Trump Throws Weight Behind Hardline Conservative Collins in Georgia Senate Runoff
Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Rep. Mike Collins, a staunch right-wing congressman, over former coach Derek Dooley in the Georgia Republican Senate primary runoff—a contest that will determine which conservative will challenge the Democratic incumbent.
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Former President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he is throwing his support behind Rep. Mike Collins, a hardline conservative, for the Georgia Republican Senate primary runoff. Trump’s endorsement of Collins, a trucking executive and loyalist who previously sponsored the first bill signed by Trump after his controversial return to office, demonstrates the continued grip of Trumpism on the Republican Party. Collins leads former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Doward Dooley by about ten points from the May primary and holds a polling advantage, further cemented by Trump’s intervention.
Trump took to his social-media platform to declare that Collins has his 'complete and total endorsement' to become the next U.S. senator. Meanwhile, Governor Brian Kemp, a more establishment Republican who has at times clashed with Trump, is backing Dooley and has been actively campaigning for him, highlighting the deep divisions within the GOP.
'Mike Collins is a true Friend, Fighter, and WARRIOR, who has been with us from the very beginning, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be your next United States Senator,' Trump wrote, using his typical bombastic rhetoric.
Trump’s backing brings with it a wave of campaign resources for Collins, including the services of his pollster Tony Fabrizio and data analyst Tim Saler. Dooley, who had previously sought Trump’s approval and mimicked his 'America First' slogan with a 'Georgia First' campaign, was ultimately snubbed after Trump once again pushed his baseless claim that he lost Georgia in the 2020 election.
This endorsement threatens to further radicalize the race, which will decide who faces Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in a crucial battleground. Political analysts warn that Trump’s influence could push the Republican nominee even further to the right, deepening polarization and threatening democratic norms.
