men who are always out to get her. Always remember that MTG is just minutes away from donning a CodePink hat, but I digress.

All of this drama makes the real value of Trump’s endorsement clear; it is not about winning over new voters for Burt Jones because those voters are already in his camp. The point is to keep other MAGA hopefuls out of the race entirely.

That matters, because this is shaping up to be a crowded GOP primary. Chris Carr is running, and Brad Raffensperger looks more and more likely to jump in. If Raffensperger does get in then he and Carr will be scrapping over the non-MAGA voting block. Georgia Republican primary voters have already shown that MAGA dominance is not a given in this state. See Brian Kemp and Raffensperger’s own wins against Trump-backed challengers in 2022 as exhibits A and B.

For Jones, the endorsement is not a magic wand. But it does keep MAGA from splitting its base, and so now he is in a much better position. Clearing MTG from the field is the biggest value this endorsement brings to the Jones camp and that is very valuable.