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A Republican Party rift that is poised to put Georgia in play for Democrats, from the top of the ticket on down, is being fueled by Rep. Doug Collinss bid to oust appointed Sen. Kelly Loeffler in a November special election that coincides with Election Day.

In Washington, Senate Republicans closed ranks around Loeffler as they ordered K Street to halt financial support for Collins and warned the congressman, an ally of President Trump, that challenging their colleague would extinguish his promising political career. But, in Atlanta, top Republicans are proposing to change Georgia law to move up the special election primary by six months to boost Collins, who is more well known than Loeffler.

The divide is disrupting GOP strategy to court suburban swing voters and bolster support for Trump and Sen. David Perdue, who is up for reelection, heading into the fall. Some Republicans worry that a heated Collins-Loeffler primary could facilitate a repeat of the midterm elections, when a Democratic surge flipped a historically GOP suburban House seat and the Democratic candidate came within 1.4 percentage points of the governors mansion.

All [Collins] has done is put two Senate seats, multiple House seats, and Georgias 16 electoral votes in play, said Kevin McLaughlin, executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, in a statement.

But at least one wealthy Republican donor, a regular contributor to Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the NRSC, and various Republican senators, said he is backing Collins. This is Mitch McConnells worst nightmare, said Dan Eberhart, an energy executive from Arizona, who added that the congressman has a MAGA following that would be tough for Loeffler to overcome.

Collins in an interview Wednesday said his critics' concerns are overblown.

Theres never a problem with people having a choice on conservative values," he said. Loeffler, personally wealthy and expected to self-finance at least a portion of her campaign, declined to comment.

Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Loeffler to succeed Johnny Isakson, who resigned last month amid health issues. Trump preferred Collins, 53, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee and a member of the White House impeachment defense team. But, determined to stop the erosion of support for Republicans in the suburbs, especially among women, and to protect Georgias status as a red state, Kemp selected the 49-year-old Loeffler.

Collinss allies in the Georgia state House struck back with legislation to change the rules for special Senate elections.

The Georgia House of Representatives is expected to pass a bill converting the first round of the special election to a closed Republican primary and set it for May. But, even if the bill clears the state Senate, Kemp, who is committed to Loeffler, would veto it. A senior Republican official in Georgia told the Washington Examiner the battle has sparked bitter recriminations that extend from the partys power brokers down to the grassroots.

Ive seen it in my Facebook feed, this official said. Absolutely, people are split.

Trump, a wild card who might influence the outcome of the special election, has not yet commented on Collins's candidacy.

Read more from the original source:
Doug Collins Senate bid threatens to hand Georgia to the Democrats - Washington Examiner