Fani Willis, the Democratic district attorney from Atlanta known for her role in charging President-elect Donald Trump and 18 others with election racketeering, won re-election on Tuesday for her second term as Fulton County district attorney.

Her win over Republican opponent Courtney Kramer clears the path for the trial against Trump and other defendants who have not yet accepted plea deals to progress in the near future.

Due to the demographic makeup of Fulton County, Willis was anticipated to win against Kramer, who has worked as a consultant for Trump’s legal team following the 2020 presidential election.

Trump has indicated that he might try to dismiss the various legal challenges he faces if he regains the presidency. However, legal analysts believe he would have significantly less power to halt the Georgia case compared to the federal lawsuits against him. Special counsel Jack Smith is reportedly concluding those federal cases as of Wednesday, according to YSL News.

The Fulton County case faces ongoing disputes and legal challenges, partly due to Willis’s relationship with Nathan Wade, the lead prosecutor she appointed for the extensive racketeering case.

A seasoned prosecutor, Willis filed charges in August 2023 against Trump, several former officials from his campaign and administration, and others for their alleged attempts to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.

Currently, four of Trump’s co-defendants have entered guilty pleas in negotiations with prosecutors, while Trump and 14 others, including former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, have pleaded not guilty.

No trial date has been established yet. However, various attempts by Trump and co-defendants to challenge Willis’s participation by requesting her removal or disqualification have effectively stalled the case for several months, as judges reviewed evidence surrounding whether her relationship with Wade undermined her capacity to lead it.

Trump and several co-defendants are appealing a ruling made by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee in March, which allowed Willis to continue on the case despite claims of misconduct and financial conflict of interest. McAfee stipulated that some trial preparations could proceed while the case was under appeal.

Michael Roman, a co-defendant and former Trump campaign member, initiated the first motion in January, raising concerns about Willis’s relationship with Wade and their joint trips to luxurious locations, alleging that these excursions were partially funded by the over $650,000 Wade received as the lead prosecutor in the case.

After initially refraining from comments, Willis and Wade confirmed their relationship, asserting that they acted appropriately and that their romantic involvement began after she hired him in 2021.

Judge McAfee criticized Willis for a “tremendous lapse in judgment,” permitting her to remain involved only if Wade withdrew from the case. Wade resigned immediately afterward. Trump and his co-defendants later sought an appeal, arguing that McAfee’s decision was insufficient and that Willis should also be removed.

The Georgia Court of Appeals is set to hear arguments regarding Willis’s potential removal from the case on December 5.