Election Day for the District-47 Georgia House Seat Republican Run-off is June 16th. Please vote.
The previous Milton Coalition Blog post endorsed Brian Cochran. That post emphasized Brian’s stellar qualifications to represent D-47, only implicitly referencing his opponent Jack Miller’s missteps. This blog post will be more explicit in explaining Miller’s blunders, which strongly point to Cochran as the more pragmatic choice for Republican voters, both in terms of electability and legislative effectiveness (should he be elected).
I have known both Jack and Brian for many years. Both Jack and Brian are fine young men. However, Jack has stumbled and lost his way, although he has belatedly taken some actions to rectify his errors. Unfortunately, through his missteps, Jack has weakened his standing with voters, reducing his odds (once quite high) of winning the general election and diminishing his future legislative influence should he prevail in the elections.
When the campaign began, I was all-in for Jack. However, as Jack’s campaign progressed, I (and other voters) became increasingly troubled by several issues. While some issues were deeply concerning, individually, they were not deal-breakers: an unfair head start; copious, dubious, and entangling politician endorsements; a dull and uninspiring campaign; questionable tactics; and an injection (from PAC advertisements) of divisive national politics. Notwithstanding these other issues, one issue predominated and is disqualifying for Jack in the run-off election: Gambling Dark Money campaigns conducted on Jack’s behalf that he accepted and from which he has immensely benefited. I estimate the Gambling Dark Money expenditures to be $300,000+. Sadly, Jack’s public responses to these expenditures have been too little, too late. Gambling Dark Money is Jack’s Achilles Heel and could dog him all the way to November. The Gambling Dark Money fiasco is Exhibit A in the case for Brian Cochran being the more pragmatic choice for Republican voters. The Democrat opponent, Lindsay DeFranco, will relentlessly wield Dark Money as a cudgel against Jack. In fact, Ms. DeFranco recently sent her first mailer to voters, with a sole focus on Gambling Dark Money.
The Dark Money campaigns also hurt Jack by nonsensically tying him to divisive national politics. Prudently, neither Jack nor Brian has referred to national politics in their election communications. Both occupied a right-of-center lane in the campaign. In contrast, the PAC campaigns for Jack maladroitly injected national politics into the run-off, pulling Jack’s campaign messaging unnecessarily Rightward. This is certain to hurt Jack, if he is the Republican nominee; pivoting closer to the campaign centerline (needed to win the general election) will be difficult. The explicit linkages to national politics are yet another weapon Ms. DeFranco can employ. She can now portray Jack as too extreme for D-47 . . . creating unease among Independents and more moderate Republicans needed to win the election. Conversely, Brian Cochran is unsoiled; he has wisely avoided being dirtied by national political rancor.
Lastly, Jack poorly executed his endorsement strategy. To his credit, Jack has taken down his website’s endorsement page. However, much damage has been done (and can only be partially repaired). There were several issues with Jack’s endorsement strategy. First, many persuadable voters recoil at entrenched politicians telling them how to vote. Many such voters now view Jack as just another political insider and establishment politician. Second, staring out from Jack’s bingo card of endorsements were several sketchy endorsers that Ms. DeFranco can now link to Jack. And in fact, Ms DeFranco is already citing questionable endorsements in her online posts. Third, and most-importantly, Jack’s endorsements mean he returned a lot of valuable IOUs (he had earned while working on various election campaigns) to their originators. Jack is no longer a political creditor, but rather is now a political debtor . . . deeply in debt to a bevy of politicians as well as to immensely powerful gambling corporations. And unfortunately, Jack’s accumulation of so much political debt and his entanglement with so many career politicians (plus his association with Gambling Dark Money) could limit his effectiveness in the House–should he be elected. Brian has none of this baggage. Brian’s lack of obligations makes him more electable and potentially more effective as legislator (than Jack). Brian Cochran is beholden to no one.
Jack’s self-inflicted wounds have certainly diminished his political standing, perhaps fatally. Pragmatism suggests that Brian Cochran is the more electable candidate and (potentially) more effective legislator. However, putting aside his lack of political baggage (that make him the more pragmatic candidate), Brian Cochran is a strong candidate in his own right. Brian has a demonstrated track record of fighting for our civil liberties. Brian is a man of courage, integrity, and competence. His expertise in technology is critically needed at the state house, especially in sensibly regulating AI. Brian is unequivocal in this opposition to gambling, including referenda that would pass the legislative buck to citizens. Against all odds and despite rivers of PAC money being spent for the benefit of his opponent, Brian vaulted into the run-off. Brian self-managed and (mostly) self-financed an impressive, enthusiastic, and authentic grassroots campaign. However, Brian needs your help to cross the finish line. Please join your fellow citizens in voting for Brian Cochran . . . the pragmatic choice and the best choice for District 47.
Following are some links to Brian’s campaign websites:
Cochran Campaign Facebook Page
Cochran Campaign Instagram Page
I am also including a letter from Brian to voters in which he makes his closing argument for your vote.
This is likely my last long-form blog post before election day. However, I will continue to publish shorter posts at the Bits and Pieces blog page; such posts do not generate emails to blog subscribers, who will need to directly access the Bits and Pieces page for the latest analysis of the D-47 election. Following is a link: Bits and Pieces
Advocating For Citizens and Good Governance,
Tim
Milton Coalition 