Trump Encourages Primary Challenge Against Georgia’s Pro-Trump Governor Kemp

Topline

President Donald Trump on Saturday ramped up hostilities towards Republicans perceived as being insufficiently supportive of his claims of voter fraud, even going so far as to encourage a primary challenge to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, an ardent Trump supporter.

Key Facts

Key Background

Kemp was seen as a staunch Trump loyalist when he mounted his bid for governor in 2018. Trump endorsed him in his primary and repeatedly said he would be a “great” governor. Trump criticized Kemp in April for opening up his state too quickly (despite himself supporting speedy reopenings in other states) and said Sunday he was “ashamed” to have endorsed him.

Crucial Quote

“There was nobody who fought harder for me,” Trump said of Loeffler. He admitted to being wary of the Loeffler but said he warmed to her based on her embrace of him and her disdain for Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), one of his most prolific Republican critics in Congress.

Chief Critic

“Georgia is not going to have its reputation ruined by some stupid damn thing that Trump is trying to do that’s outside the realm of reality,” former Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said during a CNN appearance of Trump’s demands that Kemp help him overturn the election.

What To Watch For

Trump has hinted that he will mount another bid for the White House in 2024, meaning that his exit from politics likely is not imminent. Whether he follows through on his threats to back primary challenges to Kemp, DeWine and others like Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is less clear, as he has never actively campaigned against a Republican incumbent. But without the political obligations of the presidency weighing him down, that may change.