Georgia businesswoman launches primary challenge against Greene

A Georgia businesswoman launched a primary challenge against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Wednesday, with hopes of ousting the conservative firebrand who has made waves during her first year in office. 

Jennifer Strahan, a self-described political outsider and “no nonsense conservative,” said she is waging a bid for the House because Georgia’s 14th District “deserves a representative who is focused on serving, not being a celebrity.”

In her announcement video, Strahan said she is not a politician or a celebrity, adding, “I don’t want to be either.”

She said she is “tired of out-of-touch people in Washington putting what’s good for themselves ahead of what’s good for our country. ” 

Strahan in a statement said her district has been “left without a real advocate or even a single seat on a congressional committee,” adding “we deserve better.”

The lower chamber voted in February to strip Greene of her committee assignments after she endorsed conspiracy theories, racist principles and violence against Democratic politicians.

The resolution was passed largely along party lines, but 11 Republicans did buck their party to strip Greene of her assignments.

Greene, an ardent supporter of former President Trump, has since been vocal about the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, at times referring to individuals arrested following the riot as “political prisoners.”

Strahan, in her announcement video, said she is running to defend Trump’s policies, control the cost of living and hold “the Biden administration and the radical left accountable for their failures.”

Greene entered Congress in January of this year after winning the election to fill the seat vacated by former GOP Rep. Tom Graves (Ga.). Her November victory followed a win in the GOP primary runoff in August.

Mark Clay, a Republican, has also filed to run for the House in Georgia’s 14th District, according to the Rome News-Tribune.

Four Democrats are also in the race to oust Greene: Rome City Commissioner Wendy Davis, Marcus Flower, Holly McCormack and Lateefah Conner, according to the News-Tribune.

Strahan is the founder of J. Osley & Co, a national advisory firm that works with health care organizations to establish solutions for patient care and system sustainability. She has also served in leadership positions within the health care industry.

Greene, when reached for comment about Strahan jumping into the race, touted her accomplishments in Congress and called herself “the most effective member of the GOP conference.”

“I’ve stood on the House floor and demanded roll call votes on the Democrats’ Communist agenda and the rest of the party has joined my efforts. My efforts stopped radical Progressive bills and put Congress on record for the first time, instead of allowing them to pass bills by the voices of a handful of members,” she said in a statement to The Hill.

She added that Republicans will win control of the House in 2022, but said it cannot be achieved with “pathetic empty campaign promises written by DC consultants.”

“We will win in ‘22 if we fight for President Trump’s America First agenda in Congress just like I have since I was sworn in,” Greene said.

Updated at 2:53 p.m.