'Lack of integrity': Internet divided as former Georgia Republican Lt Gov Geoff Duncan declares he is voting for Biden in November

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Former Georgia Republican Lt Gov Geoff Duncan declared he would vote for President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election over his party's presumptive nominee, Donald Trump.

Duncan announced his decision to vote for the Democrat in an op-ed published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on May 6.

“Unlike Trump, I’ve belonged to the GOP my entire life. This November, I am voting for a decent person I disagree with on policy over a criminal defendant without a moral compass," he said.

The former state lawmaker was president of the Georgia state Senate when Trump and his allies made false accusations of election fraud in the state in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election in his favor, which made him push back against the then-president.

Why did Geoff Duncan decide not to back Donald Trump?

Duncan outlined the reasoning behind choosing Biden over Trump for the 47th president of the US in the op-ed titled 'Why I’m voting for Biden and other Republicans should, too'.

He acknowledged the age concerns surrounding the 81-year-old incumbent and the "progressive policies" that differed from the conservative policy. However, the former lieutenant governor said he had no choice because a second Trump term would impede the Republican Party's progress.

“The GOP will never rebuild until we move on from the Trump era, leaving conservative (but not angry) Republicans like me no choice but to pull the lever for Biden,” he wrote. “The alternative is another term of Trump, a man who has disqualified himself through his conduct and his character. The headlines are ablaze with his hush-money trial over allegations of improper record-keeping for payments to conceal an affair with an adult-film star.”

Duncan also called out several Republicans who fell in line with the ex-president despite their past criticisms of him. He emphasized that the mentality of GOP members, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and New Hampshire Gov Chris Sununu, was "dead wrong."

Furthermore, Duncan also blasted Bill Barr, former attorney general under Trump's administration and a prominent critic of the ex-president over his decision to vote for Trump.

“Trump has shown us who he is. We should believe him. To think he is going to change at the age of 77 is beyond improbable," he added.

Geoff Duncan says Donald Trump is 'not a Republican'

In an interview with CNN, after announcing his decision, Duncan slammed the real estate mogul seeking a second term in the White House.

Stating Trump is "not a Republican," he added that the ex-president neither represented the party's brand nor its future.

"He’s a horrible human being at this point; we’re watching that play out hour by hour in the courtroom," the Georgia Republican said, referring to the ongoing hush money trial against Trump in Manhattan.

Duncan urged the GOP to move on and "turn the page immediately" from Trump if it wanted to "heal as a party and truly get back to doing the things that we should do - that’s be conservative but not angry or crazy or liars."

In 2023, he testified against Trump before the Fulton County grand jury that later indicted the ex-president and his co-defendants, including Rudy Giuliani, for their attempt to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.

Geoff Duncan's decision splits the Internet

Netizens divided into two sides debating Duncan's decision to vote for Biden. While one group blasted him, another appreciated his choice.

One user wrote, "Notice all these people who suddenly have courage are "former ________" The lack of integrity is numbing in this party."

While another remarked, "A brave, moral, conscience-driven GA Tech man with a bright mind & future. Just not in current GOP politics in GA. But critically, he'll change a few minds here looking for one more excuse to become NeverTrumpers!"

"He has a moral compass, just a completely broken one," a user added. Whereas one response read, "@GeoffDuncanGA gets what, for some reason, so few Republicans’ understand…policy and politics are insignificant if a candidate doesn’t at least possess basic human decency."

Someone else wrote, "Duncan is a RINO!" On the other hand, a person said, "By choosing America over *trump/trumpism*, Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan has shown to be a true American patriot! "

An individual deemed the move "Disgraceful." While another remarked, "See Republicans can still use critical thinking skills."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.