John Watson Not Running For GA GOP Chairman Re-Elect, Scott Johnson Announces For Post

It’s been a busy morning of turning rumors into reality for the Georgia Republican Party. This morning, Scott Johnson, chairman of the State Board of Education and long time party activist, announced his intention to run for Chairman of the Georgia GOP at the Cobb County Republican breakfast. John Watson has announced his two-year effort of “stabilizing and professionalizing” the party is complete, and will not seek another term.

Watson’s announcement is as follows:

To the Executive and State Committees, and all Republicans:

Nearly a generation ago, during this same time of year, I sat in Phillips Arena and watched with deep admiration as Georgia’s 81st Governor Sonny Perdue was sworn into office, issuing in a long-awaited era of conservative governance. The path to this moment was winding, and already heavily tread by Georgia Republican legends the likes of Bob Shaw, Bo Callaway, and Newt Gingrich, to name a few.

This Republican victory was no accident; it was the the culmination of thousands of Republicans working, striving, planning, preparing, and fighting for sound conservative governance. Many of you were among that group of footsoldiers, and many of you were diligent in keeping this path to victory carefully maintained for future leaders like Governor Brian Kemp.

When I ran for Chairman two years ago, I was deeply troubled by the state of the Georgia Republican Party, and saw a need for someone to clear the brush and debris off the path for the next generation of conservatives. I ran for Chairman on a vision of a unified conservative family – grassroots members and donors working closely with the Party apparatus to support our elected officials. To do this, we needed a financially solvent Party, a professional organization capable of remaining politically competitive with an ever-strengthening Democrat Party.

As a Party – as a family – we have come a very long way in achieving these goals. The Georgia Republican Party has the cash available to meet its obligations. Our donors have a renewed trust in the organization and its practices. And our diligent activists made millions of door knocks and phone calls to deliver historical electoral victories in 2018.

I am honored to have fought these tough but rewarding battles with you all by my side; however, I am writing today to make known my intention to not seek re-election as Chairman.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under Heaven. After two years of daily effort, I believe that we’ve achieved our mission of stabilizing and professionalizing the Georgia Republican Party. I am forever indebted to Carmen for her role in this endeavor, and I couldn’t have done the job without her.

I, along with so many of you, have poured my heart, soul, time, treasure, and passion into rebuilding the Party we so love. I am now looking forward to time with my wife, my daughter about to leave for college, and my other daughter soon behind her.

I am so proud of our work, and I am committed to helping serve this Party and its next Chairman in a meaningful capacity. Because, while the proverbial war is never “won” in this life, we must always continue to fight.

God bless you all for your help in this journey, and my best wishes to the next Chairman as they continue to blaze the path for future Republican success in Georgia.

Yours, in service,
Chairman John K. Watson