Loeffler plans to spend $20 million on Georgia Senate campaign
Georgia’s soon-to-be Sen. Kelly LoefflerKelly LoefflerKoch-backed group launches ad campaign to support four vulnerable GOP senators Jon Ossoff to challenge David Perdue after winning Georgia Democratic primary Candidates headed to runoffs in Georgia House race to replace Doug Collins MORE (R) will spend $20 million of her personal fortune on her bid to hold on to her Senate seat next year, according to a person familiar with her plans.
Loeffler, the multimillionaire CEO of an Atlanta-based financial services firm, was appointed on Wednesday to replace retiring Sen. Johnny IsaksonJohnny IsaksonJon Ossoff to challenge David Perdue after winning Georgia Democratic primary Candidates headed to runoffs in Georgia House race to replace Doug Collins Justice Department closing stock investigations into Loeffler, Inhofe, Feinstein MORE (R) in 2020. Her appointment sets up a special election next year that is expected to draw both Republican and Democratic challengers.
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Because it will be a special election, there won’t be primaries to determine the Republican and Democratic nominees, and candidates of all parties will appear on the ballot in November. If no candidate manages to reach the 50 percent threshold, a runoff election between the top two finishers will be held in January 2021.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s (R) decision to tap Loeffler for the Senate seat has prompted frustration from some Republicans and allies of President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE, who had pressed Kemp to appoint Rep. Doug CollinsDouglas (Doug) Allen CollinsKoch-backed group launches ad campaign to support four vulnerable GOP senators Jon Ossoff to challenge David Perdue after winning Georgia Democratic primary The Hill’s Campaign Report: Bad polling data is piling up for Trump MORE (R-Ga.), the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, to take over for Isakson when he retires at the end of the year.
Even before Loeffler’s appointment on Wednesday, Collins had suggested that he may run for the Senate seat in 2020 if he was not appointed to replace Isakson.
Nevertheless, Senate Republicans have rallied behind Loeffler. The National Republican Senatorial Committee is expected to back her next year, and she has won praise from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote GOP senator to try to reverse requirement that Pentagon remove Confederate names from bases No, ‘blue states’ do not bail out ‘red states’ MORE (R-Ky.).
After Kemp announced Loeffler’s appointment on Wednesday, McConnell called on Senate Republicans to come out in support of the Atlanta businesswoman.
“Senator-designate Loeffler will have my full support for reelection in 2020 as a Republican incumbent and I encourage all my colleagues to join me,” McConnell said in a statement.
Still, next year’s race for Isakson’s seat is expected to be an expensive one, as Democrats and Republicans alike are expected to pour money into the race.
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