Georgia GOP Turmoil: Grassroots Revolt Against McKoon Over Fish Fry Fiasco

Efforts to “drain the swamp” in Georgia’s Republican Party are intensifying, with grassroots activists demanding accountability from lawmakers and party leadership. The state GOP, led by Chairman Josh McKoon, faces criticism for stifling dissent and protecting elected officials. The August 26, 2023, Fish Fry in Perry, a private event due to paid venue costs, became a flashpoint when VoterGA was abruptly removed as a sponsor and paper ballot shirts were banned, sparking outrage over election integrity.
The decision, made by 8th District Chairman Chan Jones, a friend of Governor Brian Kemp, aimed to shield Kemp from criticism but alienated grassroots supporters. Despite warnings from 1st Vice Chair BKP to McKoon and Jones that the move would backfire, McKoon failed to act, avoiding communication and leaving state officers to handle the fallout. The event, which hosted a state committee meeting, exposed McKoon’s lack of leadership and fueled perceptions of betrayal, with some accusing activist Kandiss Taylor of abandoning the grassroots.
A letter drafted by BKP, signed by state executive board members, called for a response to the Fish Fry and condemnation of Fani Willis, but McKoon hesitated, questioning board approval. McKoon’s refusal to support paper ballots and challenge Dominion machines contradicts his public stance, undermining grassroots trust. Allegations also swirl that activist Debbie Dooley may have compromised principles to defend McKoon. The controversy highlights a broader struggle to restore power to GOP voters and hold Republican lawmakers accountable ahead of the 2026 elections.

We are attempting to drain the swamp in Georgia and the only way to start to get the lawmakers to listen to the republican party and to start turning the ball of the swamp is to start with cleaning houses at the party. The current chairman of the GA GOP will not allow pushback on any elected official. In Jackson county Josh McKoon has told many lies to the people at the last meetings. We have to restore the balance of power to the people and the respect of the lawmakers that have an R in front of their name.
At the August 26, 2023 Fish Fry Event, VoterGA was a sponsor of the event. Everyone knew what was going to happen that day. Considering that we don’t have closed primary and if you have your meetings in a public location you have to let democrats in your room, but if you pay $50 to have your meeting you can select who will be at the meeting. Many people thought around the state through the Perry Fish Fry was a public event but because they pay for the space it is a private event. The delegates of the 8th district voted to have Chan Jones as chairman of the district. He is friends with governor Brian Kemp. He wanted Kemp to attend the fish fry and he didn’t want the governor to be attacked and Chan didn’t want that to happen. He was doing all he could to respect his friend. Someone at the 8th district decided that you would not wear paper ballot shirts and pulled VoterGA as a sponsor of the event.
Phone calls are coming in prior to the event to BKP as the 1st Vice Chair because they couldn’t get Josh McKoon to respond. BKP calls Chan Jones in the 8th district, there was a good conversation, asking not to stop the paper ballot shirts and removing VoterGA warning that it was going to blow up across the state. Josh calls a state committee meeting. The State GOP uses their private event to have a state committee meeting.
This is the event that started the process of Kandiss Taylor selling out the grassroots. It is a ticketed event and it is private because they paid for the space. The people don’t know this and Chan Jones made the decision that it was a private event. Do you know who could have stopped this from happening? He knew that this was going to blow up, Josh McKoon. He could have shown leadership and unifying as he said and sent out an email the day before alerting about the shirts not allowed at the private event. Then they see that Garland Favorito and VoterGA is not a sponsor of the event after years of being a sponsor.
Josh rushed out the door after the state committee meeting as BKP was wanting to talk about the events of the day. The state officers' phones were ringing off the hook Saturday night. And Josh is not responding. Before this event everyone is talking with BKP as BKP is writing a letter in response to the events of the Fish Fry to have a statement in response to the events. All state executive board members put their name on the letter then it was sent to the chair to release a statement on the Fish Fry and to condemn Fani Willis. From August 2023 there has been a push for Josh McKoon to condemn Fani Willis.
The next morning Josh McKoon started calling the State Board to see if they gave the green light to put their name on the letter. Everyone on the letter said we have to do something. There was nothing ugly in the letter. The people across Georgia were getting out of control. We all know the fight to have paper ballots and remove dominion machines for our elections, we have been fighting for years but Josh McKoon does not stand with the grassroots. He was not with us on August 26, 2023 and when Josh McKoon stood on the stage in June 2023 and said paper ballots, he was not with us then and he is not with us now.
Josh McKoon is not unifying.
Did Debbie Dooley take the thirty pieces of silver to defend the cowardly lion, Josh McKoon?