Georgia Republicans divided as they elect candidates for state’s next governor and senator

The final stretch of Georgia’s Republican primary campaigns has laid bare significant internal fractures. These divisions and unconventional alliances are now putting the party’s ability to unite for the general election to the test as they look to catch up with Democrats’ head start.

High-Stakes Runoffs

Monday served as a preview of the high-tension runoffs scheduled for Tuesday, featuring last-minute endorsements from President Donald Trump and outgoing Governor Brian Kemp. In the race for the U.S. Senate nomination, Rep. Mike Collins and former football coach Derek Dooley are locked in a tight battle. Meanwhile, the gubernatorial primary features Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones facing off against billionaire businessman Rick Jackson.

Internal Divisions

The party power structure remains split. While both Trump and Kemp have thrown their support behind Jones for governor, they are divided in the Senate race. This confusion has trickled down to grassroots organizers, with longtime activist Debbie Dooley noting, “There’s a lot of division in the MAGA world and across the Republican Party. We better get it together after Tuesday.”

Even Texas Senator Ted Cruz has entered the fray, endorsing Jackson and creating a clear contrast with the preferences of the President and the Governor.

The Kemp and Trump Dynamic

Governor Kemp, who spent Monday campaigning for both Jones and Derek Dooley in metro Atlanta, maintains that his primary focus is electoral victory in November. Kemp has supported Dooley’s Senate bid for months, positing him as the outsider necessary to defeat Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff. In the governor’s race, Kemp believes Jones is the candidate best equipped to overcome Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Trump’s strategy has taken a different path. The former President has backed Jones since last August, a nod to Jones’s involvement in Trump’s alternate Electoral College slate during the 2020 election. Trump only signaled his choice for the Senate late, siding with Collins over Dooley.

Candidates Make Their Case

Candidates are pushing hard as the final hours arrive. Derek Dooley positioned his campaign as the true path to victory, claiming, “A vote for Mike Collins is a vote for Jon Ossoff. A vote for me is a vote for the people of Georgia.” Conversely, Jackson continues to lean into his outsider status despite Kemp’s late endorsement of his opponent, telling supporters, “I respect Gov. Kemp very much, and I think people are ready for an outsider.”

As 205focus.com tracks these results, it is clear that for many voters, the decision is no longer about simple party loyalty. As Debbie Dooley put it, “It’s just not as simple as blindly following Trump anymore. I don’t want the most conservative candidate. I want the most conservative candidate who can win.”