ATLANTA — U.S. Representative Mike Collins, the candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump, won Georgia’s Republican Senate primary runoff on Tuesday, securing the party’s nomination to challenge Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in one of the most closely watched Senate races of the 2026 midterm elections, according to results released by state election officials and projections by major U.S. media outlets.
Collins defeated former college football coach Derek Dooley, who entered the race with support from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and other state Republican figures. Preliminary results from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office showed Collins receiving about 55% of the vote, according to media projections.
The runoff was required after no candidate won a majority in the May Republican primary. Collins, a congressman from Georgia’s 10th District and a trucking company executive, led the initial round of voting and campaigned as a strong supporter of Trump’s political agenda. Dooley, a political newcomer and former University of Tennessee football coach, positioned himself as a conservative outsider aligned with Kemp’s governing approach.
Trump endorsed Collins days before the runoff, calling him a “WARRIOR and WINNER” and urging Republican voters to support his campaign. The endorsement brought national attention to the contest and underscored the former president’s continuing influence in Republican primary elections.
In remarks after the race was called, Collins thanked supporters and acknowledged Dooley’s campaign. According to Axios, Collins also expressed appreciation to Kemp and other Republican leaders as the party shifts its focus toward the general election.
The Senate contest is expected to be a major battleground in November. Ossoff, elected in 2021, is the only Democratic senator seeking re-election this year in a state won by Trump in the 2024 presidential election, making the race a key target for Republicans seeking to expand their Senate majority.
Democratic and Republican strategists have identified Georgia as one of several states likely to play an important role in determining the balance of power in the Senate. Campaign fundraising and advertising spending are expected to intensify in the coming months, although officials have not yet released updated figures for the general-election phase.
As of Wednesday, Collins had secured the Republican nomination and was preparing to begin the general-election campaign against Ossoff. Election officials reported no major disruptions during the runoff, and certified results were expected to be finalized in accordance with Georgia election procedures.
