politics
Georgia Senate Primary Tests Influence of Gov. Brian Kemp
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is backing Derek Dooley, a former college football coach, in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. The primary is set for Tuesday with no candidate expected to reach a majority, leading to a June 16 runoff. Kemp has endorsed Dooley and campaigned with him while President Trump has not yet backed any candidate.
May 15, 12:43 PM·3m read2 sources
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Senate. " The ad represents one of the strongest efforts by Kemp to back his preferred candidate ahead of Tuesday's primary. Dooley, who has never held elected office, is competing against Reps. Mike Collins and Buddy Carter. None of the three candidates is expected to receive a majority of the vote.
The top two finishers will advance to a runoff on June 16 to determine the Republican nominee against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Dooley has also said he supports Trump but has emphasized his status as a political outsider. He has argued that the congressional records of Collins and Carter could be used against the eventual nominee in the general election.
Kemp has backed Dooley since deciding not to run for the Senate seat himself. Kemp and his wife Marty have appeared with Dooley at multiple stops on the campaign trail, including events that began on Wednesday.
Kemp has a personal connection to the Dooley family.
Derek Dooley previously served as head coach at the University of Tennessee. Kemp has also supported Dooley by contacting donors on his behalf. A Kemp adviser said the governor helped Dooley gain early meetings with influential supporters. Dooley said in a phone interview that the connections provided a boost but that he still had to present his own case to voters.
"I have to go sell myself and my vision and how I'm going to represent the state, because Gov. Kemp's not on the ballot," Dooley said. Kemp's political action committee has spent more than $3 million on text messages and advertisements supporting Dooley, according to campaign finance reports.
