Peach Tree Times

The race for governor is already heating up, with two Republican opponents poised to battle in court before any votes are cast.

Gov. Brian Kemp recently filed an ethics complaint in federal court against primary challenger David Perdue, a former U.S. senator, in a growing battle over a campaign finance law in Georgia, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. Previously, Perdue had filed a lawsuit against Kemp, claiming that the state campaign finance law, Georgia Senate Bill 221, benefits Kemp.

"Feigning alleged 'harms,' Perdue both cries afoul of transparent campaign finance structures set into law by the Georgia Legislature and asks the court to remove these structures so he and all other candidates intending to oppose the Governor in the coming election cycle (including Stacey Abrams, Vernon Jones, Kandiss Taylor, and Catherine Davis) may continue critical fundraising, while the Governor may not," a spokesperson for Kemp's campaign told Fox 5 Atlanta.

The complaint filed by Kemp alleges that Perdue is asking the court to declare the bill unconstitutional so that he can gain a competitive fundraising edge in his primary campaign against Kemp, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. The complaint also alleges that Perdue timed the filing of his lawsuit to coincide with the start of the legislative session.

Perdue claims in his lawsuit that the campaign finance law is unconstitutional, as it allows Kemp to establish leadership funds or committees that can raise and spend uncapped amounts of money, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.