Republican nominated to chair Fulton election board withdraws after backlash

People visit a booth set up by Fulton County to recruit new poll workers at the Alpharetta Farmers Market on Sept. 10, 2022, in Alpharetta, Ga. (AP Photo/Sudhin Thanawala)

A Republican nominated to chair Fulton County’s Registration and Elections Board has withdrawn his name following swift backlash from Democrats in Georgia’s most populous county. 

After an hour of public comment, the Fulton County Commission instead approved lawyer Patrise Perkins-Hooker, who currently serves as the election board’s attorney.

Democrats quickly mobilized against the first pick by Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts, a Democrat. The appointment of Lee Morris, a former GOP county commissioner, would have given Republicans majority-control of the elections board in heavily-Democratic Fulton County.