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Déjà Dooley? Kemp bets big on little-known candidate – again

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2 weeks ago

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georgiarecorder.com – Niles Francis – 2025-08-11 04:00:00


Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s endorsement of Derek Dooley in the GOP U.S. Senate primary echoes his controversial 2019 appointment of Kelly Loeffler. Kemp promised to collaborate with Trump’s team on a consensus candidate but instead backed Dooley, a little-known figure with tenuous Georgia ties and a sparse voting record. This move has frustrated Trump’s allies and energized rivals like Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins, who vie for the MAGA base. Democrats plan to exploit Dooley’s coaching failures and political inexperience. Kemp’s diminished political leverage and GOP infighting risk handing an advantage to incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff in the pivotal race.

by Niles Francis, Georgia Recorder
August 11, 2025

Stop me if you’ve heard this story before.

Gov. Brian Kemp needs a U.S. Senate candidate. He promises to work with the White House toward a candidate both he and President Donald Trump can get behind. The governor then decides to go his own route and throws his full support behind a little-known candidate. His pick frustrates the White House and divides the Republican base ahead of a pivotal race.

By backing Derek Dooley for U.S. Senate, the governor is again finding himself on a collision course with the White House as he hedges his bets on a blank-slate candidate.

Kemp, who was his party’s dream challenger to take on Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff before ultimately declining to run, had committed to working with Trump’s team toward finding a consensus candidate. The governor told donors to keep their “powder dry” and made several trips to Washington to discuss the race with the White House and Senate Republicans.

But over the summer, word began spreading that Dooley was weighing a bid with Kemp’s support. A former coach at Tennessee and the son of Georgia coaching giant Vince Dooley, Derek Dooley began lining up a team that included many of the governor’s top advisers.

Kemp even called other candidates to tell them that he would not be supporting their campaigns as he works to boost his longtime friend. While he was able to nudge Insurance Commissioner John King out of the race, his involvement appears to have not only “p—-d off” the president’s inner circle but emboldened other candidates: U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-St. Simons Island) said he wasn’t going anywhere, and U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (R-Jackson) announced his own bid the next week.

Both Collins and Carter are competing for the MAGA lane in a primary almost certain to be dominated by Trump and his supporters, while Dooley works to prove himself as a reliable conservative who can bridge the divide between the party’s two factions.

It’s an eerily familiar situation for Kemp, who found himself in a nearly identical situation in 2019 after the resignation of longtime U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson. Despite being urged by the White House and conservative activists to appoint a more Trump-aligned figure, Kemp went his own route and appointed businesswoman and Republican donor Kelly Loeffler.

Loeffler tried to make inroads with the president’s supporters, but doubts about her conservative credentials — and tenuous ties to Georgia — seemed to follow her wherever she went. And U.S. Rep. Doug Collins (not related to Mike Collins), who was Trump’s preferred choice for the coveted appointment, campaigned for the seat anyway.

The two spent most of the campaign trying to out-right one another, driving up each other’s unfavorable ratings and dividing the Republican base in the process. Loeffler ultimately finished second in the top-two primary but was then defeated by now-Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) after failing to get the party back on a winning message.

This time around, Kemp is again hedging his bets on a blank-slate Senate candidate with thin (or questionable) ties to the Peach State. Dooley’s father might be an icon in Athens, but Derek Dooley has spent the majority of his coaching career outside of Georgia.

And like Loeffler, Dooley is sure to face questions about his voting trail. He hasn’t voted in many recent elections or Republican primaries and declined to declare his affiliation in states that have party registration. His only known political footprint is a $5,500 contribution to Kemp’s campaign.

His opponents wasted no time going on the attack. Collins’ campaign mocked Dooley by sharing a video of the Volunteers’ controversial loss to the Louisiana Tigers in 2010, when the Tigers were awarded an untimed down at the end of regulation after a too-many-men penalty against Dooley’s defense.

Collins’ team shared a separate ad taking aim at Dooley with a simple but potent line of attack: “Never fights. Never wins. Never Trump.”

Carter also thinks Dooley is ill-equipped to take on the first-term Ossoff. “This is serious stuff now — I don’t want to hear about, you know, we’re just going to put this to a popularity contest. That’s not what this is,” Carter said of his rival. “You got to have somebody who can go toe to toe with this kid, and I’m that person who can go toe to toe with him.”

Democrats also plan to make Dooley’s coaching career the centerpiece of their attacks, with party chair Charlie Bailey quickly labeling him as a “failed and fired former Tennessee football coach.”

“We’ll see what’s harder for Dooley — answering for a Trump bill that strips health care for 750,000 Georgians, or remembering which SEC team to root for,” Bailey said in a statement.

So as Kemp places all his eggs in the Dooley basket, he must keep in mind that he is doing so with a lot less capital than he had when he appointed Loeffler. With just a year left in his term and no (immediate) plans to run for office again soon, he has a lot less political leverage to wield over his legislative allies, many of whom are supporting Collins and are keenly aware of which direction their party is going.

What’s clear is that this Republican infighting in what had traditionally been a red state will play right into Democrats’ hands. As the Ossoff campaign asked in an email:

“Didn’t Republicans learn their lesson the last time they tried to oust a Democratic Senator in Georgia?”

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Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jill Nolin for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.

The post Déjà Dooley? Kemp bets big on little-known candidate – again appeared first on georgiarecorder.com


Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Right

This article provides a detailed examination of GOP infighting in Georgia’s Senate race, focusing on Governor Brian Kemp’s controversial support for Derek Dooley against other more MAGA-aligned candidates. While it covers criticism from multiple angles — including from Trump supporters and Democrats — the tone largely remains factual and analytical, highlighting internal Republican divisions without overtly praising or condemning party figures. The framing is critical but balanced, often spotlighting common intra-party struggles that lean toward a traditional conservative establishment perspective rather than extreme partisan rhetoric. This places the piece in a Center-Right position, as it discusses Republican dynamics with a degree of nuance and some skepticism toward hardline MAGA elements while maintaining focus on mainstream conservative politics.

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Mall shooting suspects appear in court, linked to 2 groups

Published

17 hours ago

on

August 26, 2025

By

www.wsav.com – Kaley Fedko – 2025-08-26 23:04:00

SUMMARY: Six suspects linked to a deadly July 2 shooting at Oglethorpe Mall in Savannah, Ga., are moving closer to murder indictment. Four appeared in court: Royce Haynes, Theron Robbins, Franklin James, and Johnathan Jones; Aujawan Hymon and Dahmil Johnson are scheduled later. Police identified two rival gang groups involved: 2X (Group A: Hymon, Haynes, James, Jones) and 3X (Group B: Robbins, Johnson). A physical fight escalated into a shootout, resulting in the death of Tina Smith, who died due to physiological stress fleeing the gunfire. Defense motions to dismiss felony murder charges were denied. Indictments, possibly including gang charges, are expected by October 1.

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The post Mall shooting suspects appear in court, linked to 2 groups appeared first on www.wsav.com

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Democrat heads to runoff in Georgia state Senate race with two Republicans competing for second

Published

21 hours ago

on

August 26, 2025

By

georgiarecorder.com – Maya Homan – 2025-08-26 18:58:00


A special election is underway to fill the Georgia state Senate seat vacated by Republican Brandon Beach, now U.S. Treasurer. Democrat Debra Shigley led Tuesday’s primary with about 40% of the vote, advancing to a runoff against the leading Republican, either Jason Dickerson or Steve West, who are narrowly split around 17% each. Over 20,000 voters participated, a 14% turnout. Shigley, an attorney and small business owner, emphasizes affordability, education, and healthcare, gaining notable endorsements. The district is heavily Republican, but Shigley’s strong showing signals growing Democratic momentum ahead of the Sept. 23 runoff to decide the winner.

by Maya Homan, Georgia Recorder
August 26, 2025

The lone Democrat in a seven-way race has advanced to a runoff in a special election that will decide who will replace former Alpharetta Republican state Sen. Brandon Beach, but the top GOP candidates in the contest were still battling it out for second place late Tuesday night.

Democrat Debra Shigley had a strong showing Tuesday night, racking up about 40% of the vote. Republicans Jason Dickerson and Steve West were still neck and neck for second place Tuesday night, earning 17.4% and 17.1% of the vote, respectively. Dickerson held a narrow 65-vote edge over West. 

Over 20,000 voters cast their ballots in the special election, amounting to a 14% turnout rate.

Since no candidate cleared 50% of the vote to win the race outright Tuesday, the top two candidates will face off for a second time on Sept. 23.

Dickerson, Shigley and West were among the seven qualified candidates seeking to replace Beach, who resigned from the Senate earlier this year after President Donald Trump appointed Beach to serve as the 46th U.S. Treasurer. The district, which includes parts of Fulton and Cherokee counties, is predominantly Republican, with Beach receiving upwards of 70% of the vote against a Democratic challenger in 2024. 

Dickerson, a Cherokee County resident, is the president of Purple Chip Capital Management, a private investment firm. He has cast himself as a political outsider who plans to prioritize property tax relief and improving access to affordable housing for seniors. Dickerson also reported the highest campaign contributions of any candidate in the race, loaning himself $500,000 and raising an additional $100.

Republican Steve West, the CEO of a metal fabrication company, is currently in third place. West was a member of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners from 2014 until this year, when he stepped down to run for the state Senate. His platform includes a broad range of conservative policy proposals, including eliminating the state income tax, strengthening Georgia’s economy, and cracking down on illegal immigration. He also proposed ending Georgia’s state film tax credit. 

Democrats, meanwhile, have rallied behind Shigley, an Alpharetta mom, attorney and small business owner. The only Democratic candidate in the race, Shigley said she aims to improve affordability for families, strengthen public school systems and expand access to health care. She has received endorsements from U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, and progressive organizations including the Georgia Win List and Reproductive Freedom for All.

Shigley’s advancement to the runoff was seen as a success for Democrats, who are seeking to flip the deep-red district. Shigley gained nearly 10 points over Lillia Michelle Lionel, who challenged Beach last year.

“My team and I are more than ready to continue this historic momentum,” Shigley said in a statement. “I am very proud of the campaign we have run so far, and it is clear that our vision — for an affordable, healthy, educated Georgia where working families can thrive — is resonating with our neighbors.”

Dickerson and West did not immediately reply to requests for comment Tuesday night.

Georgia Republican Party Chair Josh McKoon said he wasn’t surprised to see Shigley in the lead in the jungle primary when asked about the early results around 8 p.m., but he said he expected Republican voters to consolidate behind the GOP candidate in the runoff election.

“It’s really dangerous to read a lot into a special election,” he said. “This is an election taking place in the dead of summer. People are returning from summer vacation. People don’t know there’s an election. They’re not used to voting at this time of year.”

But Democratic officials are optimistic about their chances in the runoff election.

“Debra was the top vote-getter in a deep-red district against a field of six Republicans — a testament not only to Debra’s strong leadership and bold vision for Senate District 21, but to the undeniable Democratic momentum building across our state,” Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Charlie Bailey said in a statement. “Now it’s time to carry this momentum forward into the runoff.”

Deputy Editor Ross Williams contributed to this report.

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Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jill Nolin for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.

The post Democrat heads to runoff in Georgia state Senate race with two Republicans competing for second appeared first on georgiarecorder.com


Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

The content provides a balanced overview of a special election in Georgia, presenting information about both Democratic and Republican candidates without evident favoritism. It includes details on candidates’ platforms, endorsements, and election dynamics from multiple perspectives, maintaining a neutral tone throughout. The article focuses on factual reporting rather than opinion, reflecting a centrist approach to political coverage.

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Man accuses Delta flight attendant of slapping him | FOX 5 News

Published

21 hours ago

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August 26, 2025

By

www.youtube.com – FOX 5 Atlanta – 2025-08-26 18:21:24

SUMMARY: Mohamed Shibly alleges a Delta flight attendant slapped him during a July 29 flight to Fresno after refusing to provide water to his child. The attendant reportedly used a disrespectful tone and later whispered a vulgar word to Shibly, who responded with profanity. The attendant then struck him with an open palm. A nearby passenger confirmed hearing the slap and the attendant’s angry response. Delta has suspended the crew member and is investigating. Shibly’s attorneys, citing possible discrimination due to his Palestinian Muslim background and his wife’s Palestine shirt, demand sensitivity training and $20 million from Delta. The FBI may be involved.

Delta Air Lines faces a massive legal showdown after an alleged slap in the sky. The man says the incident started with his wife asking for water for one of his young kids, which he says the flight attendant refused to provide. He says he then asked the crew member himself. Delta says it is looking into the incident and the crew member has been suspended while it investigates.

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