Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the Georgia trial into former President Donald Trump’s alleged election interference, has raised over $125,000 for his own reelection campaign. McAfee is seeking reelection to his nonpartisan position as Fulton Superior Court judge on May 21. The trial brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis accuses Trump and 18 defendants of trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. Trump has pleaded not guilty and accused Willis of targeting him for political reasons. McAfee has two challengers in the election, former Fulton County Solicitor General Tiffani Johnson and civil rights attorney Robert H. Patillo.
McAfee has filed a new campaign contribution disclosure form, revealing that his campaign has raised $127,435 so far in 2024. In total, he has brought in $320,350, spent $6,852, and has $308,455 on hand for the election. Meanwhile, Patillo has raised $11,808 since announcing his campaign in March, spent $7,541, and has $4,266 on hand. Financial information for Johnson’s campaign was not available. Patillo has criticized the court proceedings in the Trump case, describing them as a “clown show” and advocating for a voice from outside the political parties.
McAfee was first appointed to his position by Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, in 2022, after Atlanta Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Christopher S. Brasher retired. This marks his first time facing voters in Fulton County. While Georgia’s Superior Court judge offices are nonpartisan, Fulton County is a Democratic stronghold. In 2020, Biden won the county with over 72 percent of the vote, contributing to the Democrats’ first statewide presidential victory in the state since 1992. Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance has suggested that McAfee’s reelection could introduce a new dimension to the Trump trial.
The charges brought against Trump in Georgia are part of a broader legal battle over the 2020 election results. The trial has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of a former president and the implications for election integrity. McAfee’s fundraising efforts for his reelection campaign indicate the significance of the upcoming election for the Fulton Superior Court judge position. McAfee’s challengers, Johnson and Patillo, have also been active in their campaigns, with Patillo criticizing the handling of the Trump case and advocating for a fresh perspective in the judicial system.
As the election approaches, McAfee and his challengers will continue to make their case to voters in Fulton County. The outcome of the election could have implications for the future of the judiciary in the county and the handling of high-profile cases like the Trump trial. McAfee’s fundraising success and the involvement of multiple challengers highlight the contentious nature of the upcoming election. Ultimately, voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on the direction they want the judicial system in Fulton County to take, particularly in light of the ongoing trial involving former President Trump.
