Trump-backed Rep. Mike Collins projected to win Georgia GOP Senate primary runoff

Rep. Mike Collins will face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November's general election. Collins, a Trump-backed Republican, won the Georgia Senate runoff on Tuesday.

The runoff was necessary after no candidate secured 50% of the vote in last month's primary, where Rep. Buddy Carter was eliminated. Collins, who has represented Georgia in the House since 2023, finished first in the runoff with almost 41% of the vote. His opponent, Derek Dooley, a former college football coach, won around 30% of the vote last month.

Collins secured a crucial endorsement from President Trump on Sunday, which highlighted a proxy battle between the president and Gov. Brian Kemp, who endorsed Dooley. The president called Collins a "true Friend, Fighter, and WARRIOR, who has been with us from the very beginning." This endorsement marked a significant moment in the campaign, as it underscored the president's influence in the Republican party.

The relationship between President Trump and Gov. Kemp has been tumultuous, particularly after the governor resisted the president's efforts to intervene in Georgia's presidential election results in 2020. Collins, who pitched himself as a staunch supporter of the president during the primary, touted his sponsorship of an immigration bill named for Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was murdered by an undocumented immigrant in 2024.

Dooley, on the other hand, billed himself as a political outsider, while pledging to work with the president for Georgians. After the president's endorsement on Sunday, Dooley said that "the most important endorsement is that of the Georgia people," while arguing that he was better situated to beat Ossoff.

In a victory speech, Collins said he spoke with Dooley and Kemp on election night, and both are "on board." "Now, we stand united around one mission," Collins told supporters. "It's to put a Republican in that seat and get rid of ... Jon Ossoff in November." Collins' victory has significant implications for the general election, as Republicans look to Georgia to deliver a key victory that could determine control of the Senate.

Ossoff, who first came to the Senate in 2021, is considered the most endangered member of his caucus this cycle. As the sole Democrat seeking reelection in a state that President Trump won in 2024, Ossoff is a prime target for Republicans. The state shifted toward the right during the last election, but Georgians still haven't elected a Republican to the Senate since 2016.

The elongated primary has blunted Republican efforts to launch their full-fledged opposition, allowing Ossoff to amass a significant war chest as he looks to fight back against the inevitable onslaught as the general election approaches. Ossoff's formidable fundraising efforts will be crucial in the coming months, as he faces a well-funded opponent in Collins.

Collins' victory may come as good news to Democrats, eager to run against his closeness with the president amid unpopular White House policies. Democrats will likely highlight allegations that Collins misused congressional funds, which is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Collins has denied the allegations.

The general election is expected to be highly competitive, with both sides pouring significant resources into the state. Republicans will work to portray Ossoff as aligned with national Democrats and out of step with Georgian values. Collins predicted a "challenging" race ahead, but expressed confidence in his ability to defeat Ossoff.

As the general election approaches, the stakes will only continue to rise. With 53 Republicans in the Senate, Democrats are hoping to flip four seats while defending their own in a handful of key races — including Georgia. For Republicans eager to hold onto control of the chamber, Ossoff's name is at the top of their list. The battle for Georgia's Senate seat will be a pivotal moment in the 2026 election cycle, with significant implications for the future of the Senate and the country.