/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5f5be0a3dc0ed5fb78ef8e58/0x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=4032&cropY1=82&cropY2=2350&w=1200&resize=1200,675&ssl=1 "The Democrat Running Against QAnon Supporter Greene For Congress Just Dropped Out")
Topline
Kevin Van Ausdal, the Democrat running for Congress against Marjorie Taylor Greene — the controversial Georgia Republican congressional candidate who promotes the QAnon conspiracy theory, posted threatening memes targeting progressive Congress members and made offensive comments targeting Muslims, all while enjoying President Trump’s support — has dropped out of the race due to personal reasons, his campaign said Friday, throwing the state of the strange, high profile race into flux just weeks before Election Day.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Key Facts
In a statement posted on Twitter Friday, Van Ausdal said he was “heartbroken” to say he would not be able to continue to run for Congress because of personal reasons that will lead him to leave the state of Georgia.
He also decried Greene for promoting “dangerous extremism” and said in a follow-up tweet he was hopeful another candidate would step up in time to run.
Greene has gained national attention this year — first over her support for the wild, far-right conspiracy theory QAnon, and then over videos Politico uncovered in which the candidate expressed racist, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic views.
Last week, Forbes was first to report about a threatening meme Greene posted that pictured her pointing a gun at progressive members of Congress known as “The Squad” — Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) (After Forbes posted its story, Facebook removed the photo for violating its policies.)
President Trump has embraced the Georgia Republican, endorsing Greene in a tweet in which he called her a “future Republican star,” and inviting her to the GOP convention.
Van Ausdal was not favored to win in the deeply red district, and any Democratic candidate that steps up to run against Greene will face a tall task in knocking off the Georgia Republican.
What To Watch For
Cathy Griffith, chair of the Catoosa County Democrats in Georgia, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that she “didn’t know” Van Ausdal was dropping out until Friday morning. “We’ll figure out something – hopefully,” she added.
Crucial Quote
In one Facebook video dug up by Politico, Greene says that she believes Muslims do not belong in government. She also called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) a “bitch.”
Key Background
Greene has posted about the QAnon conspiracy multiple times, and once declared the theory “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take this global cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles out.” She has since attempted to distance herself from QAnon, telling Fox News recently she chose “another path” due to “misinformation” from “Q,” the so-called leader of the movement. However, she has yet to denounce the theory.
Tangent
Greene is one of 15 candidates verified on Twitter who has promoted QAnon with few restrictions, Forbes reported last month. In a statement to Forbes in August, Twitter said it is “evaluating the expansion of this policy to include candidates and elected officials.”
Further Reading
What Is QAnon And How Might It Impact The U.S. Election? (video) (Forbes)
Trump-Backed Candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene Promotes 9/11 Conspiracy Theory (Forbes)
‘The Storm Is Here’: GOP House Candidate Tweets QAnon Rallying Cry After Trump Retweets Her (Forbes)
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