'Are they terrified?' Analyst reveals major problem facing GOP after special election

A veteran GOP analyst flagged the "biggest concern" for the Republican Party following Tuesday's special election in Georgia during a new interview on CNN.

Ashley Davis, a former official in George W. Bush's Department of Homeland Security, joined Jake Tapper on CNN's "The Lead," where the panel discussed how Republicans should view the outcome of the special election. Republican Clay Fuller defeated Democrat Shawn Harris for the seat left vacant after former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene retired from Congress. But Fuller's margin of victory was less than half of the 37-point margin President Donald Trump had in the district during the 2024 election.

Tapper asked Davis if Republicans are "terrified" of Democrats closing the gap in Republican districts.

"I don't know if they're terrified," she said, "I talked to a bunch of people today, knowing what happened last night. And, publicly, they are waiting to see how the president helps with that when he gets on the campaign trail."

"Remember, this was supposed to start in January, that he was supposed to be on every week," Davis added. "That's going to be the biggest concern for us Republicans: that Trump gets people off the couch to vote, and his not being on the ticket is going to be an issue."