Following Rep. Doug Collins’ (R-Ga.) official announcement Wednesday of his primary bid against sitting Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) in a November special election — he has found himself on the receiving end of attacks by Senate groups dedicated to defending his own party’s majority in the upper house.

“The shortsightedness in this decision is stunning. Doug Collins’ selfishness will hurt David Perdue, Kelly Loeffler, and President Trump. Not to mention the people of Georgia who stand to bear the burden of it for years to come,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Executive Director Kevin McLaughlin said in a statement.

“All he has done is put two senate seats, multiple house seats, and Georgia’s 16 electoral votes in play. The NRSC stands firmly behind Sen. Kelly Loeffler and urges anyone who wants to re-elect President Trump, hold the GOP senate majority, and stop socialism to do the same.”

The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) had similarly harsh words for Collins.

“It’s so selfish of Doug Collins to be promoting himself when President Trump needs a unified team and Senator Loeffler is such a warrior for the President. As we’ve said before, Senator Loeffler is an outsider like Trump, not just another D.C. politician. We’ll have her back if she needs us.”

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), meanwhile, appears to be celebrating the news.

“At the start of this election cycle, Republicans believed they could take this state for granted, but not anymore. This expensive, protracted brawl — already playing out on the front page — will force unelected mega-donor Senator Loeffler and Trump ally Congressman Collins into a race to the right that reveals just how out-of-touch both are with Georgia voters,” the group said in a statement.

In response to the backlash, Collins took to Twitter and used a favorite term of President Trump.

“Don’t be ridiculous, this is FAKE NEWS coming from the head of a Washington-based group whose bylaws require him to support all incumbents, even unelected ones,” he wrote on the social media platform.

Collins’ candidacy sets up a party showdown that threatens to split Republicans across the peach state.

The traditionally red Senate seat in the battleground state was previously held by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), who resigned in December last year due to health concerns.

President Trump and close allies repeatedly lobbied Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to appoint Collins to the newly vacant seat, believing that the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee would be a reliable ally in the Senate.

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