TL;DR
- Georgia’s GOP Senate primary is heating up.
- Rep. Buddy Carter launches the first attack ad.
- Candidates are vying for Trump’s endorsement.
- Collins faces an ethics investigation.
- Dooley positions himself as a conservative outsider.
Well, well, well, Georgia! The GOP Senate primary is turning into a real showdown, and it’s only a month before the voters head to the polls. Buckle up, because Rep. Buddy Carter has just dropped the first attack ad of the race, and it’s a doozy. With former football coach Derek Dooley and Rep. Mike Collins also in the mix, things are about to get spicy!
These three Republicans are all gunning for a chance to take on Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is definitely on the GOP’s hit list as they aim to expand their 53-47 majority in the Senate. With the primary on May 19, and President Trump playing coy about who he’s backing, we might be looking at a runoff on June 16. Grab your popcorn, folks!
Carter is leading the charge with a whopping $5.5 million spent on ads, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. Meanwhile, Dooley is trailing with $519,000, and Collins is bringing up the rear with $170,000, mostly on digital ads. But hold onto your hats, because Carter’s latest ad takes aim at Collins, who’s currently under investigation by the Ethics Committee for allegedly misusing congressional funds. Yikes!
In the ad, a narrator declares, “While Trump and Buddy Carter were protecting our wallets, Mike Collins was abusing them. Collins is under federal investigation for misusing taxpayer funds to benefit himself and his cronies. We just can’t trust or afford Mike Collins.” Ouch! Collins’ camp, however, is calling the ethics complaint “bogus” and a desperate attempt to derail a solid conservative.
But wait, there’s more! Dooley, the former football coach, is also making waves with his first ads, branding himself as a “conservative outsider.” He’s got the pedigree, with a legendary coaching father, and he’s not afraid to throw some shade. “As a football coach for 30 years, I can spot these ‘me first’ guys a mile away, and we gotta get rid of them,” he says in his ad. He’s all about accountability and promises to work with Trump—if he gets the chance.
Dooley and Georgia’s Republican Governor Brian Kemp are hitting the campaign trail together, and they’re both worried about the undecided voters. “The biggest competition right now is undecided, because I think over half the voters have not engaged or made a decision on this election,” Dooley said. And Kemp is echoing that sentiment, noting that a significant chunk of voters hasn’t weighed in yet.
Collins’ camp is touting his fundraising prowess, claiming he’s the front-runner with a recent haul of $1 million, which surpasses both Dooley’s and Carter’s totals for the first quarter. “Slick advertisements are expensive, but authenticity is priceless,” said Collins’ campaign manager. Meanwhile, Carter is sitting pretty with $3.7 million in his campaign account, thanks to a hefty loan from himself. Talk about self-funding!
Ossoff, on the other hand, is raking in the dough, ending March with a staggering $31.7 million in his campaign account. He’s the only Democratic senator up for re-election in a state that Trump won in 2024, so you know he’s got a target on his back.
As for Trump? He’s been silent on the GOP primary so far, but all candidates are itching for his endorsement. Dooley expressed his desire for Trump’s backing, saying, “I would love and be honored to have the endorsement of the president, but my focus is on the voters.” Meanwhile, Kemp has been chatting with Trump and his staff, but who knows what will happen next?
One thing’s for sure: the Georgia Senate primary is shaping up to be a wild ride, and we’re here for it. Stay tuned as this political drama unfolds!