Georgia Senate Republican Primary Runoff Scheduled
Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) and former football coach Derek Dooley are set to face off in the Georgia Senate Republican primary runoff on June 16. This follows the recent primary where no candidate secured over 50% of the vote.
Collins, representing Georgia’s 10th Congressional District and running a trucking company, emerged as the frontrunner, garnering 41.6% of the vote, earning him recognition from outlets like the Associated Press shortly after polls closed. As midnight approached, Dooley was reported to hold second place, surpassing Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.).
By Wednesday morning, Collins maintained his lead with 40.5%, while Dooley trailed with 30.2%, and Carter received 25.1%. The remaining candidates didn’t gather more than 4% collectively. According to Georgia election rules, the top two candidates progress to a runoff if no one achieves a majority.
Collins and Dooley, the latter previously a University of Tennessee football coach and a first-time candidate endorsed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, are vying for the seat held by Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Ossoff, deemed “most vulnerable” among Democrats, will be defending his position in the general election, even if a Republican wins the runoff.
Leading up to the primary, polls consistently indicated Collins as the leading candidate. Yet, as Election Day neared, some polls suggested Dooley was gaining traction.
Recent polling averages indicate that Collins poses the greatest challenge to Ossoff, who is projected to lead by 2.8 points in a general election matchup. Conversely, polls show Ossoff ahead of Dooley by 6.7 points.
Collins attributes his strong showing to a grassroots campaign that involved visiting all 159 counties in Georgia. He expressed a commitment to ensuring a Republican occupies the seat, reflecting the state’s values.
“Our mission is to ensure we have a Republican in that seat—someone who truly represents our state,” Collins stated during a campaign event in Bainbridge, Georgia. He emphasized the importance of selecting the right Republican for the matchup against Ossoff.
Regarding endorsements, while former President Donald Trump has supported Lt. Governor Bert Jones in Georgia’s gubernatorial race, he has yet to endorse a Senate candidate. Both Jones and billionaire Rick Jackson also advanced to the runoff in the recent elections.
Trump mentioned, “There are some very good people running for Georgia’s Senate seat,” but noted he is still monitoring the situation closely.
“It’s vital for Georgia to have a solid senator, as the current one is lacking,” he remarked about Sen. Ossoff, further criticizing the incumbent’s performance.
