GOP Chaos Continues: Trump Courts Herschel, Loeffler Visits McConnell, and Georgia Republicans Worry as Messy, Crowded Primary Looms

The Georgia GOP’s Senate mess has taken a new turn as Republicans privately worry about their party’s primary chaos. Earlier this week, Herschel Walker was spotted alongside Donald Trump and rumored to be “very much considering a run.” And yesterday, failed politician Kelly Loeffler made a pilgrimage to Mitch McConnell, telling reporters that she hasn’t ruled out another run against Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. 

“Trump is courting Herschel, Loeffler is courting McConnell, and Georgia Republicans are getting worried as their primary field remains in disarray,” said Dan Gottlieb, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Georgia. “While GOP factions re-emerge and chaos takes the reins, it’s clear that this Republican primary will have very little to do with advancing the priorities of Georgia families.”

If you’re just tuning in, here’s the situation that has Georgia Republicans worried:

• Failed politician Kelly Loeffler — desperate to maintain any semblance of relevance — has been teasing a Senate rematch for months. She recently posted a photo with the former president shortly after Gary Black entered the race and yesterday told reporters she hasn’t “ruled out a run” for the seat she was never elected to and lost last January. 

• Georgia Republicans aren’t too excited about the prospect of a Loeffler re-run. As one Republican operative quipped: “Kelly can either be the person whose boredom costs Republicans the Senate twice or become a ‘Jeopardy’ answer that no one will remember the question to. Hated or forgotten.”

• Herschel Walker, Trump’s preferred candidate, is still “very much considering a run” and looming over the primary field – causing Republicans in Georgia and Washington to “privately worry.”

• While “big-name Republicans” pass on a run, a slew of lesser-known GOP politicians have decided to run or are floating potential campaigns. Speaker David Ralston began floating his own name after his own visit with Mitch McConnell, and Rep. Buddy Carter is interested in a run — something a Savannah Morning News columnist wrote is “sure to end in failure.” The lack of a clear frontrunner or well-known candidate has created “a lot of uncertainty” for Republicans.

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