ATLANTA — U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s 14th Congressional District doesn’t look to be competitive as she seeks reelection to a third term representing Northwest Georgia.
But the Rome Republican’s national profile is making her by far the most prolific fundraiser in this year’s Georgia congressional races.
The Greene campaign had raised nearly $5 million through the end of the first quarter, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission this week. Of that amount, about $4.8 million came from individual contributors, including $3.4 million in small-dollar donations of $200 or less.
The closest to Greene in fundraising among Georgia congressional candidates is Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta, who had raised just more than $1.5 million through March 31.
Since winning election to Congress in 2020, Greene has built a reputation as an outspoken conservative not afraid to rock the boat in the House Republican Caucus. Currently, she is behind a motion to vacate the speakership of Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, over his support for additional U.S. aid to Ukraine.
“She’s become a national name, for better or worse,” said Kerwin Swint, a political science professor at Kennesaw State University. “That brings certain benefits, and that includes fundraising.”
While Greene’s profile has drawn financial support from Republicans across the country, it also has attracted significant donations to Democrats willing to challenge her for the 14th District seat. In fact, Democrat Marcus Flowers outraised Greene during the 2022 campaign — $16.6 million to $12.5 million — according to the campaign finance website OpenSecrets.
However, Flowers only received 34.1% of the vote in losing to Greene two years ago. Now, he has moved over to challenge longtime Democratic Rep. David Scott of Atlanta in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District.
Flowers and a political action campaign linked to his campaign had raised more than $615,000 through the first quarter, compared to more than $865,000 raised by Scott.
This year, Democratic donors appeared to have settled on Afghanistan combat veteran Shawn Harris, a retired Army brigadier general from Rockmart, among the four Democrats challenging Greene. Harris had raised $302,212 through January, February and March, all but $5,000 from individual contributors.
Joseph Leigh of Rossville had raised only a little more than $17,000, including $7,000 in the form of a loan he made to his campaign. Clarence Blalock of Paulding County was next among the Democratic hopefuls with $11,378, followed by Deric Houston of Dallas with $5,810.