Do Democrats have a strategy to win in the midterm elections?
Democrats are prioritizing electoral chances over ideology as they regroup from their 2024 defeat and focus on victory amid shifting voter confidence.
Primary election season is here, and soon Georgians will be heading to the polls for the start of the midterm elections.
The primary election will be held in the Peach State on May 19th, and one of the races on the ballot will determine who represents us in the U.S. Senate.
Currently serving in Washington are Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, who is up for re-election this year. There is a tight race for candidates to replace him on the Republican side, but no Democratic lawmaker has come forward to compete against the incumbent.
Another name in this race is Derek Dooley. He is perhaps best known as the son of iconic University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, whose name is currently on the field in Athens.
The younger Dooley also had a college coaching career, but he wasn’t as successful as his father, and the Georgia Democratic Party isn’t about to let him forget that.
Democrats focus on Dooley’s leadership performance
Dooley posted a video on social media in January questioning Ossoff’s voting record.
“In soccer, your movie is your resume,” Dooley said, “Jon Ossoff’s movie doesn’t reflect what Georgians want after 40 years of high inflation, open borders, increased crime, woke schools and sports.”
Dooley spent three years coaching at Louisiana Tech, where the team went 17-20 overall. Dooley then attended the University of Tennessee for three more years, where the team went 15-21.
Georgia Democrats quickly pounced on those comments, posting their own video in February taking issue with Dooley’s mostly losing season.
“Let’s watch his movies,” the post began.
Now the party is taking it a step further.
Democratic Party buys sign in Knoxville, Tennessee
Dooley spent more than 20 years outside of Georgia, specifically at Tennessee, the University of Georgia’s rival.
He operates on a “Georgia First” platform, even authoring the “Georgia First Contract,” which he signed to “pledge” that “every decision I make and every vote I cast” will prioritize Georgians.
The Georgia Democratic Party wants to learn more about Dooley’s out-of-state days, and has even taken over the website derekdooley.com to encourage people to submit articles about the coach.
The website was combined with billboards along the University of Tennessee street.
“We failed. We were fired. We lost,” the sign reads. “Derek Dooley was the worst. Tell me about it.”
USA Today reached out to Dooley’s team for comment on the ad, but did not receive a response.
Who is running for Senate in Georgia?
Dooley is running against Mike Collins and Buddy Carter in the Republican primary, but his message so far has largely targeted Ossoff.
A recent Emerson College poll shows Ossoff leading all three Republican candidates in Georgia, with an approval rating of just under 50%. He had high approval ratings among independent voters.
Among Republican candidates, Mr. Collins led with 30% of the vote, followed by Mr. Carter with 16% and Mr. Dooley with 10%. As of March 5, the majority of Republican voters are still undecided. The Senate race is more spread out than the Republican primary, with Bert Jones and Rick Jackson tied at 21% and 20%, respectively.
Eileen Wright is an Atlanta Connect reporter for USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. X Find her at @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
