false endorsement – Georgia Rep. Mike Collins’ Senate campaign has been thrown into turmoil after multiple local officials said their names were wrongly listed as endorsers on his materials in a GOP runoff against Derek Dooley—while the controversy comes just days after Collins’
For a growing number of local Republicans in Georgia, the shock wasn’t the runoff matchup. It was seeing their own names show up on Mike Collins’ campaign materials—then being told they were supposed to have backed the MAGA candidate.
The disputes have spread across the state as Collins heads into a heated GOP runoff against former football coach Derek Dooley, with sheriffs, commissioners and party figures saying they either backed Dooley instead, never endorsed Collins at all, or were stunned to find their names listed.
Among the officials caught in the middle is Wayne County Sheriff Chuck Moseley. His name appeared on Collins’ campaign website before later being removed. Moseley said he’s already tried to get an explanation. “I’ve already talked to them twice. They’ve had their opportunity to correct it, and they haven’t,” Moseley told The Daily Caller.
He didn’t stop at asking for corrections—he made clear what the endorsement issue means to him. “I wouldn’t vote for [Collins] if he’s the only one running.”
Grady County GOP Chair Jeff Jolly described the confusion unfolding in real time when he confronted local officials whose names were also tied to Collins’ materials.
“I talked to each of them in private, and I said, ‘Look, you do what you want to do, but for my own sake, I need to know why you endorsed Mike Collins,’” Jolly said. “Both of them looked at me funny, like, ‘What are you talking about?’ They didn’t know anything about it.’”
Sheriff Earl Prince later told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he had no communications tying him to Collins. He said he had “never spoken to Mike Collins or any of his people.”
County Commissioner Sam Kines described a similar disconnect. Kines said he only sent what he described as a “generic reply” to a campaign invitation, and that he was shocked to discover his name later listed as a supporter.
The endorsement dust-up isn’t uniform, either. Some officials admitted they initially supported Collins before changing course and backing Dooley instead.
Worth County Sheriff Don Whitaker said the initial situation appeared to be a “miscommunication” before he clarified where he stands now. He now supports Dooley.
Political supporter Jutt Howard also acknowledged switching his backing after reconsidering the race.
The endorsement controversy erupted only days after Collins’ campaign faced separate backlash for a crude social media attack aimed at a Dooley adviser. After the adviser celebrated polling that showed Collins’ lead narrowing in the GOP primary runoff. a “Mike Collins War Room” account responded with the message. “Matt Laurer’s [sic] sloppy seconds chiming in to take an L.”.
The remark sparked outrage because the adviser’s wife had previously accused former Today show host Matt Lauer of rape before later making an attempt on her own life.
The chain of disputes has left Collins’ campaign trying to contain more than one fire at a time—one over the names on endorsement lists, and another over the tone and targets of messages circulating in the runoff fight.
Mike Collins Derek Dooley Georgia Senate runoff MAGA candidate false endorsement Chuck Moseley Wayne County sheriff Jeff Jolly Earl Prince Sam Kines Don Whitaker Jutt Howard endorsement controversy social media backlash Matt Lauer Matt Laurer War Room