Ex-Georgia GOP Sen. David Perdue plans announce gubernatorial primary challenge to Kemp, according to reports

The two Georgia Republicans’ camps have already started trading barbs.

A spokesman for Perdue said in a statement to CNN, “If Brian Kemp fought (Democratic gubernatorial candidate) Stacey Abrams as hard as he fights Perdue and Trump, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

Kemp campaign spokesman Cody Hall said in a statement Sunday that “Perdue’s only reason for running is to sooth his own bruised ego, because his campaign for US Senate failed to inspire voters at the ballot box – twice.”

“The man who lost Republicans the United States Senate and brought the last year of skyrocketing inflation, open borders, runaway government spending, and woke cancel culture upon the American people now wants to lose the Georgia governor’s office to the national face of the radical left movement,” Hall said.

Kemp noted last week that Perdue had told him earlier this year he would support the governor’s reelection.

“Well look, all I know is what Senator Perdue’s told me, I hope he’ll be a man of his word, but again, that’s not anything I can control,” the governor said.

Republicans fear that a divisive primary, particularly with the involvement of Trump against the incumbent, could give the Democrats a boost in Georgia, which has emerged as a key battleground state in recent years.

Trump’s anger at Kemp is so deep that he has at times lauded Abrams while attacking the governor. Speaking in Georgia earlier this year, Trump said of Kemp, “Stacey, would you like to take his place? It’s OK with me.”