ATLANTA, Georgia — A heated campaign dispute over a controversial advertisement has intensified the race for Georgia lieutenant governor while prompting a new candidate to enter the contest.
A campaign video released by Republican state Sen. Greg Dolezal drew widespread criticism after depicting Muslims terrorizing white Georgia residents and ending with the message “keep Georgia sharia free.” Dolezal, who represents the Cumming area and is running for lieutenant governor, described Muslims in the video caption as “invaders who would rather pillage our generosity than assimilate.”
The ad quickly sparked backlash from lawmakers across the political spectrum. Democratic state Rep. Ruwa Romman of Duluth said the video increased fears within Georgia’s Muslim community. “The sad reality is that people have turned this into an industry where they’re making a lot of money off of rage,” Romman said, calling the message dangerous.
State Sen. Sheikh Rahman, a Democrat from Lawrenceville and one of the chamber’s two Muslim members, also condemned the ad and urged Dolezal to apologize publicly and remove it.
Dolezal dismissed the criticism, saying he would not take campaign advice from Democrats and noting that former President Donald Trump had recently raised concerns about alleged “sharia courts” in London.
The controversy also reshaped the Democratic primary. State Sen. Nabilah Parkes of Duluth, who is Muslim, filed paperwork Thursday to run for lieutenant governor after previously announcing a campaign for insurance commissioner. Parkes said she entered the race to counter rhetoric she described as divisive and to push policies focused on working families.
Candidate qualifying for the race began Monday and continues through Friday, with multiple candidates already entering both the Democratic and Republican primaries.
Sources
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