Senator Perdue’s First Challenger: Teresa Tomlinson

Former Mayor of Columbus Teresa Tomlinson says she’s running against David Perdue–if Stacey Abrams won’t.

In an email sent early Friday morning, Tomlinson said she’s filed documents to start an exploratory committee.

Democrats in our state owe a debt of gratitude to Stacey Abrams for taking on an entrenched power structure right here in Georgia. In fact, many of us believe she rightly won her race for Governor but that power structure deprived her of the office.

As we give Stacey the space she needs to make the decision about her next chapter, I have begun to lay the foundation for a run for U.S. Senate myself should she decide not to run for Senate.

Could she win? I suppose it will depend on how President Trump polls in Georgia and how closely Sen. Perdue will tie his fate to the President.

A March poll from The Wall Street Journal and NBC News found Trump trailing a generic Democrat 50% to 39% here in Georgia.

That closely mirrors a poll from The Atlanta Journal Constitution from January where Trump had a 37% approval rating and 56% disapproval rating. FWIW: Kemp was at 37% approval and 47% disapproval so at this way-too-early juncture it’s not the most favorable outlook for Republicans in Georgia.