Staff Reports
The Associated Press is projecting that U.S. Rep. Mike Collins is on track to win the Republican nomination in Georgia’s Senate runoff after President Donald Trump jumped in with a late endorsement. The extra boost from the president turned a close contest into a national story, and it exposed a loud split inside the Georgia GOP — with Governor Brian Kemp openly backing Collins’ opponent, Derek Dooley.
Trump’s endorsement tipped the scales
When President Donald Trump called Collins a “true friend, fighter, and WARRIOR,” that message landed with Republican voters in Georgia. In a tight runoff, that kind of signal matters. Collins led the crowded May primary with about 40–41% to Dooley’s roughly 28–30%, and Trump’s late push gave Collins the momentum he needed to pull ahead in the runoff projection. If you wonder whether the base still listens to Trump, the answer arrived in short order.
Kemp versus Trump — a GOP split on full display
Governor Brian Kemp campaigning with Derek Dooley turned this into more than a local primary fight. It became a squabble between the state GOP establishment and the national base. Kemp’s electability argument was predictable: pick the candidate who can beat Democrat Senator Jon Ossoff in November. Trump’s camp answered with loyalty and culture-war energy. The two sides are arguing over style and strategy. Meanwhile, voters decide who they trust more to win and to stand up to Washington.
Numbers to watch and the hidden costs
Don’t forget the math. Early voting showed hundreds of thousands of runoff ballots already cast, and Ossoff enters the fall with a big war chest that Republicans will have to match. The runoff itself drained time and money. That bruising primary makes unity urgent. If the GOP can’t consolidate quickly after the Collins projection, Senator Jon Ossoff’s cash advantage and incumbency head start could make November harder than it needs to be.
What comes next for Republicans in Georgia
Winning the nomination was only the first step for Mike Collins. The bigger fight is beating Senator Jon Ossoff in the general. Republicans should stop squabbling publicly, rally behind the nominee, and focus on turnout and a clear message. Conservatives won a key skirmish when Trump’s endorsement helped Collins, but the war for the Senate seat still needs discipline and resources. If the Georgia GOP wants to flip a seat, the party must move past drama and start campaigning like it means business.
