Earlier this year, former President Barack Obama, along with other liberals, supported a controversial power grab in Virginia aimed at securing 10 out of 11 electoral districts for Democrats. However, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled on May 8 that the expensive gerrymandering effort was illegal, upholding the congressional map from 2021 that features a 6-5 split between Democrats and Republicans.
In light of the defeat in Virginia, Obama has shifted his focus to Georgia, where he seeks to advance Democratic interests. He emphasized the importance of state Supreme Court elections in protecting citizens’ rights and urged support for Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin, the candidates he described as champions for all Georgians.
Currently, eight out of nine justices on the Georgia Supreme Court were appointed by Republican governors. Notably, conservative-backed justices Sarah Warren and Charlie Bethel are up for reelection, along with three more Republican-appointed justices in 2028.
Democrats remain undeterred by the setback in Virginia and appear intent on reshaping Georgia’s judicial landscape over the next couple of years. As President Obama indicated, Judge Warren is facing off against former Democratic state senator Jen Jordan, while Republican-appointed Judge Bethel competes against personal injury attorney Miracle Rankin. Both Jordan and Rankin have the backing of pro-abortion groups, which adds an ideological layer to the races.
Georgia Democratic Party Chairman Charlie Bailey stated, “This is the first time we’ve been on the offensive, and we’ve raised a little bit of money for it.” Meanwhile, Republican Governor Brian Kemp expressed concern about out-of-state funding being used to manipulate an independent judicial race, urging voters to support incumbents who have shown bipartisan commitment.
The race has also raised questions regarding ethics. A special committee within the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission flagged potential violations of the state’s judicial code of conduct related to Jordan and Rankin. They allegedly communicated intentions to restore abortion rights, a topic judges are typically barred from discussing as it pertains to cases that may come before them.
However, these serious allegations were downplayed leading into the elections, with Leslie Gardner, an Obama-appointed federal judge and sister of former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, blocking the committee from issuing a statement. She argued that the candidates’ comments about abortion rights fell within constitutional protections and were too vague to constitute a breach of conduct.
