The rift between former President Donald Trump’s political camp and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is widening due to disagreements over the Republican Senate primary candidate selection in Georgia, Fox News reported.
The tension revolves around Kemp's choice of Derek Dooley as a candidate, which has not sat well with Trump’s advisers.
The controversy started when Governor Kemp, enjoying high popularity among Republicans and encouraged nationally, opted not to run against Democrat Senator Jon Ossoff himself. Instead, he preferred supporting another candidate for the crucial Senate race in Georgia.
Earlier engagements had seen Kemp and Trump’s teams agree to back a jointly approved candidate to contest against Ossoff, a strategy intended to consolidate GOP efforts. This agreement was highlighted during a recent meeting between Trump and Kemp to discuss the Senate race strategy.
However, Kemp’s move to promote Derek Dooley, a decision made roughly two months prior amidst a tepid reception from local Republicans, sparked discontent within Trump’s inner circle. Derek Dooley, closely linked to Kemp and son of respected former University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, has even absorbed key personnel from Kemp’s team for his campaign initiative.
"We had a deal to work together," a senior source within Trump’s political orbit expressed to Fox News. "Kemp went out on his own – which has frustrated and pissed off Trump orbit," the source added.
The source continued to emphasize, "the best option for the GOP in Georgia was and is Brian Kemp. Unfortunately, he has chosen the path of the weak and – instead of leading – has decided to circumvent and self-anoint a candidate no one has heard of and the president hasn’t met."
Trump’s advisers believe Kemp should have been the premier GOP contender to face Ossoff, viewing his decision to back another candidate as a tactical misstep.
Meanwhile, other Republican figures are positioning themselves within the primary spectrum. Georgia Republican Rep. Mike Collins, who shares a robust alliance with Trump, has been gearing up for his Senate candidacy, embodied by his reintroduction of the Laken Riley Act.
Additionally, the race saw an abrupt change with Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King withdrawing his Senate campaign. On another front, Buddy Carter is actively seeking a Senate seat, courting an endorsement from Trump, further complicating the primary landscape.
The ongoing dispute and Kemp’s decision have also stirred discussions regarding the long-term implications, with a source linked to Trump iterating the challenges of rallying the "Trump organization" behind a candidate focused more on personal ambitions rather than the immediate electoral goals.
A source close to Kemp clarified, "It's factually not true that they were told to stand down on Dooley." This source emphasized that Kemp remains keen on collaborating with Trump and his team, viewing the current tensions as surmountable.
For his part, Kemp has downplayed the criticism from Trump as merely a "small distraction," hinting at a strategic indifference to the external pressure.
In surrounding political circles, the narrative is a mix of anticipation and strategy recalibrations, with a Georgia-based Republican consultant stating, "the lane that Mike [Collins] is going to run in is the America First fighter who's been with President Trump."
This Georgia Senate race not only highlights the diverging paths within the Republican party but also underscores the complexities of coalition-building in a politically fragmented landscape. As the primaries approach, all eyes will be on how these internal dynamics influence the broader battle against the Democrats for this crucial Senate seat.
