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ATLANTA – Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Tuesday demolished former Sen. David Perdue in a GOP gubernatorial primary, striking the most significant blow yet to a candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
While Trump remains the most popular and influential politician in the GOP, Kemp's more than 50-point victory over Perdue is a stinging defeat for the former president.
And in neighboring Alabama, another embarrassment for Trump. Rep. Mo Brooks made it into a primary runoff for the GOP Senate nomination even after Trump took back his endorsement of the congressman in March.
But Trump enjoyed some victories in other high-profile and competitive primaries on Tuesday.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was endorsed by the former president, crushed challenger George P. Bush, the state’s land commissioner, in a GOP primary runoff. And Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas, who was backed by Trump, bested two primary challengers from the right to win renomination in the heavily red state.
Trump's endorsements powered Ohio GOP Senate nominee JD Vance to a major comeback victory last month and set Pennsylvania Senate candidate Mehmet Oz up as a front-runner in his race, which isn't yet called a week after the primary.
But now Kemp, one of the Republicans Trump has attacked the most since 2020, is headed to a general election matchup against Democrat Stacey Abrams and Perdue is out of public office for now.
"I just called the governor and I congratulated him," Perdue said Tuesday night, conceding the race. "I am fully supporting Brian Kemp…tomorrow morning you are going to hear me going to work...to make damn sure Stacey Abrams is not the next governor of Georgia."
Former Vice President Mike Pence and Republican Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia shake hands with supporters after Pence headlined a primary eve rally for Kemp, on May 23, 2022 in Cobb County, Georgia (Fox News )
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Kemp, meanwhile, told supporters the real fight is just starting against Abrams.
"Our battle is far from over," he said. "Tonight, the fight for the soul of our state begins to make sure that Stacey Abrams is not going to be our governor or the next president."
Four years ago, with the support of the then-president, Kemp narrowly defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams. But Kemp earned Trump’s ire after certifying the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia following two recounts of the vote. Last year, Trump repeatedly urged Perdue to primary challenge the governor and endorsed him the day after the former senator announced his bid in December.
Perdue jumped into the race days after Abrams, a rising star in the Democratic Party and a nationally known champion of voter rights, launched her second straight gubernatorial bid. Abrams is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
TRUMP LOOMS LARGE OVER PRIMARES IN GEORGIA, TEXAS, ALABAMA, AND ARKANSAS
Trump traveled to Georgia in late March to headline a rally for Perdue, starred in his campaign commercials, and called into two tele-rallies this month. But even though Trump retains immense sway over the GOP, his full court press didn't boost Perdue in his uphill challenge of Kemp.
Former President Donald Trump shakes hands with former Sen. David Perdue, who's primary challenging GOP Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia, at the former president's rally in Cumming, Ga. on March 26, 2022 (David Perdue campaign)
TRUMP AND PENCE HOLD DUELING RALLIES FOR PERDUE AND KEMP ON PRIMARY EVE IN GEORGIA
Perdue was far from the only candidate Trump backed in Georgia.
The most high-profile candidate Trump endorsed was former college and pro-football legend Herschel Walker, who easily captured the GOP nomination on his way to battling Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in a blockbuster general election showdown that could decide whether Republicans win back the Senate majority.
Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker shakes hands with a supporter at a campaign event in Valdosta, Georgia, on May 21, 2022 (Fox News )
Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger – who was also repeatedly targeted by Trump for resisting the then-president’s requests to overturn the 2020 election results – defeated Trump-backed challenger Rep. Jody Hice.
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And Trump backed GOP attorney general challenger John Gordon was demolished by incumbent Chris Carr.
Perdue becomes the third Trump-endorsed gubernatorial candidate to lose in this year’s primaries.
Last week in Idaho, Trump backed far-right Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, who was best-known of seven primary challengers running against incumbent Republican Gov. Brad Little. The governor easily crushed the field in the primary, winning renomination.
And a week earlier, Charles Herbster — the candidate the former president endorsed and held a rally on his behalf in Nebraska’s GOP gubernatorial primary — was edged out by Jim Pillen, who was backed by term-limited and outgoing Gov. Pete Ricketts.
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