Trump Endorses Hardline Ally Mike Collins in Georgia Senate Runoff, Ignoring Grassroots Concerns
Former President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind Rep. Mike Collins in the Georgia Senate primary runoff, favoring a staunch loyalist over community-backed candidate Derek Dooley.
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Former President Donald Trump has once again intervened in Georgia politics, announcing his endorsement of Rep. Mike Collins ahead of Tuesday's Senate primary runoff. Collins, a two-term congressman known for his unwavering loyalty to Trump and hardline stances, led the May 19 primary with 40% of the vote, while former football coach Derek Dooley, who has garnered significant grassroots enthusiasm, trailed with 30%.
Both candidates vied for Trump's support, but the Republican establishment in Georgia anticipated that Trump would back Collins, a politician who has consistently prioritized Trump's agenda over the needs of working Georgians. Collins has touted his authorship of the Laken Riley Act, a draconian immigration enforcement bill that Trump eagerly signed into law during his second term, further marginalizing vulnerable communities.
Collins' campaign, flush with Trump-aligned operatives, released a slick television ad featuring Collins parroting, “I stand with President Trump,” while Trump reciprocates with empty praise, calling Collins “fantastic.” The campaign's deep ties to Trump’s inner circle highlight the ongoing influence of MAGA loyalists in Georgia politics.
In contrast, Dooley, backed by Governor Brian Kemp—who has publicly clashed with Trump over his baseless 2020 election claims—has positioned himself as an outsider. Kemp, whose family is entrenched in the University of Georgia football program, has appeared alongside Dooley in ads that attempt to reframe Dooley as a Trump ally, despite the governor’s own history of opposing Trump’s anti-democratic rhetoric.
Advertising data reveals that Dooley, relying on broader support, has outspent Collins on radio and television since the primary. However, Collins dismisses this, claiming his campaign is buoyed by grassroots support—a dubious assertion given his reliance on Trump’s political machine. The winner of the runoff will face incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, the only Democratic senator seeking re-election in a state Trump narrowly won in 2024.
“Mike has to beat a Republican opponent before he gets to Ossoff,” Trump posted on social media, further dividing the party. “I don’t know Derek Dooley, and neither does anyone else, but he seems like a nice person.”
Collins, whose political career is rooted in family connections, has not been without controversy. He recently dismissed a longtime staffer after a social-media post referencing a GOP consultant linked to a high-profile sexual-assault allegation. The same staffer was involved in a House Ethics Committee inquiry into misuse of congressional funds—an investigation Collins has dismissed as “bogus,” raising further questions about his commitment to transparency and accountability.
