The Georgia Hour, episode 82: GA GOP State Convention 2025: Power Struggle and Transparency Issues

The Georgia GOP State Convention, set for June 6-7, 2025, in Dalton, is a critical battleground for electing a new state executive board to restore grassroots power. Incumbent chairman Josh McKoon faces challenges from candidates David Cross, Laurie McClain, Kylie Kremer, Norine Cantor, and Lisa Pierce, who refused to sign an NDA, limiting their delegate access and raising transparency concerns. McKoon, accused of inconsistent narratives on finances and corporate structure, allegedly downplays a forensic audit need. Critics, including Salleigh Grubbs and Betsy Kramer, defend establishment control, while McKoon’s $228K salary and travel allowances spark scrutiny. Cross, targeted over past employment, represents a grassroots push against the establishment, exemplified by Grubbs’ leadership in Cobb County, which shifted Democrat since 2020. Allegations of mismanagement fuel calls for reform. The convention will decide whether the GA GOP embraces transparency and grassroots influence or maintains the status quo under McKoon’s leadership, with implications for the party’s future direction and alignment with national Republican goals.