Candidates endorsed by Gov. Kemp, Trump face off in Georgia runoff
by Joe Fisher · UPIJune 16 (UPI) -- Voters are heading back to the polls in Georgia on Tuesday for primary election runoffs featuring one contest that pits President Donald Trump's endorsement against Gov. Brian Kemp's.
Among the key races that will be decided Tuesday is the race to see who will challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November's midterm election. Trump has endorsed Rep. Mike Collins and Kemp endorsed Derek Dooley.
Kemp gave Dooley, a former college football coach, his endorsement in August. He reiterated his support in a social media post on Monday, asking voters to choose the "conservative fighter who will put Georgians first."
Trump endorsed Collins on Friday after early voting ended. The president posted his endorsement on social media, calling Collins a "warrior and winner."
Elsewhere on the ballot, Republican voters will choose their candidate for the state's gubernatorial race. Kemp is a two-term governor and is in his last year serving in the office. He faced Democrat Stacey Abrams in the last two gubernatorial elections.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones captured 38% of the vote in the primary election last month, falling short of the 50% threshold required to win. On the other side, billionaire Rick Jackson received 32% of the vote.
The winner of the Republican primary for the gubernatorial candidate will face Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.
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President Donald Trump speaks to reporters about restoring commercial fishing access to areas of the Pacific during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI | License Photo