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By: Guest Contributor -
As the 2026 midterm elections loom, Georgia's U.S. Senate race is shaping up to be a high-stakes
battleground, pitting Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff against a fractured Republican field.
With Ossoff seeking re-election in a state that has swung dramatically in recent cycles, the GOP's
internal divisions—fueled by lingering tensions between Governor Brian Kemp and current
President Donald Trump—threaten to hand Democrats another victory, echoing the party's
painful losses in the 2021 runoffs.
The seeds of the current discord were sown in efforts to mend a longstanding feud between
Kemp and Trump, which dates to the 2020 election when Kemp refused to investigate after
serious allegations were discovered by Joe Rossi.
Recent attempts at unity included two notable meetings between the two leaders. The first occurred five weeks ago in South Georgia on a Sunday night, where the pair reportedly agreed to collaborate on selecting a Senate candidate they could both endorse, aiming to consolidate the Republican base.
However, hopes for harmony evaporated during their most recent encounter in Washington,
D.C., intended as a casual golf outing to discuss strategy. Sources indicate the meeting ended
abruptly after just four holes on the course, with Governor Kemp departing prematurely amid
escalating disagreements over candidate preferences. This fallout has exacerbated tensions, with
Trump's team expressing frustration over Kemp's independent streak in candidate selection.
With all the attention between Kemp and Trump, the president extended an Olive Branch to the Kemp
camp, considering all the lawfare attacks from Fani Willis, Brad Raffensperger and Kemp refusal
to step in and help the then former president. The President was willing to put this aside for the
good of the country and the State of Georgia and was willing to work with the Governor. It
appears that President Trump was willing to work with Kemp.
These interactions highlight the precarious balance within the Georgia GOP. While Trump has
praised Kemp in public forums earlier this year, such as at a Republican Governors Association
meeting, the underlying animosities persist, particularly as both vie for influence in the party's
future.
Undeterred by the impasse with Trump, Governor Kemp has thrown his weight behind Derek
Dooley, a former University of Tennessee college football coach and son of University of Georgia legend Vince Dooley.
Dooley, who announced his candidacy on August 4, 2025, positions himself as an outsider with deep Georgia roots, leveraging his family's storied legacy in Athens—home to UGA—to appeal
to voters.
Dooley's ties to Brian Kemp run deep: He is the younger brother of Daniel Dooley, Kemp's
college roommate at UGA, forging a personal connection that has included Dooley company
receiving lucrative state contracts.
Kemp's former chief of staff, Cody Hall, is slated to manage Dooley's campaign, bringing seasoned political acumen to the operation.
Additionally, Kemp's youngest daughter, Amy Porter Kemp, is handling fundraising efforts, expecting to earn a 10% fee on contributions—a common arrangement in high-stakes races but one that underscores the family affair aspect of this bid.
Brain Kemp and company can walk away with a $10 + million haul even with another loss.
In recent days, Brian Kemp leveraged a backdoor meeting at a prominent lobbyist house after the building dedication for David Ralston in Blue Ridge. Only State elected officials attended and sliding awkwardly in the side door was Derek Dooley. Kemp speaking to the state officials in a veiled threat, “I’m still the Governor for two more years.” This coming after the bare knuckle fight last session where the Governor threatened to “Primary” anyone who changes or alters his Tort Reform Bill.
In a clear rebuke to Kemp's choice, former President Trump has aligned himself with U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, a second-term congressman from Georgia's 10th District who announced his Senate bid on July 28, 2025.
Collins, known for his fiery conservative rhetoric and loyalty to Trump, entered the race with a pro-Trump agenda, emphasizing issues like immigration and economic nationalism that resonate with the MAGA base.
In just days Collins has received over forty from solid Kemp-aligned Georgia elected officials. This includes a state “Floor” leader in the Kemp camp, has the wedge of power started to shift away from Kemp?
Trump's endorsement amplifies Collins' visibility, but it also draws battle lines within the party.
Collins' campaign has already faced minor gaffes, such as a launch ad misspelling "Georgia," but his congressional record and alignment with Trump could mobilize grassroots support.
The only Achilles heel is the troubled Collins chief of staff Brandon Phillips, with his checkered past.
This backing reflects Trump's strategy to reward loyalty and punish perceived slights, further deepening the Kemp-Trump divide. This battle will end badly for Kemp, if Dooley or Collins loses it will be directly tied back to Kemp. A Collins win against Ossoff will be the final nail in Brian Kemp’s legacy in Georgia.
I am betting on President Trump fortifying his resolve and TEAM TRUMP going all out in support of Mike Collins. If not to prove to Brain Kemp that Georgia is still MAGA. I am Betting that Mike Collins will work all four corners of the State with his Big Truck stick, give him his credit he will work hard.
The most likely scenario in this fractured landscape is a prolonged and bitter primary that
splinters the Republican vote, paving the way for Ossoff's re-election.
Ossoff, who outpaced GOP challengers in recent fundraising quarters, has smartly framed the race as a referendum on Trump, capitalizing on Georgia's evolving demographics and suburban shifts.
This dynamic mirrors the 2021 special election runoff where Kelly Loeffler, appointed by Kemp, lost to Raphael Warnock amid GOP infighting and Trump's election denialism. Similarly, Ossoff's narrow victory over David Perdue in the same cycle was aided by Republican turnout suppression. With Georgia rated as a competitive seat by analysts, a divided base could once again tip the scales toward Democrats.
As the primary heats up, all eyes will be on whether Kemp and Trump can reconcile or if their rivalry dooms the GOP's Senate ambitions. For now, the battle lines are drawn, and Georgia's voters may ultimately decide if unity prevails or history repeats itself.
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Isn't Ossof neck deep in the smurfing and/or USAID grift?