• Former football coach Derek Dooley is running for the U.S. Senate seat in Georgia.
• Dooley is backed by Governor Brian Kemp and emphasizes his outsider status.
• Key issues in his campaign include conservative values, border security, and government spending.
• The Republican primary features other candidates, including Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins.
• Dooley aims to capitalize on the Democratic seat held by Jon Ossoff, seen as vulnerable.

Former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley has officially announced his bid for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in Georgia's upcoming election. Dooley, who is supported by Governor Brian Kemp, aims to join a crowded field, which also includes Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins. His campaign emphasizes his status as a political outsider and his commitment to advocating for conservative values and effective governance, as outlined in a two-minute launch video where he expressed a desire to “put Georgia first” and work closely with former President Trump, stating, “I’m going to work with President Trump, fight for you and always put Georgia first,” according to The Hill and HuffPost.

In his campaign rollout, Dooley leverages both his athletic and coaching background to connect with voters, asserting that “the foundation of football is the American Spirit.” He highlights key issues he intends to tackle, including lowering government spending, emphasizing border security, and ensuring conservative social policies. Critics, however, have already targeted Dooley's past coaching performance and alleged lack of solid conservative credentials, a claim bolstered by the launch of an anonymous website criticizing his coaching history, according to Reuters and ABC News.

Dooley's political strategy appears aimed at differentiating himself from established politicians, a demographic he criticized for perpetuating what he calls the “problem” of “lawlessness” and excessive government involvement. Ossoff, elected during a narrow runoff in 2020, is considered among the more vulnerable incumbents heading into this election cycle, making the Georgia Senate seat a key target for Republicans looking to regain control of the Senate. Dooley's candidacy reflects broader Republican efforts to recover from past electoral setbacks in the state, particularly following challenges faced by high-profile candidates like Herschel Walker, according to HuffPost and ABC News.