Trump backs Mike Collins in Georgia Senate Republican runoff
The endorsement puts Trump on the opposite side of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who has supported Derek Dooley in Tuesday’s runoff.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
3 min read
President Donald Trump endorsed Representative Mike Collins in Georgia’s Republican US Senate runoff, giving Collins late support in a race that could shape control of the chamber after the November midterms. Al Jazeera reported that Collins faces Derek Dooley on Tuesday for the right to challenge Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.
Trump announced his support on Truth Social, according to Al Jazeera, choosing Collins over Dooley, a former football coach and first-time political candidate. Trump praised Collins as a strong supporter of his Make America Great Again movement and called him a “true friend, fighter, and WARRIOR”.
The runoff carries national stakes because Republicans see Ossoff’s seat as one of their best pickup opportunities, Al Jazeera reported. Republicans hold a narrow 53-seat majority in the 100-member Senate, while Democrats are trying to win control of both chambers of Congress in November.
Georgia race draws national attention
Ossoff took office in 2021 after Georgia helped deliver wins for Democrats, according to Al Jazeera. The state backed former President Joe Biden and also elected Democrat Raphael Warnock to the Senate during that period.
Georgia had been a Republican-dominated state for decades before those Democratic victories, Al Jazeera reported. The state moved back toward Trump in the 2024 election, adding to Republican hopes that Ossoff can be defeated in the midterms.
Trump’s endorsement also puts him at odds with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who has backed Dooley, according to Al Jazeera. Kemp has generally supported Trump, but the two have clashed over several issues, including Trump’s unsupported claims that fraud affected Georgia’s 2020 election results.
Dooley has said he did not vote in 2016 or 2020, when Trump was on the ballot, Al Jazeera reported. Dooley has also said Georgia’s election results were legitimate.
Late endorsement follows early voting
Collins led the May 19 Republican primary with about 40 percent of the vote, according to Al Jazeera. Dooley received about 30 percent, while Representative Buddy Carter finished a close third and did not make the runoff.
Al Jazeera reported that Trump’s endorsement came after early voting had already ended, leaving unclear how much it will affect Tuesday’s result. Trump’s endorsements have produced mixed outcomes during the primary season.
In Texas, Al Jazeera reported that Trump’s support for Attorney General Ken Paxton was viewed as helping Paxton defeat Senator John Cornyn in a Republican primary runoff. Cornyn had been widely seen as the strongest Republican candidate to face Democratic challenger James Talarico in the general election.
In Iowa, Trump’s late endorsement of Representative Randy Feenstra did not provide enough support for him to defeat Republican Zach Lahn in the gubernatorial primary, according to Al Jazeera.
Georgia is not the only state holding runoff or primary votes Tuesday. Al Jazeera reported that Alabama will hold several primary runoffs, including a Republican contest for the seat of Senator Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor. Oklahoma and Washington, DC, also have primary votes scheduled.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.