Ex-GOP Official Encounters Late-Night Outburst from Trump; Meltdown Described as Intense
Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan Switches to Democrat Party
Georgia's political landscape has undergone a significant transformation with the shift of former Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party. Duncan, a former Republican state representative, served as Georgia's Lieutenant Governor from 2019 to 2023.
Duncan's break with the GOP was largely due to his critique of Donald Trump, particularly over the former President's attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. This opposition created a rift between Duncan and the GOP leadership, leading to his decision not to seek re-election in 2021. He was subsequently expelled from the Georgia GOP in early 2025 for endorsing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and for undermining Republican candidates.
Trump's harsh social media attacks on Duncan further exposed the wide gulf between Duncan’s views and the party’s direction under Trump’s influence. Duncan formalized his switch to the Democratic Party in August 2025, citing his "daily struggle to love my neighbor" as a Republican and finding it easier to align his values with the Democratic Party’s policies, particularly concerning expanded health care access, immigrant rights, and poverty alleviation.
Rumours of a potential gubernatorial run by Duncan in 2026 are circulating, but he has not made any official announcement. His political activity and public presence since switching parties, including his participation in the 2024 Democratic National Convention, position him as a significant figure to watch in Georgia’s 2026 elections.
Duncan's political evolution reflects the shifting party dynamics in Georgia and nationally. He stated that the Republican Party today is not the one he grew up with. Notably, incumbent Governor Brian Kemp will not be able to seek re-election due to term limits in 2026.
In 2020, Duncan voted for Trump. However, after losing the election, Trump pressured officials in multiple states, including Georgia, to overturn the results. Trump frequently attacked Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger for refusing to overturn Joe Biden's narrow win in the state. Despite Trump's criticism, both Kemp and Raffensperger each won re-election in 2022.
Duncan, who was a Republican before he left the party, made regular media appearances, speaking out against Trump. He compared Trump's moral compass to that of an ax murderer and stated that Trump completely controls the entire GOP.
This trajectory underscores Duncan’s evolution amid the changing political landscape in Georgia and the nation.
[1] Politico [2] CNN [3] New York Times [4] Washington Post [5] Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- The shift of former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party has led to intense discussion about politics in war-and-conflicts-related news outlets, such as CNN and The Washington Post.
- Duncan's switch to the Democratic Party and his subsequent critiques of Trump have infused policy-and-legislation debates with new perspectives, making him a notable figure in general-news platforms like Politico and the New York Times.
- The crime-and-justice sector has also taken note of Duncan's political transformation, as his vocal opposition to Trump's administration has sparked debate about the future of law enforcement and social policies within the broader political sphere.
