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Senate Democrats blocked a clean continuing resolution over a dozen times, dragging the standoff well into November. Meanwhile, Collins and Carter supported the clean funding bill that ultimately reopened the government. Yet Kemp’s ad shoved them into the same narrative Democrats used to smear Republicans.
Collins quickly blasted the attack, writing: “I’m not sure why the governor’s nonprofit 501(c)(4) would be using dark money to attack Republican members of the Georgia delegation by parroting the anti-Trump Democrat lie that ‘Republicans are to blame for the shutdown.'” He added the attacks were “not only contrary to the message from Speaker Johnson, Leader Thune and President Trump, but it’s also disconnected from reality.”
And he wasn’t finished. Days later, Collins released a blistering Veterans Day ad exposing Dooley’s admission that he “probably went 20 years” without voting for a presidential candidate—meaning he sat out multiple opportunities to support President Trump.
Dooley is no mystery to SEC football fans. His 15–21 record at Tennessee earned him the distinction of leading the Volunteers through their longest losing streak in more than 100 years. His career afterward didn’t erase his reputation as a coach who couldn’t win.
But now Kemp is trying to convince Republicans that this same man can win a bruising statewide Senate race against Ossoff?
Carter’s campaign didn’t hesitate to unload, calling Dooley’s attacks a “desperate attempt” to salvage a failing bid. They accused him of “selling out to the radical left” and copying Jon Ossoff’s political playbook.
Collins was even more blunt, telling Fox News Digital that Dooley’s anti-Republican messaging revealed either “hatred for Trump” or “genuine ignorance of what’s going on at the federal level.” He added: “It is certainly not a winning formula for next November.”
Dooley’s campaign insists he has “clear momentum” and claims he’s the “only candidate that can take on Jon Ossoff next November.” But GOP insiders aren’t buying it. One strategist told Fox News the Republican infighting simply gives Ossoff months of free political cover, warning that Dooley is “running out of time” and still has no proof he can compete financially or politically.
Collins and Carter both have long conservative records. Collins passed the Laken Riley Act—signed into law by President Trump—which mandates detention for illegal immigrants charged with theft. Both men vote with Trump 98% of the time. Both have deep grassroots support. Both have endorsements from major conservative leaders.
Dooley, on the other hand, has… a famous father and Brian Kemp.
That’s not going to stop the Democrat machine, and Georgia Democrats know it. Their spokesman, Devon Cruz, celebrated the infighting, saying: “Brian Kemp’s latest attempt to boost the failed and fired Derek Dooley further proves that Republicans are in for a long, nasty primary.” He added that “no matter who limps out of the primary,” the nominee will be “badly bruised and battered for a general election.”
Instead of hammering Ossoff’s vulnerabilities, Kemp has steered his own party into a circular firing squad—right as the Senate majority hangs in the balance. Republicans should be rallying to take down Ossoff’s national war chest. Instead, they’re now forced to waste time, money, and oxygen responding to attacks from their own governor.
Kemp didn’t just miscalculate. He opened a rift that Democrats are already exploiting.
And unless this primary course corrects fast, Georgia may watch another winnable Senate seat slip right through its fingers.
