However, that understanding unraveled when Kemp began pushing behind the scenes for former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley, a longtime family friend with no political experience, blindsiding Trump allies and bypassing more established contenders. 

“It’s a dumpster fire, and it’s pretty clear there’s next to zero coordination between Kemp and Trump’s teams,” said a Republican operative based in Atlanta. “Kemp has just gone out on his own.”

Multiple sources familiar with the matter told the Washington Examiner that Kemp has been urging Dooley to run and quietly helping him lay the groundwork for a potential campaign. The governor also informed Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA), Insurance Commissioner John King, and Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who officially entered the race this week, that he would not support their bids. King exited the race last week following a meeting with Kemp. 

The backlash from Trump’s political orbit has been swift and scathing. Allies of the president have mocked Dooley’s lack of experience, questioned his Republican credentials, and accused Kemp of putting personal loyalty above party unity in a must-win race.

“It’s one of the worst-calculated political moves in Senate campaign history,” said one Republican strategist with ties to Georgia and Capitol Hill. “The grassroots doesn’t know him, the donors don’t want him, and the Trumpworld is livid.”

A source close to Kemp offered a different perspective, saying the governor had been sincere in his early efforts to coordinate with Trump and Senate GOP leaders on finding a strong candidate to take on Ossoff. He spent more than two months engaged in that process.

But Trump allies say Kemp’s recent moves have reopened old wounds and destroyed what little trust had been rebuilt since their post-2020 feud.

 “The president values loyalty, and this feels like a direct challenge,” said one person close to Trump’s political operation. 

Adding to the tension, Trump allies have zeroed in on members of Dooley’s inner circle who they view as openly hostile to the president, particularly Cody Hall, a longtime Kemp strategist. Hall has come under scrutiny from Trump allies for his past criticism of the president and his work on Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign.

Four sources recalled that during a recent visit to Washington, Dooley attended a meeting at the White House, but Hall was barred from entering and made to wait outside in the heat. 

“That’s not normal,” said one Georgia Republican operative familiar with the incident. “I think that’s a major, major problem for his campaign. He’s got a bunch of Never Trumpers leading the show. And not only is that a problem interpersonally, but it also means they probably aren’t terribly in touch with what the primary audience is looking for right now.”

 “These aren’t people who were with us in 2016 or 2020,” added another person close to Trump. “They were against us, and now they want to run the playbook?”

Trump and Kemp have had a rocky and often unpredictable political relationship. Trump initially endorsed Kemp during his successful 2018 run for governor, helping elevate him to the national stage. However, their alliance unraveled after the 2020 presidential election, when Kemp refused to intervene in Georgia’s vote certification despite pressure from Trump, who narrowly lost the state to Joe Biden.

Over the next two years, Trump repeatedly blasted Kemp and tried to unseat him in the 2022 GOP primary by backing former Sen. David Perdue, but Kemp handily defeated him. Although Trump briefly softened his rhetoric following Kemp’s decisive reelection, the feud flared up again in 2024, when Trump used a campaign rally in Atlanta to deliver a 10-minute tirade against the governor, blaming him not only for certifying the 2020 results but also for not stopping the Fulton County indictment tied to Trump’s actions following the election. Within days, however, Trump abruptly reversed course and publicly thanked Kemp on social media for his “help and support,” underscoring their political dynamic’s strange and shifting nature.

“The governor and the president haven’t really seen eye to eye in a long time,” said a Georgia campaign operative. “They tried to reconcile, but I think most of us were skeptical from the start. If there ever was a truce, it was temporary at best.”

The behind-the-scenes maneuvering has also reignited speculation about Kemp’s national aspirations. Several Republican operatives told the Washington Examiner they believe Kemp’s decision to go all-in for Dooley, despite widespread resistance from party leaders and grassroots conservatives, stems partly from his desire to maintain influence ahead of a possible 2028 presidential bid. 

“If that’s the play, it’s a baffling one,” said one source familiar with the discussions. “The ultimate kingmaker in Republican politics right now is Donald Trump, and the last thing you want to do is pick a fight with the president over a Senate race in your own backyard.” 

Another operative questioned the strategic logic, noting that backing a weak or unpopular candidate and sparking open warfare with Trump’s team risks alienating the very voters Kemp would need in a future national campaign.

But others argue Kemp has earned the benefit of the doubt. One former Republican staffer, who previously served in senior roles on Capitol Hill and now lives in Georgia, sees Kemp’s decision as a calculated move to preserve autonomy, not ambition.

 “Running for Senate would have meant getting in line with Trump’s legislative agenda and giving up the independence he has as governor,” said one former Republican staffer with Georgia ties. “If he wants to keep his distance from the chaos and reassess in 2028, that’s a pretty rational choice.” The same former aide questioned why Trump allies are second-guessing Kemp’s political instincts. “Trump has lost five straight Senate races in Georgia. Kemp knows how to win here, Trump doesn’t.”

As Dooley contemplates a bid, Collins is racking up endorsements rapidly, securing backing from 19 Republican state lawmakers within 24 hours of launching his Senate bid. One endorsement in particular raised eyebrows: state Rep. Matthew Gambill, one of Gov. Kemp’s designated floor leaders, threw his support behind Collins right out of the gate.

The groundswell behind Collins has only deepened the divide, signaling that much of the party’s infrastructure is siding against the governor. Several Republican insiders described the moment as a “showdown in the making,” with the potential to fracture the party just as it eyes a marquee pickup opportunity.

DEREK DOOLEY’S VOTING HISTORY COULD COMPLICATE POSSIBLE GOP SENATE RUN

“If this turns into a loyalty test, there’s no question who has the upper hand,” said a GOP strategist with experience working on Senate campaigns. “The base is with Trump. Always has been.”

Trump’s political team is still evaluating the race, but multiple operatives close to the president said they are watching closely and believe the dynamics strongly favor Collins.