Democratic Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ absence at the county’s inaugural Democratic Party debate led to her political opponent debating an empty podium, according to local reports. During the debate, Willis’ opponent criticized her decision to hire a romantic partner for a high-profile case, highlighting concerns about the allocation of resources. He emphasized the importance of fiscal responsibility, stating, “When you pay one attorney nearly $1 million to handle one case, that leaves the rest of us vulnerable. That hurts everyone in Fulton County.”
Smith, Willis’ opponent, clarified that his critique was not aimed at her prosecution of Trump but rather at her approach to governance, suggesting that she needed to “do things differently.” Willis was co-hosting the second annual “Self Care Fair” in collaboration with an Atlanta city councilwoman as part of Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Her focus on the ongoing prosecution of Trump was cited as another reason for her nonattendance.
Willis and Smith are scheduled to compete in the Democratic primary on May 28. Despite the controversies surrounding the Trump case, local polls indicate Willis holds a substantial lead over Smith. The winner of the Democratic primary will face a Republican challenger in the general election on Nov. 5.