A political challenger to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has emerged, casting a shadow over the Democratic prosecutor’s ability to project strength heading into a tumultuous stretch in her prosecution of former President Donald Trump.
Courtney Kramer, a Georgia Republican and election integrity lawyer, has qualified to run for the urban seat, according to legal analyst Phil Holloway. The Emory graduate’s addition to the ballot will undoubtedly add muscle behind accusations that Willis has used her case against Trump and 18 co-defendants to boost her own profile, with others citing the overhaul of her campaign website just days before handing down indictments last year.
According to Holloway, Kramer “pledges to focus on the Atlanta crime crisis, violent crime, human trafficking, organized retail theft,” all areas that ostensibly have fallen by the wayside as Willis puts all of her office’s efforts into charging President Trump with seeking to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results.
Despite Willis’ stumbles, Kramer would likely face an uphill battle in a reliably blue enclave. Fulton County is anchored by Atlanta and plays host to mostly Democratic officeholders. Two Republicans, County Clerk & Recorder Patrick O’Brian and Sheriff Jon Webb, are the lone members of their party to serve at the local level.