Georgia Republicans Choose Collins For Senate

June 17, 2026 5:08 am

JACKSON, Ga. (AP) — Georgia Republicans delivered a split decision for Donald Trump in Tuesday runoffs. Voters opted for the president’s preferred U.S. Senate candidate but rejected his choice for governor in favor of a billionaire first-time candidate who spent freely from his personal fortune to win the nomination. In the Senate race, 58-year-old Congressman Mike Collins topped former football coach Derek Dooley. He will face Sen. Jon Ossoff, the only Senate Democrat running for reelection in a state Trump won in 2024. For governor, 71-year-old healthcare tycoon Rick Jackson defeated Burt Jones, who is the current lieutenant governor. Jones had support from the president. Jackson will face Democratic nominee and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.