Collins wins – Republican Rep. Mike Collins won a Georgia U.S. Senate primary runoff and will face incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November, a race already drawing national attention as control of the Senate hangs in the balance.
On May 19 in Jackson, Ga., Rep. Mike Collins was speaking to supporters, building toward a finish that came in a runoff election rather than a clean first-round win.
Now, Collins has won that Republican primary runoff and will challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November, according to a race call by The Associated Press.
The path to this matchup ran through the contest Collins won against former football coach Derek Dooley. Dooley had the backing of term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp. But in the runoff, Republican voters chose Collins anyway.
The national spotlight didn’t fully land on Collins until the final stretch, when President Trump stepped in after early voting ended for the runoff. He waited until the early hours Sunday morning to make a lengthy endorsement post backing Collins.
In that post, Trump took aim at Dooley—arguing Dooley didn’t have strong ties to Georgia or to Dooley’s policies. Trump also cited Dooley’s statements about the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
“I don’t know Derek Dooley, and neither does anyone else, but he seems like a nice person,” Trump wrote. He added that Dooley “has lived outside of Georgia for most of his life. ” that he “didn’t vote in 2020 or 2016. ” and that Dooley “said that I lost Georgia in 2020 when. in actuality. the facts have now proven that I won by a lot!”.
Dooley supporters had made a different case: that the outsider profile—precisely the element Trump attacked—could make him more electable in a purple state like Georgia. They pointed to a political landscape that promises to be difficult for Republicans at the ballot box. especially in a year that could test their margins.
But runoff voters sided with Collins.
The timing of Trump’s move also caught attention beyond Georgia. In 2026 primary contests. his endorsements have come earlier than in past cycles and have tended to favor safe incumbents or candidates in open races—actions designed. in practice. to either protect established officeholders or clear the field for preferred contenders.
Collins’ race appears to be the outlier: a late, last-minute intercession for a specific candidate. It also mirrors Trump’s prior choice to back Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton only about a week before Paxton won his runoff victory over Sen. John Cornyn.
With November now set for the Collins-Ossoff matchup. both parties are treating the outcome as a must-win step in the broader fight for control of the Senate. And in Georgia. the question that mattered in the runoff—whether voters would bet on a political newcomer narrative or stay with a sitting congressman—has already been answered.
Mike Collins Jon Ossoff Georgia Senate Derek Dooley Brian Kemp Donald Trump Republican primary runoff 2026 election
So Trump posted it at like 3am and that decided it? lol
I don’t even know who Dooley is but if he “didn’t vote” then ok?? But Collins better not mess around with Georgia voters thinking it’s gonna be easy. Senate control is always some drama.
Wait I thought Ossoff already won like last year. How is this a new challenge? Also Trump saying Dooley doesn’t have ties to Georgia sounds kinda racist-ish? Idk I’m just saying. Runoff stuff is confusing.
Trump stepped in AFTER early voting ended which is wild because it sounds like it helped Collins get the win, even if they say it’s just “support.” The article keeps talking about 2020 voting like that’s the only qualification. And the part about Paxton?? Like what does that even have to do with Georgia? I’m tired of endorsements deciding elections.