Republican civil war in Georgia: Kemp ad angers Senate leaders

A political ad funded by an organization aligned with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has sparked outrage among Senate Republicans, exposing one of the first major rifts within the party over the ongoing government shutdown.

Hardworking Georgians Inc., a conservative advocacy group backed by Kemp, released a commercial accusing Georgia Republican Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins — along with Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff — of contributing to the shutdown.

The ad supports former football coach Derek Dooley, whom Kemp endorsed in the GOP Senate primary to challenge Ossoff.

“What do Mike Collins, Buddy Carter and Jon Ossoff have in common? They all failed and shut down the government,” the narrator says. “It’s what happens when you send career politicians to D.C.”

The spot portrays Dooley as an “outsider” who can “change Washington.”

Republican Senate campaign officials told Axios the ad undermines their central message that Democrats alone are responsible for the funding lapse.

“Republicans are united with Trump in placing the blame where it belongs: Democrats like Jon Ossoff,” NRSC spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez said. “Telling Georgia voters any message other than that one is perpetuating Democrat lies.”

Alex Latcham, executive director of the Senate Leadership Fund, echoed that criticism.

“Chuck Schumer and the radical left members of his caucus are solely responsible for the immense pain inflicted on the American people as a result of the longest government shutdown in history,” he said, calling any contrary claim “false and unhelpful.”

Collins responded by questioning why Kemp’s allies would “attack Republican members of the Georgia delegation by parroting the anti-Trump Democrat lie that Republicans are to blame for the shutdown,” adding that the argument was “disconnected from reality.”

Republican strategists privately expressed frustration that Kemp — a popular two-term governor and potential 2028 presidential contender — inserted himself into the race instead of staying neutral.

Neither Trump nor Senate GOP leaders have endorsed a candidate, and many wish Kemp had waited.

The episode comes as Republicans attempt to project unity during a contentious shutdown that has already revealed smaller fractures within the party.