{"id":2614819,"date":"2026-06-16T21:07:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T01:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-backed-mike-collins-wins-georgia-gop-senate-runoff\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T21:08:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T01:08:05","slug":"trump-backed-mike-collins-wins-georgia-gop-senate-runoff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-backed-mike-collins-wins-georgia-gop-senate-runoff\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump-backed Mike Collins wins Georgia GOP Senate runoff"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-backed-mike-collins-wins-georgia-gop-senate-runoff%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2614819&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) won Georgia&#8217;s Republican Senate runoff, defeating Derek Dooley in a contest that became a proxy battle between Donald Trump and Governor Brian Kemp. Trump endorsed Collins, who campaigned as a MAGA candidate emphasizing his alignment with Trump and his work on immigration legislation. Dooley had the backing of Kemp and the state Republican establishment, campaigning vigorously in the final weeks. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/north-carolina-state-senator-to-challenge-don-davis-in-toss-up-district\/\" title=\"North Carolina state senator to challenge Don Davis in toss-up district\">race drew national attention<\/a> due<\/a> to the trump-Kemp rivalry, but some Republicans believed voters did not see it as a full war between the two figures. Collins led in the primary with about 40% of the vote, followed by Dooley with roughly 30%. The runoff took <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-border-crisis-is-about-to-get-way-worse-next-month\/\" title=\"The Border Crisis Is About to Get Way Worse Next Month\">place amid concerns<\/a> over low turnout influenced by summer heat and voter fatigue, with effective voter targeting and mobilization being crucial. Collins&#8217;s strong ties to Trump likely gave him an edge with GOP voters, while the race highlighted frustrations over the prolonged primary process. Collins will now face Democrat Jon Ossoff in a high-profile Senate race, with Republicans hoping to flip the seat in the 2026 elections.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4608184\/trump-endorses-mike-collins-georgia-senate-race\/\">Mike Collins<\/a> (R-GA) won <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgia\/\">Georgia<\/a>\u2019s Republican <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\">Senate <\/a>runoff Tuesday, defeating former football coach <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/derek-dooley\/\">Derek Dooley<\/a> in a closely watched contest that became a proxy fight between President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> and Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/brian-kemp\/\">Brian Kemp<\/a> (R-GA).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Associated Press <\/em>called the race for Collins at 8:37 p.m. With 56% of the vote counted, Collins led with 55% of the vote to Dooley\u2019s 45%.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4609700\/mike-collins-wins-georgia-gop-senate-runoff\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump-backed Mike Collins wins Georgia GOP Senate runoff<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4611619\/todd-blanche-confirmation-hearing-july-senate-gop-attorney-general\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Todd Blanche meets with GOP skeptics as Senate sets confirmation hearing<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4609588\/trump-brian-kemp-georgia-gop-runoff-2026\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump and Kemp play kingmaker as Georgia voters head to the polls<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collins entered the runoff with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4608184\/trump-endorses-mike-collins-georgia-senate-race\/\">Trump\u2019s endorsement<\/a> and spent much of the race positioning himself as the unapologetic MAGA candidate in the campaign, arguing Republicans wanted a fighter closely aligned with the president and highlighting his work on immigration legislation, including the Laken Riley Act.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dooley, meanwhile, had the backing of Kemp and much of the state\u2019s Republican establishment, with the governor aggressively campaigning alongside him in the runoff\u2019s final weeks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race drew national attention after Trump endorsed Collins over Dooley despite Dooley\u2019s support from Kemp, creating a showdown between two of the most influential figures in Georgia Republican politics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, some Republicans rejected the idea that the election represented a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/are-the-u-s-and-russia-destined-for-war-over-ukraine\/\" title=\"Are the U.S. and Russia Destined for War Over Ukraine?\">full-scale proxy war<\/a> between Trump and Kemp given the two were aligned on the state governor\u2019s race.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPeople want to make this like a Trump versus Kemp war because that makes for good headlines, but I don\u2019t think Georgia voters see it that way,\u201d Republican strategist Ryan Mahoney told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> before the election. \u201cThey\u2019re aligned on one race and they\u2019re on different sides on the other end, and that\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collins finished first in the May 19 primary with roughly 40% of the vote, while Dooley earned about 30%, followed by Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) with roughly 25%.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The runoff unfolded amid concerns from Georgia Republicans about low turnout, with operatives warning that the summer heat, vacations, and voter fatigue could make mobilization efforts more important than television advertising or endorsements.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s going to come down to which campaign was able to target effectively and turn out their likely voters,\u201d Mahoney said before Election Day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several Republicans privately acknowledged in the race\u2019s closing stretch that Dooley appeared to be gaining momentum after campaigning aggressively with Kemp across the state.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Collins\u2019s alliance with Trump ultimately appeared to give him an advantage with Republican primary voters in a state where the president remains popular.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race also exposed broader Republican frustrations over how long the Senate primary dragged on, giving Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) more time to campaign without an opponent for the general election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4608184\/trump-endorses-mike-collins-georgia-senate-race\/\"><strong>TRUMP ENDORSES MIKE COLLINS IN GEORGIA SENATE RACE AHEAD OF GOP RUNOFF<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere\u2019s not a good reason why this thing has dragged out for a year only to end up right where it was a year ago,\u201d one Republican strategist said before the runoff.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collins will now face Ossoff in one of the nation\u2019s most closely watched Senate races as Republicans attempt to flip a seat they view as one of their top pickup opportunities in 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mike Collins wins Georgia GOP Senate runoff over Dooley<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2614820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-collage-fq34x1z8y-1781556788359.jpg?1781542409&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[53584,80306,49076,36959,5507],"class_list":["post-2614819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-georgia-senate","tag-gop-runoff","tag-mike-collins","tag-political-victory","tag-trump-backed"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-collage-fq34x1z8y-1781556788359.jpg?1781542409&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614819","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2614819"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614819\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2614823,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614819\/revisions\/2614823"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2614820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2614819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2614819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2614819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}