Perdue files paperwork to explore 2022 Senate run

Former Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) indicating he is exploring a 2022 Senate run. 

Perdue, who lost his seat to Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) in the last election, filed FEC documents to designate a “principal campaign committee” for “Perdue for Senate,” signaling a possible run against Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).

Warnock defeated Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) in the same set of runoffs that sent Ossoff to the Senate, but will be up for reelection in 2022 because he is filling the remainder of former Sen. Johnny Isakson’s (R-Ga.) term.

Aides to Perdue told Fox News and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Perdue has not made a decision on whether to take on Warnock. But sources told both outlets that he was leaning toward launching a campaign. 

Perdue will make a decision on whether to run by March 1 and announce his campaign in April, an adviser told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

Sources told the Atlanta newspaper that Loeffler and former Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) are also considering running against Warnock, but both are reportedly awaiting Perdue’s decision on whether to jump in the race.

Perdue and Loeffler lost their Senate seats last month after a contentious runoff race against Ossoff and Warnock, respectively, switching Georgia’s two senators from being both Republican to both Democratic. 

The wins came after President Biden narrowly won the state, as the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Georgia since 1992, hinting at Georgia’s potentially purple or blue status. 

Perdue served one term in the Senate starting in 2015.