Republican Infighting in Georgia Senate Race

The Georgia Republican Party is currently experiencing significant internal conflict related to the recent government shutdown and the upcoming primary aimed at challenging Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.

Ossoff, who secured his position in a tight runoff against former Republican Senator David Perdue in 2021, is seen as vulnerable. With the 2026 election looming, many believe Republicans have a genuine opportunity to reclaim the seat.

Despite the stakes, the party is embroiled in a fierce dispute over the shutdown that concluded last week. A political group supporting Republican Governor Brian Kemp stirred tensions with an ad that criticized Representatives Mike Collins and Buddy Carter for their roles in the government shutdown. The ad controversially suggested that former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley, perceived as a “political outsider,” was the solution needed to address the turmoil.

The ad boldly claimed, “What do Mike Collins, Buddy Carter, and Jon Ossoff have in common? They all failed and shut down the government.” It further asserted that “This is what happens when you send a career politician to Washington.”

This prompted pushback from elements within the Georgia Republican Party, who felt it undermined the national Republican narrative blaming Democrats for the shutdown. Collins expressed confusion over why a governor-backed group would support such claims, which he viewed as contradictory to the party’s message.

With Kemp backing Dooley in the primary, tensions escalated further. Collins, in a pointed response, emphasized that he and Carter had successfully passed a bipartisan resolution during the shutdown.

In the wake of the ad, Collins’s campaign released another spot criticizing Dooley’s voting history. They pointed out that Dooley had not participated in voting for many years, even saying he had missed voting for Trump five times. This was framed as a failure on his part while service members were making arrangements to vote absentee.

The back-and-forth has led to accusations from Dooley, who claimed Collins was trying to “score political points” using Veterans Day. Collins countered by saying, “Veterans Day tells you everything you need to know about the typical politician,” emphasizing his commitment to integrity and respect for Georgians.

In communications with Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Carter described Dooley’s ad as a “desperate attempt” to revitalize a faltering campaign, accusing him of aligning with leftist ideals and diverting from Trump’s direction.

Collins also criticized Dooley, labeling him as “strange” for returning to Georgia after years away and launching an attack on Congressional Republicans instead of holding Democrats accountable for the shutdown.

On the other hand, Dooley’s campaign argues that he has solid momentum and the potential to defeat Ossoff, pointing to fundraising successes and grassroots support as indicators of his viability.

As the primary approaches, the ongoing discord presents a challenge for the Republican Party. A strategist emphasized the need for unity, warning that prolonged infighting only benefits Ossoff.

The strategist expressed concerns that Dooley lacks the financial backing necessary to establish himself as a credible candidate in comparison to Collins and Carter. Furthermore, he indicated that Dooley does not grasp the current dynamics of the Republican Party shaped by Trump, where trust is earned through commitment to the movement rather than distance.

Notably, Deborah Dooley, a Georgia Tea Party activist, remains confident in Derek Dooley’s candidacy, maintaining that he represents the best chance for a Republican victory in November. However, she did not shy away from criticizing her opponents within the party.

Meanwhile, Georgia Democrats are feeling optimistic about their chances in the election, asserting that the Republican primary affects the party’s overall strength going into the general election. A spokesperson for the Democratic Party suggested that the ongoing conflict among Republicans could lead to weakened candidacies down the line.

Responses to requests for comments from Kemp’s office and various stakeholders are still pending as the political landscape in Georgia continues to evolve.