September 02, 2020 / By mobanmarket
Sen. Johnny IsaksonJohnny IsaksonJon Ossoff to challenge David Perdue after winning Georgia Democratic primary Candidates headed to runoffs in Georgia House race to replace Doug Collins Justice Department closing stock investigations into Loeffler, Inhofe, Feinstein MORE’s (R-Ga.) upcoming departure from the Senate has sparked a behind-the-scenes scramble among Republicans hoping to be named as his replacement by GOP Gov. Brian Kemp (R).
So far, Republicans have floated a handful of names, including Agriculture Secretary Sonny PerdueGeorge (Sonny) Ervin PerdueJustice Department investigating meat price increases: report 11,000 coronavirus cases tied to three meat processors: report The looming USDA deadline to guarantee access to school meals MORE and Rep. Doug CollinsDouglas (Doug) Allen CollinsKoch-backed group launches ad campaign to support four vulnerable GOP senators Jon Ossoff to challenge David Perdue after winning Georgia Democratic primary The Hill’s Campaign Report: Bad polling data is piling up for Trump MORE, to replace Isakson when he steps down at the end of the year because of health reasons.
Whoever Kemp picks would run in a special election during the next regularly scheduled election in November 2020, meaning Georgia voters will cast ballots for both of the state’s Senate seats next year given that Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) is up for reelection.
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Here are 5 Republicans seen as leading contenders to replace Isakson – and a handful of others who are also believed to be possibilities.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr
Carr was first appointed to the job by former Republican Gov. Nathan Deal in 2016 to fill a vacancy. He then won election by narrowly defeating Democrat Charlie Bailey by 2.5 points in 2018.
Carr served as Isakson’s senatorial campaign manager in 2003. He went on to work as the senator’s chief of staff until 2013, when then-Gov. Deal appointed him commissioner of the Department of Economic Development.
Rep. Doug Collins
Collins was reelected to his third term representing the state’s 9th District in 2018 with more than 79 percent of the vote. He serves as the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee and has been a staunch defender of President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE.
Before serving in Congress, Collins was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives and spent 11 years as a pastor in Chicopee Baptist Church.
Rep. Tom GravesJohn (Tom) Thomas GravesQAnon believer advances to Georgia House runoff race The Hill’s Campaign Report: Bad polling data is piling up for Trump Republicans head to runoff in GA-14 MORE
Graves was elected to Congress in 2010 as part of the Tea Party wave that arrived to Congress during then-President Obama’s first term. He won reelection in 2018 representing Georgia’s 14th District with more than 76 percent of the vote.
He had previously served in the Georgia House of Representatives since 2003. Before entering public service, Graves owned a landscaping business and worked as a real estate investor.
He first considered running for office after news broke that an abortion clinic was opening nearby and Graves helped form a “peaceful, pro-life” organization, according to his House biography.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue
Perdue, President Trump’s Agriculture Secretary since 2017, was the first Republican to be elected as Georgia’s governor since Reconstruction.
He served two terms as Georgia governor after ousting Democratic incumbent Roy Barnes in 2002.
Perdue is the cousin of Georgia’s other senator, David Perdue. He has been touring farmer’s conventions in recent weeks to assuage anger over the Trump administration’s trade war with China.
Rep. Austin ScottJames (Austin) Austin ScottLobbying world Lawmakers warn Pentagon against reduction of US forces in Africa 5 Republicans who could replace Isakson in Georgia’s Senate race MORE
Scott ousted Democratic incumbent Rep. Jim Marshall in 2010 also while running as a Tea Party member. He ran unopposed in 2018 when he was elected to his fourth term.
He represents Georgia’s 8th District, a heavily rural area that runs between Atlanta suburbs and the Florida border.
Before he was elected to Congress, Scott served in the Georgia House of Representatives. He was first elected at age 26.
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Nick Ayers
Ayers, a longtime Republican strategist and former chief of staff to Vice President Pence was immediately seen as a potential replacement but he told The Hill he is not interested in returning to Washington, D.C.
Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan
Duncan is a former baseball player who retired after an injury. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives before his election as lieutenant governor in 2018. State Republicans cautioned that Duncan has never shown interest in serving in Washington.
Rep. Drew FergusonAnderson (Drew) Drew FergusonTrump campaign launches new fundraising program with House Republicans Top Georgia Republican endorses Doug Collins Senate bid House GOP whip team seeks to get Republicans behind Senate coronavirus bill MORE
Ferguson served as mayor of West Point, Ga., before his 2018 election to Congress. He won with more than 65 percent of the vote.
Former Rep. Karen HandelKaren Christine HandelJon Ossoff to challenge David Perdue after winning Georgia Democratic primary The Hill’s Campaign Report: Bad polling data is piling up for Trump Ossoff within reach of Democratic Senate nomination in Georgia, but counting continues MORE
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Handel lost her seat to Democrat Lucy McBathLucia (Lucy) Kay McBathFloyd’s brother urges Congress to take action The Hill’s Campaign Report: Bad polling data is piling up for Trump Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE in the 2018 election but has announced she plans to run again for her old seat in 2020.
Georgia House Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones
First elected to serve in 2002 representing the suburbs in northern Atlanta, Jones is the first woman to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore in the state.
Former Rep. Jack KingstonJohon (Jack) Heddens KingstonLobbying firm cuts ties to Trent Lott amid national anti-racism protests Thankfully, the doctor is in Ex-Trump campaign adviser: Biden would be able to ‘sit down and get some things done’ with Republicans MORE
Kingston served in Congress from 1993 to 2015. He ran for Senate in 2014 and lost the primary in a runoff to Sen. David Purdue.
Kelly Loeffler
After weighing a Senate bid in 2013, the co-owner of WNBA’s Atlanta Dream decided not to run for the seat.
State Sen. President Pro Tempore Butch Miller
Miller represents a district north and east of Atlanta, and was first elected in 2010. He is a car dealership owner.
U.S. Attorney BJay Pak
Pak served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017 and did not seek reelection in 2016.
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