Republican Representative Mike Collins won the Georgia Republican Senate primary runoff on Tuesday, defeating former college football coach Derek Dooley. Collins will now face Democratic incumbent Senator Jon Ossoff in the November general election.
In a separate contest, businessman Rick Jackson won the Republican gubernatorial primary runoff, defeating Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, who had been endorsed by both former President Donald Trump and Governor Brian Kemp.
Senate Race: Collins vs. Dooley
The Candidates- Mike Collins: A second-term U.S. Representative and a self-described ally of former President Donald Trump. Collins is a trucking company owner and the son of a former congressman.
- Derek Dooley: A first-time political candidate and former college football coach. Dooley was recruited to run by Governor Brian Kemp, a childhood friend.
No candidate secured a majority in the May 19 primary, triggering the runoff. Collins led the primary with approximately 40% of the vote, followed by Dooley with 30%, and Representative Buddy Carter with 25%.
Endorsements- Former President Donald Trump endorsed Collins in the days leading up to the runoff.
- Governor Brian Kemp endorsed Dooley.
- Collins authored the Laken Riley Act, an immigration enforcement bill signed into law by Trump. The bill drew some bipartisan support, including from Senator Ossoff.
- Dooley argued that his political outsider status would make him more electable in a swing state.
- Collins faces an active House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged misuse of congressional funds. Collins has denied the allegations.
- As of late May, Collins had raised approximately $4.9 million and had $1.2 million in cash on hand. Ossoff had raised over $80 million total and held $32 million in cash on hand as of April 29.
"A vote for Mike Collins is a vote for Jon Ossoff." — Derek Dooley
"Collins is a true Friend, Fighter, and WARRIOR." — Former President Donald Trump
- Collins stated that Senator Ossoff "doesn't represent us" and called him "bought and paid for by those crazy folks in California and nutjobs in New York."
- Ossoff described Collins as "a congressman who's only a congressman because his daddy was a congressman."
Governor Race: Jackson vs. Jones
The Candidates- Rick Jackson: A self-funding businessman who pledged significant personal campaign spending.
- Burt Jones: The incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Georgia.
- Both former President Trump and Governor Kemp endorsed Jones.
- Senator Ted Cruz broke with Trump to endorse Jackson.
- Jackson self-funded over $100 million in campaign spending.
- Jones proposed eliminating the state income tax without detailing replacement revenue.
- Jackson pledged to deport immigrants in Georgia illegally and to implement tax cuts.
Background and Significance
The Senate runoff was widely viewed as a proxy battle between Trump and Governor Kemp, who have a public rift stemming from the 2020 presidential election. Kemp certified President Joe Biden's victory in Georgia, a decision Trump has criticized.
Georgia has shifted from a reliably Republican state to a battleground. Trump won Georgia by 2 points in the 2024 presidential election. Senator Ossoff won his seat in a January 2021 runoff by just over 1 point.
Ossoff is the only Democratic senator running for re-election in a state that Trump carried in 2024. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control of the Senate.
"Whoever wins the Republican nomination faces a significant financial disadvantage. Ossoff holds a massive cash-on-hand advantage over Collins."
- Ossoff holds a significant financial advantage over Collins. Two major super PACs have pledged a combined $64 million on the race.
The general election contest between Collins and Ossoff is expected to be highly competitive and expensive, with Georgia remaining a key battleground state.