ATLANTA — Political newcomers often brand themselves as outsiders, but Derek Dooley takes that concept to an extreme. The former college football coach admits he stayed away from voting booths for nearly twenty years while now seeking the Republican Senate nomination in Georgia.
Dooley sat out both the 2016 election that brought Donald Trump to the White House and the 2020 contest where Trump was defeated by Joe Biden. Despite this voting absence, he remains confident as he pursues the GOP nomination to challenge Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.
The candidate argues that Washington requires fresh perspective from someone not driven by personal political ambitions or career advancement. He believes his non-voting history connects him to many Americans who also skip elections.
“If you’re not vigilant in exercising that right, things can go pretty sideways in our country,” Dooley explained to The Associated Press, emphasizing his goal to motivate more citizens to participate in elections.
Two incumbent House members, Mike Collins and Buddy Carter, stand as Dooley’s main competition in the May 19 primary. While Dooley backs Trump, both Collins and Carter maintain stronger connections to the former president’s MAGA movement. With endorsement from Governor Brian Kemp, Dooley faces the challenge of proving his outsider message resonates in Trump’s antiestablishment political landscape.
The primary victor will play a crucial role in November’s midterm elections, potentially helping Republicans maintain their narrow Senate control by defeating Ossoff.
As the son of revered Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, Derek followed his father into coaching after working as an attorney. His tenure leading Tennessee’s program ended in dismissal due to poor performance, followed by assistant coaching roles at various colleges and professional organizations.
After leaving coaching following the 2023 season, Dooley credits his experience mentoring athletes from various backgrounds as preparation for representing Georgia’s diverse electorate.
“In my 30-plus years professional career, it’s never been about me in anything I was doing,” he stated. “It’s about people.”
Political engagement came during Biden’s administration, sparked by concerns over border security, economic decisions, and transgender athlete policies. Dooley cast his first vote for Trump in 2024 and has attacked Ossoff on similar issues.
GOP strategist Brian Robinson observed that “you can tell this wasn’t a guy who spent his life in politics or around politics or consumed by politics.”
Kemp’s longstanding friendship with the Dooley family led to his Senate endorsement, lending establishment credibility to the political novice.
“I was looking for a political outsider, and it just happened to be a guy that I’ve known for, you know, 50-plus years,” Kemp declared during a Thursday Atlanta Young Republicans gathering alongside Dooley.
The event drew positive responses from attendees, with several undecided primary voters expressing appreciation for Dooley’s outsider approach.
However, the Kemp connection draws criticism from some quarters.
“Completely siloing yourself with the old, establishment governor is not a way to say you’re an outsider,” stated Courtlyn Cook, who chairs Glynn County Republicans in southeast Georgia. She noted voter concerns about past tensions between Kemp and Trump, significant given the former president’s strong base support.
Political rivals target Dooley’s gubernatorial ties as weakness. Democratic Party of Georgia senior communications adviser Devon Cruz characterized Dooley as having “access to the Governor’s political machine,” while Carter campaign spokesperson Harley Adsit labeled him the “ultimate insider.”
Canton resident Venessa Artigas, 53, supports both Kemp and Dooley’s candidacy, understanding voter apathy from personal experience.
“I think we need to get career politicians out and get the voice of the people in,” Artigas said at a Turning Point Action event.
University of West Georgia student Timothy Jackson, 19, plans supporting Collins due to Trump connections but remains open to Carter.
“Both of them have been in Congress and so they know what it takes,” Jackson explained. “Dooley is going to be hard because he’s never been in that position before.”
A Kemp-affiliated organization ran fall advertisements supporting Dooley while criticizing Collins and Carter over government shutdown votes, grouping them with Ossoff.
Carter brings nearly three decades of coastal Georgia political experience as a pharmacist-turned-politician. Collins co-owns a trucking business and follows his father’s congressional footsteps.
Veteran Republican consultant Jason Shepherd sees advantages in Dooley’s clean slate.
“Republicans are going to face an uphill battle, but Dooley doesn’t bring the baggage that other candidates could possibly bring and can speak not only to voters on the right and Republicans, but the voters in the center who will make the decision,” Shepherd analyzed. “Jon Ossoff has a voting record that Dooley can run on and pick apart. Dooley does not.”
Dooley’s platform includes expanding workforce development programs and lowering housing costs through reduced government regulations. He applauded the Trump administration’s removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January and blamed immigration for limiting housing availability for American citizens. He promises legislation preventing lawmakers from using taxpayer funds for campaign-related mailings, accusing Collins of improper practices.
Collins’ spokesperson defended the congressman’s actions as approved by House Communications Standards Commission while dismissing Dooley as “a washed-up lawyer and failed coach.”
Strategist Robinson emphasized that Dooley must convince Georgians that outsider status justifies their support.
“It’s a well-worn path. The saliency of that message probably depends on the mood of the country and the cycle that we’re in,” Robinson assessed. “I don’t think we know just yet if that outsider message is what people are looking for.”
