Georgia Republican bets on Washington ties to help his nomination for an open congressional seat

NEWNAN, Ga. (AP) — Backed by Donald Trump, Republican Brian Jack is trying to power his way to the nomination for an open Georgia congressional seat on the strength of his alignment with the former president and other national GOP figures.

But opponent Mike Dugan is arguing that Jack’s Washington insider status is a liability, saying voters should instead prefer his “Georgia values.”

The 36-year-old Jack is a Peachtree City native who worked on Trump’s 2016 campaign and served for four years as White House political director. After that he worked for then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

That experience brought Jack not only Trump’s endorsement, but a fundraising haul from McCarthy and other top congressional Republicans. Now in the final week, it’s bringing a parade of congressional notables to campaign for him, including Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan on Monday. Another of Jack’s former bosses, ex-U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, is scheduled to stump for him on Thursday.

“In me, you have somebody who has worked by President Trump’s side for the last eight years, somebody who President Trump has endorsed, somebody President Trump trusts to be an America First ally,” Jack said Monday after a rally in Newnan with Jordan. “I think that’s what our congressional district wants.”

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