The expected announcement by Perdue represents a shot at a political return for the former one-term senator. Democratic Sen. John Osoff thwarted his re-election bid in a crucial runoff race in January, a humiliating defeat for Republicans who lost both Georgia seats after losing the Senate.
CNN has reached out to Perdue’s advisers, who would not comment on whether Perdue will launch a 2022 gubernatorial campaign.
Two Republican camps in Georgia have already started doing business.
A Perdue spokesperson said in a statement to CNN, “If Brian Kemp fought[Democratic gubernatorial candidate]Stacy Abrams as hard as he fought Perdue and Trump, we wouldn’t be in this mess.” ”
Kemp campaign spokesman Cody Hall said in a statement on Sunday that “Purdue’s only reason to run is to soothe his own broken ego, because his campaign for the US Senate failed to inspire voters to the ballot box twice.” ”
“The man who lost the United States Senate to Republicans and brought a final year of skyrocketing inflation, open borders, runaway government spending, and repealing culture on the American people, now holds the office of the governor of Georgia, the national face of the radical left. wants to lose from the movement,” Hall said.
Kemp noted last week that Perdue told him earlier this year that he would support the governor’s re-election.
The governor said, “Well, all I know is that Senator Perdue told me, I hope he lives up to his word, but again, there’s nothing I can control.”
Republicans fear a divisive primary, especially one with Trump’s involvement against the incumbent, could boost Democrats in Georgia, which has emerged as a major battleground state in recent years.
Trump’s anger at Kemp is so deep that he has repeatedly attacked the governor and praised Abrams. Speaking in Georgia earlier this year, Trump said of Kemp, “Stacey, would you like to take her place? That’s fine with me.”
CNN’s Michael Warren, David Wright and Devon Sayers contributed to this report.
,