Behind-the-scenes friction is heating Georgia's Republican circles as allies of President Donald Trump clash with Gov. Brian Kemp over the ideal challenger to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in the 2026 primary, as Fox News reports.

Tensions reportedly stem from a broken pact between Trump's political team and Kemp's advisers to jointly select a unified Republican candidate against the vulnerable Ossoff, only for Kemp to push former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley. Many in Trump's orbit favored Kemp himself, even as Trump ally Rep. Mike Collins prepares his own Senate launch next week.

Trump and Kemp share a rocky history that underscores the high stakes in this Senate race, where Republicans aim to expand their majority.

Longstanding tensions resurface

Trump backed Kemp, then Georgia's secretary of state, in his successful 2018 gubernatorial campaign. But after Trump's narrow 2020 loss in Georgia to Joe Biden, he sharply criticized Kemp for not helping investigate and potentially over turn the results.

That criticism eased in 2022 when Kemp decisively defeated Trump-backed former Sen. David Perdue in the GOP primary and sailed to re-election.

Recent shifts in personal dynamics unfold

Last summer, Trump unleashed a 10-minute rally rant in Atlanta, blaming Kemp for not halting the 2020 vote count or blocking a county prosecutor's indictment against him. Days later, Trump pivoted, praising Kemp in a social media post "for all of your help and support in Georgia, where a win is so important to the success of our Party and, most importantly, our Country."

Kemp, in a Fox News Digital interview, dismissed the episode as a "small distraction that’s in the past." While such olive branches suggest progress, they highlight how fragile alliances can crack under pressure from progressive agendas that exploit division.

Kemp bows out

As a popular two-term conservative governor now term-limited, Kemp was courted by national Republicans to challenge Ossoff, seen as the most vulnerable Democrat up for re-election. Trump narrowly carried Georgia last year, making the state a prime target for the midterms.

But then Kemp announced earlier this year he would skip the 2026 Senate run, annoying Trump's advisers who viewed him as the strongest option.

Broken pact?

Sources confirmed the existence of an agreement between Trump's operation and Kemp's team to collaborate on a unified candidate against Ossoff. Trump and Kemp met two weeks ago to discuss the race, though it appears that a lasting consensus was not reached. Kemp's team had floated Derek Dooley, son of legendary University of Georgia coach Vince Dooley and a close Kemp friend, as a potential contender. Dooley has hired two top Kemp advisers for his possible campaign, with a decision possibly coming next week.

A longtime Georgia-based Republican strategist noted the reaction among Peach State Republicans "was very negative." That's no surprise -- pushing an unfamiliar name risks alienating voters who crave proven conservative fighters over untested picks that smack of insider deals. When Kemp advanced Dooley, it is said to have frustrated Trump's team, who had urged a pause in the proceedings.

Frustrations boil over

A source close to the president's political team said, "They were told to stand down, because Trump’s team wasn’t ready to move forward on anybody." Yet this claim rings hollow if unity was the goal, as going solo undermines the very conservative cohesion needed to counter Democratic vulnerabilities. A top source in Trump's orbit fumed, "We had a deal to work together. Kemp went out on his own, which has frustrated and pissed off the Trump orbit." Such breaches erode trust at a time when Republicans must rally behind America First principles, not personal ambitions eyeing 2028 over 2026 wins.

The same source added that Kemp's choice reflects "the path of the weak," opting to "self-anoint a candidate no one has heard of and the president hasn’t met." In a party where Trump remains the ultimate kingmaker, sidelining his input invites needless chaos that progressives would love to exploit.

Competing Candidates Enter the Fray

Meanwhile, Rep. Mike Collins, a Trump ally in his second term representing Georgia's 10th District, plans to announce his Senate bid next week. Collins, son of late Rep. Mac Collins and founder of a trucking company, backed Trump early in the 2016 cycle.

A Georgia-based Republican consultant said, "The lane that Mike is going to run in is the America First fighter who's been with President Trump." This positioning cleverly taps into grassroots energy, offering a witty contrast to less battle-tested options that might fizzle like a forgotten play call.

Collins' record in the spotlight

Early this year, Collins reintroduced the Laken Riley Act, requiring detention of undocumented immigrants charged with burglary or theft, named after a Georgia nursing student killed by someone who entered the U.S. illegally -- a case that drew national spotlight. The bill swiftly passed the House and Senate, becoming the first law Trump signed in his second term.

A Republican source praised Collins' "great relationship" with Trump, bolstering his appeal in a field where loyalty counts.

Other contenders in the mix

Rep. Buddy Carter, representing coastal Georgia for a decade, launched his Senate campaign in the spring and is also seeking Trump's endorsement.

Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King announced a run but withdrew on Thursday.

With Trump as GOP kingmaker, his nod could unify the primary, reminding conservatives that fragmented efforts only empower Ossoff's progressive hold on the seat --  a zinger to those prioritizing unity over ego.