Former SenatorDavid Perdue (R-GA) announced Monday that he is challenging incumbent Governor Kemp (R-GA) in the 2022 election, setting up an epic but bitter GOP primary battle.
"To fight back, we simply have to be united," Perdue said in a campaign video announcing his bid. "Look, I like Brian. This isn't personal. It's simple: He has failed all of us and cannot win in November."
Perdue, in the announcement, blamed Kemp for Trump's 2020 loss in Georgia and his and fellow Sen. Kelly Loeffler's defeat earlier this year.
"Think about how different it would be if Kemp had fought Abrams first before the election instead of fighting Trump," Perdue said. "Kemp caved before the election, and the country is paying the price today."
Meanwhile, Kemp campaign blasted Perdue in a statement, accusing him of running only to "soothe his own bruised ego" over losing his Senate seat.
"The man who lost Republicans the United States Senate and brought the last year of skyrocketing inflation, open borders, runaway government spending, and woke cancel culture upon the American people now wants to lose the Georgia governor's office to the national face of the radical left movement," Kemp spokesperson Cody Hall said.
"Governor Kemp has a proven track record of fighting the radical left to put hardworking Georgians first, while Perdue is best known for ducking debates, padding his stock portfolio during a pandemic, and losing winnable races."
Over the last few months following the 2020 elections, those close to the former president and the Trump 2020 campaign have announced their bid in either state or federal race, with some launching primaries targeting anti-Trump Republicans. Former NFL runningback Herschel Walker, who has the backing of Trump, is running in Georgia for the Senate seat against Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock.
Trump formally endorsed Perdue in a Monday night statement, calling the former Senator a "Conservative fighter who isn't afraid of the Radical Left, and is the only candidate in Georgia who can beat Stacey' The Hoax' Abrams in November."
"David Perdue will eliminate the Income Tax, secure the Elections, defend the Second Amendment, support our great Farmers, get crime in Atlanta and other places under control, take care of our great Vets, and put parents back in charge of the schools," Trump said in an emailed statement Monday night.
Trump added that "Brian Kemp has failed Georgia."
"Kemp has been a very weak Governor—the liberals and RINOs have run all over him on Election Integrity, and more," Trump said. "Most importantly, he can't win because the MAGA base—which is enormous — will never vote for him. We need strong leaders who will fight, and time is running out!"
Meanwhile, some in the Trump camp are not fully united behind Perdue candidacy to challenge Kemp. On his podcast, former Trump aide Steve Bannon spoke about Perdue announcing, calling him a "classic country club," Republican, and even implying that he and Kemp are the same kind of Republican.
