Mike Dugan has officially tossed his hat into the ring for the congressional seat in Georgia's 3rd District. The state senator and Carrollton Republican declared his run yesterday, as reported by FOX5 Atlanta, making moves to replace the outgoing representative Drew Ferguson. "It is time to get back to a government that works for the people, and I would be honored to be the voice that represents Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District," Dugan stated in an announcement, signalling his desire to quickly start to raise campaign funds.
Dugan, who had to reclaim some of his political swagger after losing a bid for the Senate's top post last year, has prepared to resign his state Senate seat today, which will trigger a special election. In a nod to his track record, Dugan brings a mix of military and legislative experience to the competition, with a resume that includes over two decades of service as an Army Ranger and later as a paratrooper, before turning his sights on public office, where he made his mark since 2012.
The scrum for the 3rd District promises to be a bruising Republican affair with several others also eyeing the seat. Among them, as per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, are state Rep. David Jenkins, an Army vet and farmer, and former state Rep. Philip Singleton, who now acts as chief aide to U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick. Also whispered in the corridors of power is Brian Jack, a former White House official with Trump connections, as a possible contender.
The battle lines will be drawn in the coming weeks as more contenders are expected to throw in. The primary is slated for May 21, with a runoff in play for June 18 if the field remains split. Whoever comes out on top will face Democrat Rodney Moore in the general race set for November 5. The district itself, a stronghold of conservative values, stretches from the edges of Atlanta to the Alabama border, and it's a bellwether of rural and suburban political sentiments in the Peach State.
As for the seat Dugan will vacate, it's already heating up with former state Rep. Tim Bearden announcing his intentions to run. The revolving door of Georgia politics keeps spinning as old faces try to find new public offices to serve.
