Trump-backed Mike Collins wins Georgia Senate GOP runoff
by Darryl Coote · UPIJune 17 (UPI) -- Rep. Mike Collins was projected Tuesday night to win Georgia's Republican Senate primary runoff, defeating former football coach Derek Dooley as voters cast ballots in contests across the country.
The Collins-Dooley race was the highest-profile race on a primary night.
President Donald Trump has loomed large over November's midterm elections, encouraging GOP-led states to redraw congressional maps, warning of impeachment and investigations if Democrats win control of the House and endorsing candidates who align with his agenda.
The Georgia Senate runoff drew national attention as a race that could help decide control of the Senate and test Trump's influence in a battleground state.
Collins of Georgia's 10th Congressional District ran with Trump's endorsement, while Dooley had the support of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.
With all 159 localities reporting, Collins had secured 55.5% of the vote to Dooley's 44.4%, according to unofficial results from the office of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
Collins, speaking to supporters Tuesday night, projected an image of GOP unity, stating he had spoken with both Dooley, thanking him for running a "spirited campaign," and Kemp "for his leadership and his friendship over the years."
"We're going to have some robust primaries out there. Sometimes, we got some strong disagreements, but I can tell you we stand united around one mission," he said to applause.
"That's right. And y'all know what the mission is: Is to put a Republican in that seat and get rid of that Jon Ossoff in November."
Ossoff, a Democrat, won the Senate seat in 2021, flipping control of the chamber from the Republicans.
In his victory speech, Collins attacked Ossoff for voting in favor of President Joe Biden's landmark Inflation Reduction Act and the American Rescue Plan as well as voting against banning transgender athletes from competing in female-segregated sports.
Following Collins' victory, Ossoff attacked him on social media, calling him a "notorious bigot, antisemite and extremist" who is being investigated by the House Committee on Ethics for illegal misuse of tax dollars.
"Collins, who is only a congressman because his daddy was a congressman, voted to double health insurance premiums for more than a million Georgians, for the Iran War and for the Trump tariffs," he said in a statement.
Dooley conceded defeat.
"While tonight didn't go our way, I want you to know that I'll continue to be in this fight," he said on social media.
"No matter who you voted for or what you believe, one thing we all can agree on is Jon Ossoff does not represent our Georgia values. In November, we're sending him to the bench!"
Trump endorsed Collins on Friday after early voting ended, while Kemp endorsed Dooley in August.
But Tuesday night was not a clean sweep for Trump-backed candidates in Georgia. Rick Jackson, the billionaire founder of Jackson Healthcare, was poised to defeat Trump-endorsed Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the GOP governor runoff race.
According to unofficial results, Jackson had secured 52.65% of the vote share to Jones' 47%.
The Georgia governor's mansion is up for grabs as Kemp, a Republican, has been term limited. He faced Democrat Stacy Abrams in the last two gubernatorial elections.
Jones had won 38% of the vote in the primary election last month. Jackson received 32% of the vote. The runoff was scheduled as neither candidate surpassed the 50% threshold needed to win the GOP nomination outright.
Joe Fisher contributed reporting.