Kemp endorses Dooley, CDC chaos, Lisa Cook firing | On The Record, August 31, 2025

Georgia’s nationally watched U.S. Senate race in the 2026 midterms has an unconventional candidate with a legendary name.

A longtime collegiate and NFL football coach, and the son of legendary University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, Derek Dooley is challenging Georgia’s current U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, for his seat in 2026. He’s joined in the race by Republican congressmen Mike Collins of Georgia’s 10th district and Buddy Carter of the state’s 1st district.

Dooley was endorsed Saturday by Gov. Brian Kemp before UGA’s college football season opener in Athens.

Also in this week’s episode:

• The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is again at the center of a political firestorm.
• Democrats on the Fulton County board of commissioners continue refusing to approve two Republicans to the county’s election board.
• Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook will sue President Donald Trump’s administration to try to prevent him from firing her, her lawyer said Tuesday.

On The Record is a weekly political show hosted by Atlanta News First anchor Rick Folbaum and Reardon. It airs every Sunday at 11 a.m. on Atlanta News First.

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