The Political Future of Fani Willis

Her prosecution of Trump has drawn controversy and legal challenges, but it hasn't hurt her at home. The speaker of the Texas House, however, faces serious challenges to his leadership.


Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis listens to her disqualification hearing in March. A judge allowed her to stay on the Trump case, but that ruling is being appealed.Alex Slitz/Pool/AFP/TNS



A New York jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on all counts in the "hush money" and business records case on Thursday. This historic verdict marked the first time a trial involving Trump was completed, unlike his other cases which have yet to reach that stage.


Among these other charges is the election interference indictment brought against Trump and numerous alleged co-conspirators in Fulton County, Georgia, last year. While a few of the accused pleaded guilty immediately, the case is currently on hold. The delay is due to a state appellate court set to hear complaints about professional misconduct involving Fani Willis, the county’s district attorney, who had a romantic relationship with a special counsel in the case.


This issue is expected to stall the trial until after the election. Despite the judge allowing it to proceed, he noted a “significant appearance of impropriety.” Conservative media have criticized Willis for the relationship and the couple’s travels. She has also faced numerous threats, including death threats from a California man who was indicted by a federal grand jury in April. Willis has further faced scrutiny for her handling of large Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) cases, including a lengthy trial involving rapper Young Thug.


Nonetheless, Fulton County voters appear unfazed. Willis secured 87 percent of the vote in last week’s Democratic primary. “The broad support she received — well into the 80th percentile — really tells the story,” says former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.


Willis’s Republican opponent, Courtney Kramer, served as an intern in the Trump White House and is expected to continue criticizing Willis. However, Kramer has limited experience as an attorney and no criminal trial experience. Aside from high-profile cases, Willis can campaign on a significant drop in homicides and other violent crimes in Atlanta last year, reversing a pandemic-era spike.


“Fani Willis has always been a strong campaigner,” says Howard Franklin, a lobbyist and consultant in Atlanta. “The strong backing she received from prominent Georgia Democrats in her primary re-election suggests she won’t face much trouble in November. She’s likely to have a larger group of donors and a substantial war chest to highlight her efforts to keep Fulton County safe.


”Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold crucial to the victories of President Joe Biden and the state’s two Democratic U.S. senators, rarely sees a Republican running for district attorney. “It would be unusual for her, with her record and experience, not to win,” says Shirley Franklin.



Dade Phelan's Political Battle

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan narrowly survived a runoff on Tuesday, securing victory with a margin of 366 votes. This win was largely attributed to nearly $4 million in spending from business groups.


Phelan faced significant challenges, partly due to the state House’s impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton. After Paxton's acquittal in the Senate, he sought revenge against Phelan and other House Republicans who did not support him. The House also failed to pass a school voucher bill endorsed by Governor Greg Abbott, who, although neutral in Phelan’s race, invested millions to unseat other GOP incumbents.


Phelan lost more than a dozen allies during the primaries, and now faces a serious challenge to his leadership, with one committee chair already running against him. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, an opponent of Phelan, predicted he would not serve as speaker again. Paxton also criticized Phelan, suggesting those who supported him would regret their decision.


Covey claimed Phelan won by mobilizing Democratic support. Now, conservative Republicans argue Phelan will only retain his position by securing Democratic backing, reinforcing their view of him as a RINO (Republican in name only).


Uncontested Elections in Alaska and Beyond


Friday marks the deadline for state office candidates to file in Alaska, where many seats are going uncontested. Over a third of the state House members face no competition for their next terms.This trend is not unique to Alaska. In Oklahoma, most voters will have no choice in state House contests, with 50 of 101 members re-elected simply by filing and facing no opposition. Similar situations exist in the state Senate races.


Nationwide, over one-third of state legislative incumbents face no primary or general election challengers, according to Steven Rogers, a political scientist at St. Louis University. This lack of competition often leads to legislative seats strongly favoring one party, creating disincentives for potential candidates to run or for parties to invest resources.


In 2022, the lack of competition meant partisan control of 22 chambers was decided before votes were cast, with the GOP guaranteed veto-proof majorities in 13 chambers due to few Democrats running. Gaby Goldstein, co-founder of Sister District Project, emphasizes the importance of running candidates in all districts to build future competitiveness.


In Missouri, Democrats have recruited candidates in 114 districts this year, compared to just 69 in the last cycle, giving them a chance to challenge GOP supermajorities.


“Competition is crucial for providing voter choices and maintaining a healthy democracy,” says Rogers. “Without it, incumbents may be more likely to prioritize special interests over their constituents.”