Derek Dooley, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, announced this week that his "Georgia First" campaign raised over $1.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and a combined $3 million for his first five months in the race to defeat Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA).
Dooley’s campaign argues that this fundraising number not only proves the momentum of the political outsider and first-time candidate, but also indicates that Georgians are ready to retire typical D.C. politicians.
In the third quarter, Dooley raised the largest sum of any candidate in their first fundraising quarter during a competitive Georgia GOP Senate primary. This is compared to the Republican fields of the 2014 and 2020 Senate races, and Dooley’s campaign enters 2026 with over $2.1 million cash on hand.
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Dooley commented on this record fundraising, describing it as the result of D.C. politicians who continue to fail Georgians and fulfill promises. He stated that his campaign is about something different and is entirely focused on putting "Georgians First."
“In just five months of meeting Georgians across the state, we’ve built a statewide operation focused on winning this seat back for the people who actually live and work here,” Dooley added. “I’m grateful for the trust and support we’ve earned so far, and I’m ready to keep working every day to defeat Jon Ossoff and deliver real results for Georgia.”
Dooley’s Campaign Chair, Don Leebern III, argued that this fundraising is the result of Dooley’s unparalleled work ethic. Leebern added, “With Derek at the top of the ballot and Governor Kemp’s strong support, Republicans have the best chance of taking down the Democrats and giving our state a Senator who actually represents us.”
As a reminder, Dooley has been endorsed by Governor Brian Kemp (R-GA), and his Georgia First campaign is continuing to build the momentum needed to earn the Republican nomination and defeat Sen. Ossoff at the ballot box in November.
🚨Political outsider Derek Dooley raised a record $1.1 million in Q4 and over $3 million in less than 5 months in the race as a first-time candidate. pic.twitter.com/CN62CVyU0Q
— Team Dooley (@DooleyforGA) January 22, 2026
