DALTON, Ga. (AP) 鈥� President says Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a traitor. But for Jackie Harling, who chairs the local Republican Party in Greene鈥檚 northwestern corner of Georgia, she鈥檚 still 鈥渕ama bear.鈥�
鈥淓very thought that we had in our minds, she seemed to be very good at verbalizing,鈥� Harling said.
Saying things that no one else would say may be Greene鈥檚 most durable legacy as , resigning halfway through her third term in Congress. First, it was her embrace of , turning her into a national symbol of a political culture without guardrails. Then it was her willingness to criticize Trump, that made her position in Washington untenable.
In interviews in Greene鈥檚 district, constituents described her over and over as a 鈥渇ighter.鈥� For Republicans like Harling, that was enough.
鈥淲e got a lot of satisfaction,鈥� Harling said. 鈥淪he was our voice.鈥�
It was less satisfying for an independent like Heath Patterson, who struggled to think of ways that Greene’s fame and notoriety made a difference for her district during her time in the U.S. Capitol.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know of anything that she did do here except, certainly, got her voice heard. But where did we, how did we benefit from that?鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we did.鈥�
From MAGA warrior to exile
Greene began clashing with Trump last year, criticizing his focus on foreign policy and his reluctance to release documents involving the Jeffrey Epstein case. The president eventually had enough, saying he would support a primary challenge against her. Greene announced a week later that she would resign.
She has kept up the criticism since then, including over Trump’s decision to strike Venezuela this weekend.
鈥淭his is the same Washington playbook that we are so sick and tired of that doesn鈥檛 serve the American people, but actually serves the big corporations, the banks and the oil executives,鈥� she told NBC鈥檚 鈥淢eet the Press鈥� on Sunday.
The split was surprising because, until that point, had mirrored Trump鈥檚 own rise to power. She didn鈥檛 become politically involved until his presidential campaign in 2016 and first ran for Congress in 2020. Greene considered trying to represent Georgia鈥檚 6th Congressional District, which includes the Atlanta suburbs, before relocating to the 14th District, where the Republican incumbent was retiring.
She remained loyal to Trump after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, promoting Trump’s falsehoods about a stolen election. When Trump ran again in 2024, she toured the country with him and spoke at his rallies while wearing a red 鈥淢ake America Great Again鈥� hat.
Her Georgia district is one of the most Republican-leaning in the state, although it wasn鈥檛 always that way. The region once backed Democrats like Zell Miller, a governor and U.S. senator who spearheaded Georgia鈥檚 lottery program that still bankrolls college scholarships and early childhood education programs.
But residents have felt left behind by years of change, said Jan Pourquoi, a Belgian native who emigrated in 1987, became a U.S. citizen and later won local office in Whitfield County.
His county鈥檚 population has grown by roughly by 32% since 1990, which pales in comparison with statewide growth of 74%. As the U.S. becomes more urban, secular, and diverse, Pourquoi said residents believe they鈥檙e 鈥渃ulturally oppressed.鈥�
鈥淭hey see themselves as great Americans, proud Americans, Christian Americans, and that doesn鈥檛 fit the American model anymore as they see it,鈥� said Pourquoi, who said he left the Republican Party because of Trump. Greene exemplified the political backlash, which he summarized as 鈥渟tick it to them 鈥� any possible way you can.鈥�
Georgia leaders, like those in many other states, have spent years drawing congressional districts to pack like-minded voters together. That means in red areas, whoever wins the Republican primary is virtually guaranteed to come out on top in the general election, incentivizing candidates
The political landscape means former Republicans suc as Pourquoi or independents like Patterson say they have no shot at helping a centrist win.
鈥淚鈥檓 kind of square in the middle,鈥� said Patterson, adding that it sometimes feels like he鈥檚 鈥渢he only one around here who鈥檚 that way.鈥�
Republicans plan their path forward
Whitfield County Republicans gathered at a local restaurant last month for their annual Christmas party, where seasonal decor and a visit from Santa Claus were intermingled with the red, white and blue regalia and a smattering of MAGA paraphernalia.
There was still deep affection for Greene and plenty of talk about the cultural issues she championed.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just the fact that she was unwavering in 鈥楢merica First,鈥欌�� said Gavin Swafford, who worked on Greene鈥檚 initial campaign.
Swafford called her 鈥渁n accountability representative鈥� because of her clashes with Republican leaders.
Lisa Adams, a party volunteer, called Greene 鈥渙ur stand-up person.鈥�
鈥淟ook at her stance on transgenderism. That鈥檚 a big one,鈥� she said. 鈥淎bortion. That鈥檚 a big one.鈥�
None of Greene’s inconsistencies 鈥� real or perceived 鈥� were a problem, they said.
For example, Greene has praised the Korean-owned solar panel factories in the district even after intended to boost production. She broke with Republicans, Trump included, and sided with Democrats who wanted to extend premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act health insurance customers.
None of the Republicans at the Christmas party expressed any interest in taking sides between Trump and Greene.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 inevitable when you have two firebrands that are both stubborn,鈥� Swafford said.
Asked whether the district missed having a more traditional lawmaker, the kind who might cut bipartisan deals and bring as much federal money as possible back home, Swafford was unconcerned.
鈥淭he biggest thing that Marjorie contributed wasn鈥檛 even in legislation,” he said.
Still, there was also a sense among some that Greene, for all her bareknuckle politics, could have gone further.
Star Black, a Republican who is running to replace Greene, was already planning a primary challenge before she announced her resignation.
鈥淵ou had a great representative who was a fighter. Well, you know what? I want to take it one step further,鈥� Black said.
鈥淣ot only do you need a fighter,鈥� Black said, 鈥測ou need someone who is going to listen. You need someone who is going to represent you.鈥�
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