Brian Kemp and David Perdue Trade Early Jabs in Georgia Gubernatorial Primary

On Monday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp took a swipe at former Senator David Perdue, setting the stage for a savage, months-long primary that could split the state’s Republican Party and propel Democrats to power in the critical battleground state.

The incumbent’s campaign painted Perdue as a wealthy charlatan and sore loser who cost the party control of the Senate in 2020 and allowed President Joe Biden and Democrats in Washington to burden Georgia voters with destructive liberal policies.

According to the Washington Examiner, an adviser to Kemp claimed this was just the beginning stating, “There’s a proverbial button to push. We will win the primary, whatever it takes.”

However, Perdue retaliated swiftly, naming Kemp in his announcement video and redirecting Kemp’s assaults back onto the incumbent. The former senator predicted that the governor’s re-election would irreparably fracture Georgia Republicans and result in the victory of Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams.

Perdue said, “Look, I like Brian. This isn’t personal; it’s simple. He’s failed all of us and cannot win in November. Instead of protecting our elections, he caved to Abrams and cost us two Senate seats, the Senate majority, and gave Joe Biden free reign. Think about how different it would be today if Kemp had fought Abrams first instead of Trump. Kemp caved before the election, and the country is paying the price today.”

Kemp and Perdue were friends in the past, sharing financial backers and political advisers.

Few Republican operatives in Georgia desired this primary. Feelings are that this will drive Republicans to choose between opposing commitments, making unity after the primary quite difficult. Some Republicans anticipate a small blue wave in Georgia in an otherwise difficult midterm election for Democrats, which could have Abrams elected as governor and Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock re-elected.

Trump endorsed Kemp in the Republican primary four years ago. His support was critical to Kemp’s nomination and victory in the general election over Abrams, who recently announced her second candidacy for governor. However, the former president holds Kemp responsible for his loss to Biden in Georgia in 2020, and he is furious that Kemp refused to help him reverse results that withstood repeated recounts.

Perdue’s challenge against Kemp is personal and political outside of former President Trump’s involvement.

Perdue and his wife visited Georgia’s governor and first lady earlier this year and committed to voting for the GOP primary incumbent in 2022. But then, upon learning of Perdue’s change of plans, Kemp stopped just short of calling him a liar in statements to the media in Atlanta, at the state capital, saying, “I hope he’ll be a man of his word.”

GOP activist Kandiss Taylor and former Democrat Vernon Jones are also campaigning for the Republican nomination.

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