JACKSON, GA – Republican Representative Mike Collins, known for his strong support of Donald Trump, secured victory in a fierce competition for the GOP Senate nomination in Georgia. Collins, who received Trump’s endorsement, defeated Derek Dooley in the Republican runoff election. He will now face Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in the upcoming November election, which could determine control of the Senate.
Ossoff is seen as a vulnerable target by Republicans who are eager to unseat him. Collins, a two-term congressman from Georgia’s 10th Congressional District, is the son of the late Representative Mac Collins. He and his wife co-own a trucking company.
In this contest, Collins faced Dooley, a former University of Tennessee football coach and son of legendary University of Georgia coach Vince Dooley. While Trump stayed neutral early in the Georgia primary, he endorsed Collins just before the runoff. Collins expressed gratitude for Trump’s support, calling it timely and impactful.
Dooley, who positioned himself as an outsider and was endorsed by Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp, emphasized his focus on the people of Georgia as the key endorsers he aimed to win over. He criticized Collins as a career politician. Meanwhile, Collins attacked Dooley’s lack of political experience and history of living outside Georgia.
Both candidates dealt with controversies. Collins faced scrutiny from the House Ethics Committee regarding an intern involved with his chief of staff, though he denied any wrongdoing. Dooley, on the other hand, faced accusations of being involved in a “pay-to-play” scandal, which he and Kemp denied.
Meanwhile, Senator Ossoff has amassed a significant campaign fund, providing a substantial advantage as the general election approaches. Collins stressed the unity among Republicans to secure a win in the final elections.
While Trump’s endorsement power has been effective in many primaries, it faced a setback when Representative Randy Feenstra lost in Iowa. However, Trump regained momentum with success in South Carolina’s gubernatorial race, with endorsed candidate Lieut. Gov. Pamela Evette advancing in the primary.