America’s most polarized politician is the most famous

Marjorie Taylor Green has created an extraordinary reputation for a new Republican politician who represents only a small district in the US state of Georgia.

He won a seat in the US Congress for a month, but is already the source of a lot of political buzz. For example, he fired for his contacts with the conspiracy theory movement QAnon, journalists found old social media reports forgiving violence against Democrats and denied him the right to participate in special council commissions.

In the midst of all the scandals Greene has been embroiled in, our colleagues from the American edition of Business Insider have spoken with Greene’s Republican and Democratic counterparts about how he was first elected, and how his members feel about the media attention for Green and the chance for re-election.

One of the most republican parties in the country

Georgia’s 14th district, in which Green is a representative, is mostly white and rural, with most residents having a high school education and an average household income of less than $ 10,000.

The district is considered one of the most loyal Republicans in the United States. Local Republican leader Luke Martin says voters in the district only vote for the most conservative candidates against abortion, pro-gun and anti-tax or government intervention.

Green District is known as the ‘Carpet Capital’ of the United States, and almost everyone works in factories affiliated with the industry. The outbreak of the corona virus has hit the sector particularly hard, but even before the epidemic, the district was already experiencing a decline in jobs due to automation and outsourcing, causing stress among the working class in the region.

“They are not allowed to form a union. They see production going overseas and at the national level. They think they are only talking about the rights of black people. They feel they have lost, but no one is standing up for them,” explains local Democrat leader David Boyle. There is a feeling, and Marjorie Taylor Green is responding wisely. ”

Odd man out

Boyle describes the Green District as a typical working class community that has not traditionally been served by foreigners. “So, interesting,” said a wealthy businesswoman from the Atlanta suburbs who went to the district and was later selected. “

Green, the founder of a gym and co-owner of a construction company started by his father, moved from Atlanta to Rome, Georgia in 2019. He had no experience in political office at the time.

Martin, the leader of the local Republican Party, says he does not know how well Green will perform for his first campaign. “But he is well versed in the campaign and uses his external position to his advantage,” he says.

What voters want about Green is that he resembles Trump, who was popular in the district. “He’s in your face, and people here want it,” said Tim Schifflet, another local Democrat leader in the district. “They like her because they like Donald Trump.”

“During the last election, the Republicans’ question was, ‘What kind of conservatism do you like? Someone who stands with the Democrats or someone who goes there to make friends?'” Said Martin, one of the local Republican leaders. Chosen. “

“Green’s campaign included the slogan ‘Save America, Stop Socialism,’ and the message got stuck with conservatives in northwest Georgia,” said Darrell Galloway, Republican leader for Green’s County.

“This excessive conservatism helped the ‘hardcore’ Republicans win,” said Vincent Olszewski, the campaign leader for Green’s Democratic opponent in the election.

In such a strong Republican leaning district, Green was the obvious winner for the House of Representatives seat, but things were made even easier when he withdrew from his Democratic challenge in September.

There is support despite the scandals

It’s hard to say what Green’s voters think of her now. According to Schifflet, one of the Democrats in Green County, the majority of Republicans support Green despite all the corruption.

But Martin, one of the district’s Republicans, thinks some of his fans “have come out in favor of him more than ever,” and many voters are “not disappointed or happy with the negative attention he’s receiving now. They want her to come to work.”

According to Darrell Galloway, one of the Republican leaders in the district, he receives regular calls from voters who do not vote for Green, but want to let them know that they are happy with his actions.

Chances of re-election

Green will have to defend his seat in November, and his active conservatism makes him a target for both Democrats and Republicans.

“I’m sure he’s going to be in a fierce primary war by 2022,” said Martin, a local Republican. But Galloway, the other Republican leader in the district, did not see the opportunity to remove Green from office. “Now that things stand, she’s very difficult to win because her voters support her unconditionally.”