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Newton forum to feature 11 GOP candidates for open congressional seat
David Curry
David Curry, candidate for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District, shows off his campaign signs to Newton Republicans in a January event that also featured fellow congressional candidate Mike Collins. - photo by Taylor Beck

COVINGTON, Ga. — A forum featuring 11 Republican candidates for the open 10th Congressional District seat representing part of Newton County is set for Saturday, Feb. 19.

The event hosted by the Newton County Republican Party is scheduled for 3-5 p.m. at Canaan Baptist Church at 5581 Salem Road in Covington.

Organizers say they have confirmations of attendance from all Republican candidates in the May primary except recently announced candidate Vernon Jones.

Among the candidates set to appear are state Rep. Timothy Barr of Lawrenceville, whom U.S. Rep. Jody Hice has endorsed; former U.S. Rep. Paul Broun of Athens, who served as the district’s congressman from 2007-2015; and Jackson trucking company owner Mike Collins, who lost a GOP runoff to Hice in 2014 and is a son of the late U.S. Rep. Mac Collins.

Others include Andrew Alvey of Social Circle; former state revenue commissioner David Curry of Henry County; Monroe businessman Marc McMain, who has the endorsement of Walton County Sheriff Joe Chapman; Barrow County businessman Matt Richards; Monroe resident Charles Rupert; former Air Force colonel Alan Sims of Winder; former Marine colonel Mitchell Swan of Good Hope; and Patrick Witt, former deputy chief of staff in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management in the Trump administration.

Newton County GOP Chairman Brendan Cherry said Jones was invited but indicated to district party officials he would not participate.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Jones for the 10th District seat after Jones quit the race for the Republican nomination for governor recently. 

Jones endorsed former U.S. Sen. David Perdue in his bid to unseat Gov. Brian Kemp.

The 10th District includes 25 counties in north and east Georgia and stretches from the eastern suburbs of Atlanta to metro Augusta.

The district includes the eastern half of Newton County. 

The congressional seat came open in 2021 after Hice announced he would challenge incumbent Brad Raffensperger for secretary of state.

The district is heavily Republican and voted about 70% for Trump in the 2020 presidential election, despite Democrat Joe Biden narrowly winning statewide.

Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. and the forum will begin at 3.

For more information, visit https://newtongop.org/event/candidate-forum-2.