Gov. Kemp backs former soccer coach Derek Dooley for 2026 Georgia US Senate seat

[ad_1] NEW Now you can hearken to Fox Information articles!

Standing outdoors Dooley Subject at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, Saturday, Gov. Brian Kemp endorsed former soccer coach Derek Dooley, a fellow Republican, to oust Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., within the state's 2026 U.S. Senate race.

Kemp made the announcement an hour earlier than the Georgia Bulldogs kicked off their first recreation of the season, noting Dooley was the "one and solely alternative" to flip Ossoff's seat.

Dooley, who walked onto the College of Virginia soccer workforce and performed 4 years as a receiver, later earned his regulation diploma from the College of Georgia, the place he began his 28-year teaching profession as a graduate assistant.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, left, endorses Derek Dooley, R-Ga., proper, for the U.S. Senate Saturday. (@DerekDooleyGA through X)

SENATE DEMOCRATS ARE FEVERISHLY RECRUITING TOP CANDIDATES TO WIN BACK MAJORITY IN 2026 MIDTERMS

The previous College of Tennessee coach and son of former UGA coach Vince Dooley coached within the NFL for nearly a decade and in faculty soccer for almost 20 years. He continues to work with Group of 5 colleges throughout the nation.

Following Dooley's marketing campaign launch, Democratic Senatorial Marketing campaign Committee spokesperson Maeve Coyle launched an announcement knocking his teaching profession.

"The most recent addition to Georgia’s messy and chaotic GOP main is a failed soccer coach who has solely ever spoken out to cheerlead Medicaid cuts that damage Georgians," Coyle wrote. "As this main will get much more crowded and devolves right into a proxy conflict between President Trump and Governor Kemp, Senator Ossoff is preventing for working households in Georgia and can maintain his seat in 2026."

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, left, endorsed former soccer coach Derek Dooley on Saturday. (@DerekDooleyGA through X)

REPUBLICAN DOOLEY JUMPS INTO GEORGIA'S SENATE RACE WHILE TOUTING SUPPORT FOR TRUMP AND TAKING AIM AT OSSOFF

Dooley tackled the claims on Saturday, claiming "management issues," FOX 5 Atlanta reported.

"I might inform you within the locker room proper now, proper down the street, it does not matter what your race is, what your revenue degree is, what your politics [are], what your faith is," Dooley mentioned. "It was about bringing individuals collectively. Management issues.

"I imply, have a look at our state. That is what nice management seems to be like. And also you have a look at our nation proper now. You took a man who was an outsider, President [Donald] Trump, who got here in and did not settle for enterprise as normal."

Former Tennessee soccer coach Derek Dooley spoke to supporters at a tailgate rally Saturday. (@DerekDooleyGA through X)

TRUMP ALLY MIKE COLLINS LAUNCHES KEY BATTLEGROUND STATE BID TO FLIP DEMOCRAT-HELD SENATE SEAT

Kemp, a two-term governor, described Dooley as a "true political outsider," including Ossoff's voting document doesn't mirror the state's values, leaving room for an upset.

"You can not run from that sort of document, and that's the reason I feel we have now a possibility to win this race," Kemp mentioned.

Dooley mentioned in an announcement to Fox Information Digital he's deeply honored to have the governor's assist.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"Governor Kemp has led this state with robust management, integrity, and achieved historic accomplishments throughout actually unprecedented occasions in our state and nation," he wrote. "Georgians know him and belief him. I hope to carry that very same management fashion targeted on conservative outcomes to the U.S. Senate by defeating Jon Ossoff subsequent November.

"The Governor's assist provides our marketing campaign unimaginable momentum as we proceed to earn assist from hardworking Georgians all throughout our state."

Kemp's workplace didn't instantly reply to Fox Information Digital's request for remark.

Alexandra Koch is a Fox Information Digital journalist who covers breaking information, with a give attention to high-impact occasions that form nationwide dialog and affect authorities response.