Georgia Runoffs Determine GOP Senate and Governor Nominees
Runoff elections on Tuesday will decide the Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate seat held by Jon Ossoff and for the governor's office, with major endorsements from former President Donald Trump and Governor Brian Kemp shaping the contests.
Georgia voters will cast ballots in runoff elections on Tuesday to select the Republican nominees who will challenge Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for the governor’s seat. Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Rep. Mike Collins for the Senate race and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones for governor, while Gov. Brian Kemp has backed Jones and former football coach Derek Dooley in the Senate contest. Billionaire Rick Jackson has spent more than $100 million of personal funds in an effort to win the Senate nomination, and both Collins and Dooley have raised under $5 million each, far less than Ossoff’s $60 million war chest.
Collins, a two-term congressman, highlighted his legislative record and business experience, noting his sponsorship of the 2025 Laken Riley Act, which would keep certain non-citizen defendants without bond. Dooley, a first-time candidate and former college and NFL coach, argued that his outsider status makes him the strongest opponent for Ossoff, emphasizing the need for the GOP to learn from a decade without Senate victories. Both candidates face scrutiny over ethics complaints and their alignment with Trump’s agenda.
In the gubernatorial contest, Jones, the current lieutenant governor, is running on a platform that includes eliminating the state income tax and promoting tax cuts, while Jackson, a self-funded businessman, has focused his campaign on strict immigration enforcement and tax reductions, citing his personal background in the state foster care system. Trump has reiterated his support for Jones on social media and during a telephone rally.
The secretary of state race also features a runoff between Vernon Jones, who has embraced election-fraud claims, and state Rep. Tim Fleming, who acknowledges irregularities without endorsing falsehoods. Democrats will choose between Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett and former state judge Penny Brown Reynolds.
All candidates are expected to rely heavily on national GOP resources after the runoffs, as fundraising gaps remain significant compared with the incumbent Senate campaign.
