Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who has gained national attention for her investigation and subsequent criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and his allies over alleged election interference in Georgia, now faces new hurdles in her bid for re-election. Democrat Christian Wise Smith, a former Fulton prosecutor and Atlanta solicitor, and Republican lawyer Courtney Kramer have both entered the race, challenging Willis in the upcoming primary and general elections.
Willis, who emerged as a prominent figure after opening the investigation that led to the criminal conspiracy charges against Trump and others accused of trying to steal Georgia's electoral votes from President Joe Biden, has come under increased legal and political scrutiny in recent months. The scrutiny stems from revelations that Willis had a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, an attorney she hired to help run the Trump case.
The court hearing the disqualification effort is expected to rule on Willis' status within the next week, but regardless of the outcome, she will first have to win the May 21 Democratic primary to continue her campaign to keep her seat in the fall. Smith, who previously ran against Willis in 2020 and lost the primary to her and former District Attorney Paul Howard, told CNN that he is "very passionate about making sure the citizens of Fulton County feel confident in their DA."
When asked if his decision to run was influenced by Willis facing disqualification in the Trump racketeering case, Smith said, "I'll reserve my comments [about her current situation] until after we know more. Then we will decide if we go full steam ahead with this campaign after the decision. Today was the final day to qualify. Right now, we're just dotting our i's and crossing our t's."
Kramer, a vocal Trump supporter who worked in the Office of the White House Counsel under the former president, is expected to advance as the GOP nominee to the general election on November 5. While Fulton County, a longtime Democratic stronghold and home to the city of Atlanta, will present an uphill challenge for Kramer, she has sharply condemned Willis and suggested that the district attorney "should be held criminally liable" if she lied on her financial disclosures-allegations that have not been substantiated.
Despite the mounting pressure on Willis, allies of the Fulton County DA have attempted to rally around her in recent weeks with various demonstrations of public support. Several prominent Georgia Democrats and local political heavyweights, including Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, have attended court proceedings and expressed solidarity with Willis.
"We know who's on trial, and it's not her. It's Donald Trump for attempting to steal an election," Dickens said at a news conference from City Hall during the hearings last month.
AME Bishop Reginald Jackson, a spiritual adviser of Willis and head of a historic Black church in the Atlanta area, and Gerald Griggs, president of the Georgia NAACP, have also been seen in court during the hearings, emphasizing their support for the district attorney and her efforts to address the concerns raised by Georgia citizens in the indictment.
Willis, who was elected in 2020 on a promise to reform her office, inherited a backlog of more than 16,000 cases from the previous district attorney due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to the Trump case, she has brought anti-corruption indictments against Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug and his associates, using the racketeering statute as a tool to build a broad conspiracy case.
As the primary and general elections approach, Willis' future on the Georgia subversion case and her chances of retaining her position as Fulton County District Attorney remain uncertain. The outcome of the disqualification hearing and the impact of the personal scandal surrounding her relationship with Nathan Wade will likely play a significant role in shaping the race and determining whether Willis can continue her high-profile pursuit of justice in the Trump case and beyond.
