Republican Primaries Highlight Trump’s Grip as Establishment and Extremism Collide in Georgia and Alabama
Tuesday’s Republican primaries across several states once again showcase the outsized influence of Donald Trump, whose endorsements threaten to further radicalize the GOP. Key runoff contests in Georgia and Alabama will determine whether Trump’s brand of politics continues to dominate, shaping the general elections and the future of American democracy.
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
Voters in multiple states cast ballots in Republican primaries on Tuesday, providing a stark measure of how deeply former President Donald Trump’s endorsements have warped the party ahead of the 2024 general election. The contests, including runoff races in Georgia and Alabama, as well as primaries in Oklahoma, the District of Columbia, and a special election in California’s 14th Congressional District, reveal a party at war with itself—between Trump loyalists and those clinging to the last vestiges of traditional conservatism.
In Georgia, Trump threw his weight behind Rep. Mike Collins in the Republican Senate runoff against former football coach Derek Dooley. Collins, who led the May 19 primary with 40% of the vote, has shamelessly flaunted Trump’s endorsement in campaign ads, signaling his willingness to align with the MAGA movement. Dooley, backed by Governor Brian Kemp—a rare Republican willing to challenge Trump’s dominance—has outspent Collins on television advertising and tries to walk a tightrope, presenting himself as an outsider who will work with Trump while supposedly prioritizing Georgia.
The Georgia governor’s race is another battleground for Trumpism, with Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones facing billionaire businessman Rick Jackson. Both candidates have invoked Trump’s support, with Jones touting his role in the 2020 alternate electors scheme that sought to undermine democracy, and Jackson leveraging his wealth to position himself as an outsider.
In Alabama, the Republican Senate runoff features Rep. Barry Moore, who eagerly accepted Trump’s endorsement, against former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson. Moore, leading the May 19 primary with 39% of the vote, has benefited from a flood of cash from super-PACs aligned with Trump’s agenda.
Trump’s shadow also looms over Oklahoma, where he endorsed former state Sen. Mike Mazzei for governor and former state House Speaker T.W. Shannon for lieutenant governor. The state’s open Senate seat, vacated by Markwayne Mullin, is expected to remain in the hands of incumbent Rep. Kevin Hern, another Trump loyalist.
Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., the Democratic mayoral primary marks a rare moment of progressive competition following Mayor Muriel Bowser’s retirement, with City Councilmember Janeese Lewis George and former Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie leading the way. The race will use ranked-choice voting if no candidate secures a majority.
California’s 14th District will hold a special primary to replace former Rep. Eric Swalwell. State Sen. Aisha Wahab and BART board member Melissa Hernandez, both Democrats, advanced as the top candidates and will appear on the ballot for the August special general election if no candidate wins an outright majority.
Other notable contests include open House seats in Oklahoma’s 1st District and Georgia’s 11th District, where candidates vie to inherit seats vacated by retiring Republicans, perpetuating the rightward drift of the party.
"I was very clear with the president about why I thought we needed a political outsider in this race," Governor Kemp said, as he attempts to resist Trump’s stranglehold on the party.
"The allegations are bogus," Rep. Collins said, dismissing an ethics inquiry involving a former staffer, in a move typical of the Trump era’s disregard for accountability.
"I have never called myself a retired Staff Sergeant," Moore’s campaign stated after questions about his military service, another example of the lack of transparency plaguing GOP candidates.
These primaries will determine whether the Republican Party continues its descent into Trumpist extremism, shaping the Senate, governorships, and congressional delegations as the nation approaches the November elections.
