Election 2024: Johnson latest to try unseating Bishop

(The Center Square) – Republican Wayne Johnson is making a bid to unseat incumbent Democrat Sanford Bishop Jr. in Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District.

Bishop holds the advantage of more than three decades as a congressman and in campaign funding. Johnson’s path is bolstered by the district slowly becoming more Republican over the years.

Two independent candidates are also running in the race: David Gregors as a Libertarian and Colleen Massey as an independent.

Bishop’s funding dwarfs Johnson, with the challenger having only $10,000 left at the end of the second fundraising period, which ended on June 30.

Bishop brought in $1.4 million over the course of the campaign, spending $900,000. Only $540,000 of the $1.4 million was from individual donations, with the rest coming from committee contributions.

Johnson raised nearly $100,000, or just a fraction of Bishop.

Redistricting could cause some uncertainty for race outcomes going into the election. The boundaries of the district have shifted since the last election in 2022.

The Hill predicts that the district remains “likely Dem,” with Bishop having a 95% chance of winning.

The candidates have taken up very different policy focuses, with Johnson touting his experience in business and labeling himself a “rock-solid conservative.”

“He knows how to run organizations efficiently and effectively and wants to bring this solutions-oriented approach to the United States House of Representatives,” says his campaign website.

Johnson has aligned himself with former President Donald Trump and has said he is “pro-life” and a “serious gun owner.” Johnson previously served in Trump’s administration as the chief strategy and transformation officer and the chief operating officer of the Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid and says he is for “America First.”

Bishop has taken a mainstream approach to politics, remaining focused on issues like national defense, criminal justice, and funneling more federal funding back into Georgia.

Agriculture has also been a concern for Bishop.

“GA farmers thrive when there is fair competition. Congress can do its part to protect them from unfairly priced imports,” he said on social media of a bill he sponsored, which would provide payments to local farmers.

Johnson said he would do better for farmers.

“Farmers are in serious peril in South Georgia because Sanford Bishop failed to pass the Farm Bill,” he said on social media. “Wayne Johnson has a plan to fix the financial hardships facing farmers in Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District. A change will be good.”

In 2022, Bishop won by 10%, a much smaller margin than in past elections when he was regularly winning by 20% or even 35%.