Judge in Trump's Georgia Trial Raises $125,000

Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the Georgia trial into former President Donald Trump's alleged election interference, has raised just over $125,000 for his own reelection so far this year, according to a new campaign finance filing.

McAfee is seeking reelection to his nonpartisan position as Fulton Superior Court judge on May 21 as he oversees one of the most high-profile trials in the country.

In this case, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis brought charges against Trump and 18 defendants for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia, a swing state that narrowly backed President Joe Biden. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has accused Willis of targeting him for political purposes.

He has drawn two challengers, former Fulton County Solicitor General Tiffani Johnson and civil rights attorney Robert H. Patillo. Willis herself will also be on the ballot in the DA's Democratic primary, facing off against challenger Christian Wise Smith.

McAfee this week filed a new campaign contribution disclosure form, which shows much money his reelection fund has raised.

So far in 2024, he has raised $127,435, according to the form, and in total, he has brought in $320,350. He has spent a total of $6,852 and has $308,455 on hand ahead of the election, which is less than two weeks away.

Fredrick Hicks, McAfee's campaign manager, told Newsweek in a statement on Wednesday that he fundraising was "more robust than expected" and "reflects the appreciation for someone who is fair and focused on doing the right thing."

"This campaign is an opportunity to restore trust in our system of governance. This era of extreme partisanship has diluted faith, on both sides, that fairness is possible. I think the strong financial support we have received is a direct reflection of people's excitement at having a judge who, in the face of intense public pressure, remained focused on the task at hand and was unafraid to let the law and his conscious be his guide," Hicks said.

Hicks added that he expects that McAfee will win, noting that he has received support from individuals across the political spectrum, including Kemp and former Governor Roy Barnes, a Democrat.

Meanwhile, Patillo has raised $11,808 since announcing his campaign in March. He has spent $7,541 and has $4,266 on hand, according to a filing from his campaign. Financial information for Johnson's campaign couldn't be found via the Georgia Campaign Finance Commission's system.

Patillo criticized court proceedings in the Trump case during an interview on the Shelley Wynter Show podcast in March.

"Tell me that looks like a well-run courtroom and tell me that looks like what justice should look like in this county," he said. "They've allowed it to turn into a clown show.... The people of Fulton County have had enough of that and are truly looking for a voice that's from the outside, that's not part of either political party's machine and is more interested in being that third rail."

McAfee was first appointed to his position by Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, after Atlanta Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Christopher S. Brasher retired in 2022, meaning this is his first time facing voters in Fulton County.

Georgia's Superior Court judge offices are nonpartisan, but Fulton County, home to Atlanta, is notably one of the most Democratic areas in the state. In 2020, Biden won the county with more than 72 percent of the vote, helping to propel him to the Democrats' first statewide presidential victory in the state since 1992.

Joyce Vance, a former federal prosecutor, said in her legal blog, Civil Discourse, in March that his reelection could add "a whole new dimension" to the Trump trial.

Update 5/8/2024 3:05 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.