Former acting U.S. Attonery General Sally Yates seems to be a Democratic favorite for governor of her home state of Georgia in 2018.
Yates, 56, became a rock star overnight among Democrats when she was fired from her position as attorney general on Jan. 30. Currently she is testifying in congressional hearings about her clashes with the Trump White House.
“She would make a formidable candidate,” retired nationally-syndicated columnist and former Georgia political consultant Matt Towery told Newsmax. “And she would probably make a better political candidate than the Republicans think.”
Yates created an upraor when announced she would not publicly defend President Trump’s executive order on travel and immigration. Prior to her firing, the former Obama administration deputy attorney general had agreed to serve as acting attorney general until the Senate confirmed Trump’s nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., for the top job at the Justice Department.
Democrats and liberal publications hailed Yates as a “profile in courage” and talk of her for governor of Georgia quickly began.
Yates husband, school administrator Comer Yates, unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Congress in 1996 and was a contributor to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008.
Talk of Sally Yates seeking the governorship comes at a time when Georgia Democrats feel they can recapture the office after 16 years in which it has been in Republican hands. With Republican Gov. Nathan Deal termed out, a rancorous Republican primary is in store for 2018.
“The front runner would be Lt. Gov. Carey Cagle, followed by Secretary of State Brian Kemp,” said Towery. “Several lesser-known state senators have jumped in. My guess is that a wealthy self-funder will pop up at some point.”
Among Democrats, the field is slim. State House Majority Leader Sherry Abrahms is exploring the race and, with a strong base among her fellow black Democrats, would make a formidable candidate.
But Yates would certainly attract both national press attention and money to the race. So far, she has said nothing about her future plans.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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