The office:
U.S. Senate
Party:
Republican
The lane:
Jonathan McColumn is running as a values-focused outsider candidate whose military background has led to him having a focus on national security.
The basics:
McColumn served more than three decades in the U.S. Army, retiring as a brigadier general. The Macon native is a pastor and former university professor who finished last in Georgia’s 2022 Republican Senate primary, losing to Herschel Walker.
Why he’s running:
McColumn has said he is running to bring constitutional and Christian values to government. He said his focus would be inflation, border security, military readiness and fiscal responsibility.
What’s working:
The veteran’s military resume and background as a pastor allow him to separate himself from some of his more conventional political opponents.
The challenge:
McColumn faces a steep challenge in a Republican primary that has been dominated by higher-profile candidates such as Mike Collins, Buddy Carter and Derek Dooley. He also has significantly less name recognition, fundraising infrastructure and institutional support than he main opponents.
What to watch:
The question becomes whether McColumn can put together a large enough coalition of Christian conservatives, veterans and anti-establishment Republican voters to break through the frontrunners.
Campaign website: https://jonathanmccolumn.com/
