Georgia Republican congressional candidate Chuck Hand, who was convicted of a misdemeanor related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, walked out of a televised House primary runoff debate on Sunday.
Hand, a construction foreman and vice chair of the Taylor County Republican Party, will face Republican Wayne Johnson, a former U.S. Department of Education official under the Trump administration, in the June 18 primary runoff election for Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District.
The Republican nominee will face 16-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Sanford Bishop in November.
The debate, hosted by the Atlanta Press Club and held at Georgia Public Broadcasting Studios on Sunday, began with Johnson answering a panelist’s question about what economic policies he would support in Congress to help economically struggling families in southwest Georgia. Johnson argued that voters concerned about inflation and the cost of gas, groceries, insurance and housing are not satisfied with Biden and Bishop’s economic policies and are turning to “Trump and Johnson’s economic policies,” before the second panelist posed a question to Hand.
Panelists asked Hand about his thoughts on House Republicans’ plans for a new farm bill and whether he supported “controversial proposals to cut food assistance for low-income Americans.” Hand responded by releasing a prepared statement.
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Georgia Republican Chuck Hand walks out of a debate hosted by the Atlanta Press Club with Republican Wayne Johnson, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Atlanta. (J. Glenn/via The Associated Press)
“I’m Chuck Hand, a lifelong 2nd District resident, and I’ve been working with the people of 2nd District to solve problems since 2018. It wasn’t until election time that the man sitting next to me came to me and said he wanted to run,” Hand said. “I’ve spent years flattening tires in southwest Georgia, meeting with constituents and building relationships in the community. I have no interest in discussing 2nd District issues with a man who doesn’t live in 2nd District, especially one who is orchestrating an attack on my wife.”
“I’m more interested in defeating Sanford Bishop, representing you all, passing America First policies and returning Donald Trump to the White House,” Hand said. “This election is very simple: the money of the 8th Congressional District or the hearts of the 2nd Congressional District. The choice is yours: money or pennies. Now I’m hopping back in my truck and heading back to Southwest Georgia because I need to win two elections.”
Hand then walked away from the podium and left the stage.
“You’re not staying?” asked anchor Donna Lawley. “You’re leaving? Got it.”
“Wow, I don’t know how to react,” Johnson said.
Hand, a Republican running for Congress this year, is one of at least four people convicted of crimes related to Jan. 6. He was sentenced to 20 days in federal prison and six months’ probation.
Hand declined to debate Johnson after Michael Nixon, who came in third in the May 21 four-way primary, held a press conference last month endorsing Johnson.
Nixon filed trespassing charges against Hand in 2005 and drunk driving charges in 2010, both of which were dismissed.
At the news conference, Nixon cited federal court documents to argue that Hand’s involvement in the January 6 riot was more serious than he claims. Nixon argued that Hand and his wife, Mandy Robinson Hand, the Taylor County Republican Party chairman, “bring significant criminal histories and financial irresponsibility to this campaign.”
On Sunday, June 9, 2024, Georgia Republican Wayne Johnson stands alone on the stage at the Atlanta debate after Chuck Hand leaves the stage. (J. Glenn/via The Associated Press)
“What is most shocking is the felony conviction and multi-year prison sentence handed down to a middle Georgia resident for trafficking opioids,” Nixon told reporters. “I believe it is impossible to measure the mental anguish and physical harm caused to people by this illegal and immoral opioid trafficking activity. We can all agree that this activity has had a devastating impact on our communities and our families.”
The governor says Trump could become the first Republican presidential candidate to win the state in 20 years.
Robinson Hand was convicted of a felony charge of oxycodone in 2008 and received one year in prison and nine years of probation, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. She and her husband pleaded guilty to “march, demonstrate or picket on the Capitol grounds,” a misdemeanor in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.
Speaking to reporters after Sunday’s debate, Johnson said Hand’s exit from the debate stage was further evidence that he was unfit to be the Republican nominee.
“I’d like to think of Chuck Hand’s withdrawal today as an exit from the race,” Johnson said, according to the Associated Press, “but it certainly should give people pause and cause them to think about why he did it and what he hoped to gain from it.”
Georgia Republican Chuck Hand, left, speaks with Republican Wayne Johnson during a debate hosted by the Atlanta Press Club, Sunday, June 9, 2024. (J. Glenn/via The Associated Press)
Hand, who took questions from reporters for nearly 20 minutes after leaving the debate, said he believed Johnson helped Nixon plan the attack, and was particularly critical of Nixon for bringing up his wife’s previous conviction for illegally selling oxycodone.
“It’s perfectly fine to attack me as a candidate, that’s perfectly reasonable, but it’s quite another to publicly attack my wife,” Hand said. “She paid her debt to society long before I ever met her.” Hand also criticized Johnson for not living in the district, which is not required for House candidates.
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Johnson told reporters that he lives in Macon, just outside the district, has investments in businesses in the district and, if elected, plans to move to a home he owns in Plains, former President Jimmy Carter’s hometown.
In the May 21 primary, Johnson won about 45% of the vote, while Hand won about 32%.
Because no candidate received a majority, voters will decide in a runoff election. Early voting begins Monday ahead of the June 18 election.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
