Former President Donald Trump is planning to remain influential in Republican politics by seizing on primary openings to pressure the GOP, with his sights set on Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, according to the New York Times.
Trump is planning to dive into key open seats and push primary challenges to Republicans he believes betrayed him during his baseless legal crusade to overturn an election he lost by over 7 million votes.
So far, he has focused on Georgia, where Kemp and Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger disputed his false claims about the state’s election and are facing their own re-elections in 2022.
“Trump’s deepest hostility is reserved for Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia, advisers said, and they expect he will expend the most energy trying to damage Mr. Kemp’s re-election bid,” The TImes reported, noting that Trump has been down on Kemp since he appointed former Sen. Kelly Loeffler to an open seat she ended up losing.
Trump targets disloyal Republicans:
Trump also plans to target the 10 Republicans who voted to impeach him, especially top Republican Liz Cheney. He is also particularly angry at Ohio Rep. Anthony Gonzalez and Michigan Rep.Fred Upton.
Trump also plans to focus on gubernatorial races in Arizona and Texas.
Trump looking at new openings:
Trump is also planning to wade into the Ohio Senate race after Sen. Rob Portman announced this week he would not seek re-election.
Many believe Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, a Trump loyalist, could be in line to win the party’s primary for that seat.
Trump has set up the “Office of the Former President” at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and his first move was endorsing former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders for governor of Arkansas.
