#GASEN Week in Review: GOP Senate Candidates Oppose Infrastructure Deal as Primary Chaos Goes Off the Rails

The worry among Georgia Republicans is getting louder by the day as their GOP Senate primary remains in disarray. In case you’re just tuning in, here’s the latest: 

• Every potential and declared Republican candidate vying for Georgia’s Senate seat is opposing the bipartisan infrastructure plan — which will create good-paying jobs for Georgians, bring much-needed investment to communities across the state, and help America compete with countries like China in the 21st century.
  • Herschel Walker stands with the former president, who has come out against the bipartisan infrastructure plan.
  • Rep. Buddy Carter — who has said he’ll run for Senate if Walker bows out — opposes the infrastructure plan that would invest in Georgia’s roads, ports, and bridges.
  • Failed politician Kelly Loeffler opposes the widely popular infrastructure plan, calling it a “disastrous bill.”
  • And as the AJC notes, both Gary Black and Latham Saddler are on the campaign trail “highlighting their opposition to the infrastructure plan,” which would heavily invest in renovating Georgia’s public transit, replacing lead water pipes, and expanding broadband coverage across the state.

• Herschel Walker — Trump’s hand-picked candidate for the race — continues to loom large over the field, while GOP insiders vent their frustrations with the former president’s influence in Georgia and fellow candidates aggressively take aim at his preferred nominee. 

• Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is reportedly pushing failed former Georgia Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler to consider running again in 2022. McConnell, who has “privately expressed his deep concerns with Walker’s potential candidacy,” met with Loeffler and Perdue earlier this summer and will continue to meet with potential candidates. While some Republicans try to push the former president’s candidate aside, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and Savannah Rep. Buddy Carter both expressed confidence that Walker would (and should) run.

• Georgia Republican Senate candidates are taking aim at Walker’s Texas residency. A new report from Atlanta’s 11Alive investigative team details the tax exemptions Walker would need to give up on his $2.8 million Texas mansion should he relocate for a Georgia Senate run — and highlights the latest attempt by Georgia Republicans trying to sideline the former president’s personal ally with negative stories.

• Failed politician Kelly Loeffler is angling to be Trump’s backup plan. Over the weekend, news broke that Loeffler recently cut a $250,000 check to Make America Great Again Action Inc., a Trump-affiliated super PAC, presumably positioning herself in Trump’s good graces just in case Walker opts out of entering the high-stakes Republican primary.

• Walker remains unmoved by the GOP criticism and is “acting like he’s in the driver’s seat,” while Republicans in Washington and Georgia alike continue to panic over their chaotic field. 

Read more on Republicans’ #GASEN chaos here.