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Standing outdoors Dooley Discipline 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 sport 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 by way of X)
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The previous College of Tennessee coach and son of former UGA coach Vince Dooley coached within the NFL for nearly a decade and in school soccer for practically 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 a press release knocking his teaching profession.
“The newest 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 harm Georgians,” Coyle wrote. “As this main will get much more crowded and devolves right into a proxy battle between President Trump and Governor Kemp, Senator Ossoff is combating 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 by way of X)
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Dooley tackled the claims on Saturday, claiming “management issues,” FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
“I may inform you within the locker room proper now, proper down the highway, it would not matter what your race is, what your revenue stage is, what your politics [are], what your faith is,” Dooley stated. “It was about bringing individuals collectively. Management issues.
“I imply, have a look at our state. That is what nice management seems 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 typical.”

Former Tennessee soccer coach Derek Dooley spoke to supporters at a tailgate rally Saturday. (@DerekDooleyGA by way of X)
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Kemp, a two-term governor, described Dooley as a “true political outsider,” including Ossoff’s voting document doesn’t replicate the state’s values, leaving room for an upset.
“You can’t run from that type of document, and that’s the reason I feel we have now a chance to win this race,” Kemp stated.
Dooley stated in a press release to Fox Information Digital he’s deeply honored to have the governor’s assist.
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“Governor Kemp has led this state with robust management, integrity, and achieved historic accomplishments throughout really unprecedented instances in our state and nation,” he wrote. “Georgians know him and belief him. I hope to convey that very same management type centered 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.