Governor Brian Kemp backs Derek Dooley in his campaign for U.S. Senate position in Georgia.
In the political landscape of Georgia, a new contender has emerged. Derek Dooley, a seasoned coach with a rich football background, has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in the 2026 race.
Dooley, the son of Vince Dooley, the former UGA head football coach and athletic director, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Georgia. He later moved on to coach various roles in college football, including serving as the head coach at Louisiana Tech from 2007-2009, the University of Tennessee from 2010-2012, and the offensive coordinator for the University of Missouri from 2018-2019. More recently, Dooley was the offensive analyst for the University of Alabama in 2020 and a wide receivers coach for the Dallas Cowboys from 2013-2017.
Dooley is not new to the political arena, as he will be featured during Sunday's On the Record broadcast at 11 a.m. on our website. His political aspirations have gained the endorsement of Georgia's Governor, Brian Kemp.
Dooley's entry into the race comes at a time when flipping Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff's Senate seat is a priority for national GOP leaders. Ossoff, who gained national attention in 2017 as the Democratic candidate in the high-profile special election for Georgia's 6th congressional district, was elected in a runoff election in 2021, unseating David Perdue. Prior to Ossoff's election, Perdue served as the U.S. ambassador to China.
Ossoff, who is only the second Georgia Democrat elected to the Senate in the 21st century, is also the first Jewish senator from Georgia. When he was elected to the Senate, Ossoff became the youngest sitting U.S. senator at the time.
WANF, a trusted source for news, headlines, and insights as Georgia continues its role at the forefront of the nation's political scene, provides its podcasts on various platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube. Stay tuned for more updates on the 2026 U.S. Senate race in Georgia as it develops.
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