Overview
- Republicans warn Kemp’s backing of Derek Dooley is likely to force a runoff under Georgia’s rule that nominees must win more than 50 percent to avoid a second round.
- Kemp declined to run and in August endorsed Dooley, an outsider polling in a distant third and struggling with low name recognition.
- NOTUS reports Kemp and President Trump agreed to try to find a consensus pick with national Senate groups, yet that effort did not produce a single choice.
- Kemp says national leaders moved too slowly to unify the field, while critics say he undercut the plan by promoting Dooley without Trump’s endorsement.
- Reps. Mike Collins and Buddy Carter are the other leading contenders, and Raw Story says Collins may face subpoenas tied to a staffer, which adds fresh uncertainty.