Derek Dooley campaigns with Gov. Brian Kemp in Sandersville ahead of U.S. Senate Runoff Election

The event was held at Citizens Bank of the South in Washington County and focused on issues impacting rural Georgia communities.

SANDERSVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Republican U.S. Senate candidate Derek Dooley campaigned in Sandersville Monday alongside Brian Kemp as part of Dooley’s “Georgia First Tour” ahead of the June 16 Republican runoff election.

Dooley discussed concerns surrounding agriculture and rural healthcare, saying both remain top priorities for voters across the state.

“I completely understand how all rural voters feel, whether it’s in the ag community, which I’ve spent a lot of time with Tyler Harper, who’s been a tremendous resource for me listening to farmers, understanding what their needs are and being able to be an advocate for them,” Dooley said. “It’s our number one industry in Georgia, and we can’t ever forget that, and also rural healthcare. It’s a critical area. We have a broken healthcare system. Congress has done absolutely nothing to help fix it.”

Governor Kemp also spoke during the campaign stop, criticizing incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and encouraging Republican voters to support Dooley in the runoff.

“You go up to Washington DC and Ossoff has voted with Joe Biden 98% of the time; that does not represent the values of our state,” Kemp said. “You need a political outsider and be able to stay on the offense against Ossoff to be able to win this race.”

The Sandersville stop was part of multiple campaign events scheduled across Georgia Monday.

Early voting begins Monday, June 8, with Election Day set for June 16.