ATLANTA — Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) is centering his Senate campaign on his role in crafting President Donald Trump’s sweeping “big, beautiful bill,” presenting it as proof of his ability to navigate the GOP’s toughest policy fights.
Carter, who stepped down on July 2 as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee to focus on the race, is seeking to unseat Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), widely viewed as the most vulnerable Democrat on the ballot this cycle.
The contest is already shaping up as a three-way Republican primary, with Carter competing against Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) and former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley, a political newcomer backed by Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA).
Carter is betting that the new law, facing national criticism, can be reframed as a winning message in Georgia. He often points back to when his subcommittee was tasked with finding the bulk of the bill’s deficit savings, which put him at the center of some of the GOP’s fiercest internal debates. Carter said the assignment underscored both the weight of the chairmanship and his ability to deliver.
“You need to be careful sometimes, what you ask for. I finally get the chairmanship, and then they come to me and say, ‘Oh, by the way, most of the savings we’re looking for are coming from your subcommittee.’ We delivered,” he explained.
The Georgia Republican argues that the Medicaid provisions, the part of the law most criticized by Democrats, were carefully designed reforms, not cuts. He said his team focused on cleaning up the program while protecting its mission.
“We made sure that illegals [immigrants] are not on Medicaid. We made sure that ineligibles are not on Medicaid … and able-bodied adults should have work requirements to be on the safety net program that was meant for the most vulnerable in our society.”
At a campaign stop in Peachtree City on Thursday with Vice President J.D. Vance, Carter called the measure “possibly the greatest piece of legislation that we have passed in Congress in decades.” He told supporters, “You as Georgians, you saved $3,000 thanks to that act. Jon Ossoff voted against that; he wanted your taxes to go up.”
He also highlighted other provisions, citing tax relief and border security as major victories.
“No tax on tips, no tax on overtime, less tax on seniors, all of those things that we need in our economy, all of those things that keep the American dream alive,” Carter said. “Our border is now secured. Finally, thanks to Donald J. Trump, apprehensions are down 97%.”
Pressed on whether he could appeal to voters in a general election, not just in a Republican primary, Carter argued his record makes him competitive statewide.
“I can consolidate our party, and I can cross over and get suburban women votes and get a lot of Democrats’ votes,” he said. Drawing on his professional background, he added, “Georgians want accessible, affordable, quality healthcare. I want to make America healthy again.”
Still, the legislation has become a political hazard. A July KFF survey found that 63% of the public views it unfavorably, including a majority of independents. Democrats have seized on its Medicaid and safety-net provisions as a wedge issue, framing it as a direct threat to working families. Carter pushed back in his interview: “It’s misinformation and it’s untruth, being spread by liberal media.”
The primary has quickly become a high-stakes battle. Carter was the first Republican to launch a bid, but the field grew after Kemp threw his weight behind Dooley, a move that split Republicans, while Collins has steadily built momentum with grassroots conservatives, creating a crowded race where Trump’s endorsement looms large.
Carter has made clear that securing Trump’s backing is central to his campaign.
“I’ve been in touch with his team. We hope that we will be getting the endorsement sooner than later. I believe in President Trump, I’ve supported him from the start, and I will continue to support him and his America First policies,” he said.
In Peachtree City, he went further, reminding supporters that he nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. “That’s why I nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize, because he deserves it. He is the greatest negotiator of all times, and he is trying to get peace in Ukraine, Russia, and the Middle East, and he will do it.”
He has also signaled he will have the financial muscle to compete. In early July, his campaign reported raising $1.1 million over three months and said he personally loaned another $2 million, part of what aides call a down payment on his vow to spend at least $10 million of his own money.
“I’ve been very blessed in my life, and this is very important to me,” Carter said. “So yeah, I’ve got skin in the game.”
Carter acknowledged that a key challenge will be raising his profile statewide. While well known in his coastal district, he still introduces himself to many Georgians. He pointed to early ads, heavy fundraising, and a busy travel schedule as part of that effort.
“We’ve spent some money on ads, and we’ve been very successful with our fundraising,” he said. “We’ll continue to fundraise, and we’ll continue to get our message out.”
Campaigning across the state, Carter has sought to tie Ossoff directly to progressive Democrats.
“Jon Ossoff does not represent the values of Georgia,” he said in Peachtree City. “He represents the values of AOC and Bernie Sanders. I work for you. I’m running for the U.S. Senate, I’m working my ass off to get rid of Ossoff.”
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For Carter, the gamble is that voters will reward him for his leadership in helping craft and pass Trump’s marquee law, not punish him for backing an unpopular package.
“We showed what we can do with unified Republican leadership,” he said. “Now we need to keep that going in the Senate.”