{"id":2470467,"date":"2025-08-04T09:03:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T13:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/football-coach-derek-dooley-launches-georgia-senate-campaign\/"},"modified":"2025-08-04T09:04:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T13:04:30","slug":"football-coach-derek-dooley-launches-georgia-senate-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/football-coach-derek-dooley-launches-georgia-senate-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"Football coach Derek Dooley launches Georgia Senate campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffootball-coach-derek-dooley-launches-georgia-senate-campaign%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2470467&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>derek Dooley, a former NFL and NCAA football coach, has announced his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat in Georgia, with the backing of Governor Brian Kemp. Dooley enters a competitive Republican primary field that includes Representatives Mike Collins and Buddy Carter. Kemp, who was initially considered a potential candidate for the Senate seat, reportedly encouraged Dooley to run and supports him. <\/p>\n<p>Dooley criticized professional politicians like incumbent Senator Jon Ossoff in his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-target-gop-rep-marjorie-taylor-greene\/\" title=\"Democrats target GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\">campaign launch<\/a>, emphasizing issues such as border security, inflation, and so-called &#8220;woke&#8221; policies. Despite his coaching career being largely unsuccessful in terms of wins and losses, Dooley is leveraging his Georgia roots and outsider status in his political bid.<\/p>\n<p>However, Dooley&#8217;s candidacy has sparked controversy within GOP circles.His <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/schiffs-california-senate-chances-rise-with-gop-rival-garveys-for-now\/\" title=\"Schiff&#039;s ... prospects in California improve with GOP opponent Garvey, temporarily\">limited political experience<\/a>, inconsistent voting record, and lack of established Republican credentials have drawn criticism from Trump allies and party strategists, raising concerns about party unity and campaign viability. The Georgia Democratic Party also condemned his entrance into the race.The 2026 Senate race in Georgia is expected to be highly competitive as incumbent Jon Ossoff seeks re-election and Republicans strive to reclaim the seat.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Football coach Derek Dooley launches Georgia Senate campaign<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2195435\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Derek Dooley, a former NFL and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/college-football\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">NCAA football<\/a> coach with Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/brian-kemp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Brian Kemp\">Brian Kemp<\/a>&lsquo;s (R-GA) backing, launched his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Georgia<\/a> Senate campaign Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Dooley joins a crowded field of 2026 Republican competitors, including Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) and Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA). Kemp <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3488365\/inside-the-gop-blowup-over-brian-kemp-georgia-senate-pick\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">reportedly<\/a> urged Dooley to run and is expected to back him. Kemp was widely speculated to run for the seat himself before deciding not to.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3484099\/mace-announces-campaign-south-carolina-governor\/\">Mace announces campaign for South Carolina governor<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3489014\/three-times-underfunded-candidate-beat-the-odds\/\">When money can&#8217;t buy votes: Three times the underfunded candidate beat the odds<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3488946\/lone-star-state-texas-bigger-role-2026\/\">Why the Lone Star State could have a &#8216;bigger than Texas-sized&#8217; role in 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Professional politicians like Jon Ossoff are the problem,&rdquo; Dooley said in a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0HX7YVxZyiI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">two<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-launches-2024-campaign-in-search-of-villains\/\" title=\"Biden launches 2024 ... in search of villains\">-minute launch video<\/a><\/a>.&nbsp;&ldquo;Lawlessness, open season on the border, inflation everywhere, woke stuff, that&rsquo;s what they represent. We need new leadership in Georgia. That&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;m running for Senate.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"0HX7YVxZyiI\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Georgia First\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0HX7YVxZyiI?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Dooley was a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/country-celebrates-natl-law-enforcement-appreciation-day\/\" title=\"Country celebrates Nat\u2019l Law Enforcement Appreciation Day\">head coach<\/a> at the NCAA level from 2007 to 2012 for Louisiana Tech and Tennessee before coaching in the NFL for several years. He came back to college coaching briefly in 2018 for the University of Missouri before his most recent coaching stint with Alabama from 2022 to 2023.<\/p>\n<p>He was mostly unsuccessful as a lead coach, winning 32 games and losing 41 in his career.<\/p>\n<p>Dooley, who was born and raised in Georgia, began his career as a graduate assistant for the Georgia Bulldogs.<\/p>\n<p>His decision to run ruffled feathers in GOP circles. The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reported that Kemp and President Donald Trump&rsquo;s team had been coordinating to identify a candidate, but Kemp&rsquo;s team went off the reservation by selecting the politically inexperienced Dooley.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a dumpster fire, and it&rsquo;s pretty clear there&rsquo;s next to zero coordination between Kemp and Trump&rsquo;s teams,&rdquo; an Atlanta-based Republican operative said. &ldquo;Kemp has just gone out on his own.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Allies of the president mocked Dooley&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3479203\/derek-dooley-voting-record-possible-gop-senate-run\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lack of experience<\/a>, questioned his Republican credentials, and accused Kemp of putting personal loyalty above party unity in a must-win race.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >worst-calculated political moves<\/a> in Senate campaign history,&rdquo; said one Republican strategist with ties to Georgia and Capitol Hill. &ldquo;The grassroots doesn&rsquo;t know him, the donors don&rsquo;t want him, and the Trumpworld is livid.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A source close to Kemp told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that the governor was 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.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> recently&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3479203\/derek-dooley-voting-record-possible-gop-senate-run\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">reported<\/a>&nbsp;that Dooley did not vote in several recent elections and declined to register as a Republican. He also has not donated to Trump&rsquo;s previous campaigns.<\/p>\n<p>The Georgia Democratic Party issued a sharp rebuke of Dooley in a statement to <em>Politico.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3488365\/inside-the-gop-blowup-over-brian-kemp-georgia-senate-pick\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">INSIDE THE GOP BLOWUP OVER BRIAN KEMP&rsquo;S GEORGIA SENATE PICK<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This chaotic, crowded Republican primary just got messier with the entrance of failed and fired former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley, who has failed to live up to his family name throughout his career,&rdquo; Georgia Democratic Party Chair Charlie Bailey said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Georgia&rsquo;s 2026 Senate race is expected to be one of the most closely contested in the cycle. It will be Sen. Jon Ossoff&rsquo;s (D-GA) first defense of his seat since he won a runoff election against former Republican Sen. David Perdue in 2021. Republicans have been fighting to regain one of the state&rsquo;s two Senate seats since.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2195435\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2195435\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ex-coach Derek Dooley enters Georgia Senate race with Kemp&#8217;s support<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2470468,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/dooley-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[58528,43906,53584,33387],"class_list":["post-2470467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-derek-dooley","tag-football-coach","tag-georgia-senate","tag-political-campaign"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/dooley-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2470467"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2470471,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470467\/revisions\/2470471"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2470468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2470467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2470467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2470467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}