Georgia held primary runoff elections on June 16, 2026, for governor and U.S. Senate races after no candidate reached the 50% vote threshold required under state law in the May 19 primary.
In the competitive Senate race, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins faced former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley. Collins, who received about 41% of the primary vote, advanced as the top vote-getter, while Dooley secured the second spot with about 30%.
The winner of the Senate runoff will challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in November’s general election. Republicans hold a 53-45 Senate majority and can afford to lose up to three seats while maintaining control with Vice President JD Vance’s tiebreaking vote.
In the gubernatorial race, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson advanced to the runoff. Jones led the primary with approximately 38% of the vote, while Jackson secured about 33%. The winner will face Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms in the general election.
Georgia requires a majority vote to win—meaning candidates must receive more than 50% of votes cast. When no candidate reaches that threshold in a crowded primary field, the top two vote-getters compete in a runoff election. This rule ensures that a party’s nominee has broad support within the party, not just a plurality in a divided race.
Former President Donald Trump endorsed Collins in the Senate runoff, while outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp backed both Dooley and Jones on Sunday before the election. The endorsements highlighted competing visions within Georgia’s Republican Party as the state prepares for what is expected to be one of the nation’s most competitive midterm battlegrounds.
The runoff races drew significant attention due to Georgia’s status as a swing state. Mike Collins seeks Georgia Senate runoff win with Trump’s backing, according to reporting from the campaign trail.
Sources
- AP News — Decision notes on Georgia’s primary runoff; details on candidate vote totals, endorsements, and the 50% vote threshold requirement
- The Washington Post — Live runoff results and Senate race dynamics between Collins and Dooley
- NBC News — Governor and Senate runoff results and candidate performance
- Ballotpedia — Candidate profiles and runoff election mechanics
- Fox 5 Atlanta — Georgia law requiring 50% plus one vote to avoid runoff
