Georgia Senate Primary Update
The president has a fondness for him, but Georgia voters must confirm their support.
In the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate in Georgia, incumbent Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) secured the highest number of votes, yet it wasn’t sufficient for an outright win.
Collins, having garnered nearly 41% of the votes, will advance to a run-off against Derek Dooley, who received around 30%. This run-off is scheduled for June 16, as Collins did not achieve the necessary 50% majority to claim the nomination outright.
“Thank you, Georgia. We love you all. Just 28 days left to bring down the hammer!” Collins shared on X after his primary performance.
Considered a frontrunner, Collins identifies with the MAGA movement, and recent polling indicated his support rose by an average of 11.5 points from April to May.
Though the 58-year-old received a personal endorsement from former President Donald Trump in February, it’s still uncertain how much that endorsement has impacted his campaign.
In a posted video from February 19, Trump referred to Collins, saying, “He’s my friend. He’s a good person,” adding, “I really like him.”
Interestingly, while Collins aligns with Trump on immigration and has been vocal about immigration policies, he recently voted against military aid for Ukraine but supported aid for Israel.
Dooley, a former football coach at the University of Tennessee, was often placed second or third in polling and has received the endorsement of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
In his statement, Dooley expressed appreciation to voters for their backing, stating, “This campaign is about bringing a new type of leader to D.C. who will put Georgians first.” He closed with words of encouragement for Collins, wishing him luck in the run-off.
Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-Ga.) came in third, securing about 25% of the primary votes. Other candidates, including businessman John Coyne and retired Army Reserve brigadier general Jonathan McCollum, each received less than 5% of the vote.
The victor between Collins and Dooley will face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in the upcoming November election, Ossoff having run unopposed in the Democratic primary since 2021.
