Mike Collins wins Georgia Senate GOP runoff, to face Jon Ossoff in November

The runoff

Georgia voters went to the polls Tuesday and gave Trump-endorsed Mike Collins a decisive victory over Derek Dooley, the candidate backed by outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp. With 52% of the vote counted, the AP called the race for Collins just after 8:30 p.m., and preliminary results from the Secretary of State's office showed Collins winning 55% of the vote.

The candidates

Collins, a trucking company owner serving in the U.S. House since 2023, ran as an ardent Trump loyalist, making immigration enforcement his central theme. He has denied the legitimacy of the 2020 election, defended Jan. 6 rioters, and is a hardline anti-abortion advocate. Dooley, son of legendary UGA football coach Vince Dooley, coached at the University of Tennessee before being fired after three losing seasons. He was a close friend of Kemp, who lent his political staff, endorsement, and fundraising heft to the campaign.

WARRIOR and WINNER!

What's at stake

The race is one of a handful this November that will determine control of the U.S. Senate. Ossoff, who has represented Georgia since 2021, has become a prominent Democratic voice, delivering sharp criticisms of the Trump administration. Republicans see the seat as a prime pickup opportunity, but after a bitter primary fight, they now face an incumbent who has built a massive war chest and national profile.

Money race

Collins raised $4.3 million up to the latest disclosure deadline, a fraction of the $57 million Ossoff has amassed. The Democrat's fundraising has been one of the strongest in the Senate, giving him a significant financial advantage heading into the general election.

What's next

The general election is set for Nov. 3. Collins will pivot to attacking Ossoff's record while the Democratic incumbent will frame the race as a choice between a bipartisan lawmaker and a MAGA firebrand.