Cobb County GOP censures Gov. Kemp, former party chair resigns in protest

The Cobb Republican Party clearly had a point to make. The party met and passed several resolutions last week including a censure of Gov. Brian Kemp. Cobb GOP Chair Salleigh Grubbs said the party approved three resolutions at its committee meeting Thursday night at Marietta City Hall. One resolution censured Kemp for failing to carry out campaign promises concerning illegal immigration and his failure to meet his obligations to end illegal immigration in the state of Georgia.

Grubbs said the resolution outlines Kemp’s campaign promises of addressing sanctuary cities, creating a registry of criminal aliens, and a track and deport plan. She also pointed to what Kemp has consistently said, ‘I’ve got a big truck in case I need to round up criminal illegals and take them home myself.”

The action of the Cobb Republican Party against Kemp has rubbed many the wrong way including former Cobb County GOP Chairman Jason Shepherd. In protest, the former party chair resigned from the county committee. He was not present for the meeting but allowed someone to vote his proxy against the resolution condemning Kemp.

A second resolution was passed to prevent organizations such as Wellstar Health System from firing staff who refuse to adhere to its vaccine mandate. It called on Kemp to prohibit vaccine passports, while asking the Georgia Legislature to prevent businesses from requiring documentation about an individual’s vaccination status. 

The third resolution calls for a statewide forensic audit and criminal investigation into the 2020 and January 2021 elections.There continues to be a push by some in the Republican Party to suggest that the Georgia elections were not conducted fairly, which falls in line with the language of the third resolution. Following that election, former President Donald Trump made his position known that he will not be supporting Kemp’s reelection or that of Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger after both officials rejected Trump’s request to invalidate the presidential election which he lost in Georgia.

Shepherd believes the resolution is inappropriate because party rules prohibit censuring someone who is not a member of the county committee. Grubbs on the other hand believes the Kemp censure resolution is legitimate. The resolution came up during the GOP’s County convention earlier this year but was shot down at that time because Kemp is not a member.

“There is nothing in the county rules that prohibit censuring, ” said Grubbs. “What he’s talking about is a parliamentary issue and I think it’s more to do with interpretation.” Grubbs position as chair does not allow her to vote on resolutions. “There is nothing in the county rules that prohibit that resolution that was passed,” said Grubs. “My thoughts are, the will of the committee spoke,” she said. “It was very clear that most of the committee is in favor of the resolutions. And it’s not my job as the chairman to silence people’s voices.”

Grubbs believes the resolutions will get Kemp’s attention, but she also expressed dismay with the fallout from the resolutions. “You know, we’re in a difficult spot in Georgia where there are people that are clearly upset with the governor,” she said. 

Grubbs also referenced the Trump rally in Perry last weekend where many in the Republican base turned out. At one point during the rally, Trump was caught speaking favorably about Democrat Stacey Abrams as Georgia’s next governor, saying “Having her, I think, might be better than having your existing governor, if you want to know what I think.” Trump went on to say, “Stacey, would you like to take his place? It’s OK with me.”

Grubbs said the base wants officials to carry out their campaign promises.

“There is a base in Georgia that wants accountability from elected officials and Cobb County is not alone in that,” she said.

Shepherd attacked the Cobb GOP, saying they seem more interested in blasting Republicans than electing them. “The party has lost its focus. The focus needs to be not going after fellow Republicans. The focus at this point now that we’re hitting primary season with the candidates running is to prepare for the get out the vote in 2022. Instead, the party seems to want to settle scores and make points.”

Shepherd said that most of the complaints he’s been hearing are related to prosecuting election fraud, which he says Kemp has no power under the state constitution and laws of Georgia to do. Shepherd went on to say, “As Republicans, we’re the ones who constantly say that we understand how government works, but now we’re censuring our elected officials for things they cannot do. And I’m not going to be part of an organization that does that.”

Earlier in the year there were overwhelming votes by GOP activists in Murray and Whitfield counties to censure Kemp. The North Georgia Republicans censured the governor, saying  Kemp “stood by and did nothing” to help then-President Donald Trump overturn his election defeat.”

The election for Georgia’s next Governor will be one to watch with Kemp receiving a  cold reception from those within his own party. Meanwhile, the Abrams watch continues as the Republican infighting comes to a boil. The Democrats are waiting patiently for an announcement soon from Abrams on her plans to take Kemp on again for governor.