One Red State is at a major crossroad.
Georgia Republicans are now facing one of the most intense internal battles in years — a political civil war unfolding at the exact moment President Donald Trump is calling for unity heading into the 2026 elections. What should be a straightforward mission to defeat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff has turned into a messy internal fight that threatens GOP momentum in a crucial battleground state.
This growing divide is raising concerns among conservative voters, party strategists, and pro-Trump activists who fear the turmoil could give Democrats an early advantage.
A High-Stakes Senate Seat That Could Decide National Power
Sen. Jon Ossoff won his seat in 2021 by barely more than a single percentage point. Now, with President Trump returning to national leadership and Republicans eyeing a strengthened Senate majority, the Georgia seat is widely seen as winnable — if the party can avoid tearing itself apart.
Conservatives view the race as critical for stopping the Biden-Harris agenda, protecting Trump’s America First policies, and restoring stronger leadership in Washington. But instead of hitting Ossoff, Georgia Republicans are hitting each other.
The Shutdown Sparks an All-Out GOP Feud
The political battle exploded after an organization aligned with Gov. Brian Kemp released an ad accusing Republican Reps. Mike Collins and Buddy Carter of being responsible for the recent government shutdown.
The controversial ad claimed:
“What do Mike Collins, Buddy Carter, and Jon Ossoff have in common? They all failed and shut down the government.”
The message directly contradicted the national Republican strategy — which correctly places blame on Democrats for forcing the shutdown. Conservative voters immediately questioned why an organization linked to a Republican governor would amplify Democrat talking points.
The ad was designed to boost Derek Dooley, a former Tennessee football coach who is running as an outsider in the GOP Senate primary. But instead of helping, it triggered a major backlash.
Collins Responds: “Dark Money” and Anti-Trump Messaging
Rep. Mike Collins blasted the ad, warning that it echoed Democrat lies meant to undermine President Trump’s message.
Collins wrote:
“I’m not sure why the governor’s nonprofit is using dark money to attack Republicans by repeating the Democrat claim that conservatives caused the shutdown.”
He stressed that he and Rep. Carter supported a clean bipartisan bill — and that the real blame lies with Democrats who refused to negotiate. His comments resonated strongly with conservatives who expect Republicans to close ranks behind Trump’s leadership.
Veterans Day Ad Escalates the Fight
Collins’ campaign escalated the battle by airing a new ad on Veterans Day highlighting Dooley’s admission that he went roughly 20 years without voting for a presidential candidate — including multiple opportunities to vote for Donald Trump.
The ad drew a sharp contrast between Georgia service members who vote absentee while deployed, and a Senate candidate who skipped five presidential elections.
Dooley accused Collins of using the holiday for “political points,” but the damage was done. Among older conservative voters, voting record and patriotism are major factors.
Dooley Claims He Voted for Trump in 2024 — Critics Aren’t Convinced
Dooley insists he “got off the sidelines” in 2024 and voted for President Trump. His campaign believes he is the most electable candidate and claims to have growing grassroots momentum.
However, longtime Republican strategists say Dooley’s attacks on fellow Republicans suggest a misunderstanding of today’s GOP — a party where loyalty to President Trump and willingness to fight are seen as non-negotiable.
Carter’s Team: Dooley Is “Pulling From Ossoff’s Playbook”
Buddy Carter’s spokesperson went even further, accusing Dooley of adopting Democrat tactics and aligning with anti-Trump narratives.
She warned that Georgia families want a “MAGA warrior,” not a candidate attacking conservatives with talking points that look like they came from Jon Ossoff’s campaign team.
Strategists Warn: The Longer the Fight, the More Ossoff Wins
Republican strategists interviewed by Fox News Digital sounded the alarm: the infighting is giving Jon Ossoff exactly what he wants.
One strategist said:
“Every single day this primary continues is a day Jon Ossoff wins.”
Why?
– Republicans fight each other
– Ossoff stays out of the spotlight
– Democrats raise money while Republicans spend it
– Trump’s national momentum isn’t being used to hit Ossoff
Strategists also noted that Dooley has not raised enough money to compete effectively, calling his campaign “a longshot at best.”
Tea Party Leader Says Only Dooley Can Win — Not Everyone Agrees
Tea Party activist Deborah Dooley — no relation to the candidate — argues that he is the only Republican with a viable pathway to victory. She insists Republicans must avoid a nominee who can be easily attacked by Democrats.
But many conservatives say the opposite: that Dooley’s lack of voting history, lack of political experience, and alignment with anti-Trump messaging are all major liabilities.
Democrats Celebrate the GOP Infighting
Georgia Democrats reacted with joy to the Republican civil war. Their spokesman taunted the GOP:
“Republicans are in for a long, nasty primary.”
Democrats believe the eventual GOP nominee will limp into the general election fractured, weakened, and depleted — exactly what Ossoff needs to survive in a red-leaning election year with Trump at the top of the ticket.
Final Take: Georgia Republicans Must Unite — Or Risk Losing a Winnable Seat
With Trump leading a national comeback and Georgia positioned to deliver a crucial Senate seat to the GOP, conservative voters are watching closely.
But unless Republicans end the internal war and unify behind a strong, pro-Trump nominee, Jon Ossoff may escape yet again — not because voters love his record, but because the GOP’s own internal battles handed him the advantage.
