Mike Collins won Georgia’s Republican Senate runoff on Tuesday, securing the GOP nomination to face Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in November’s general election, while billionaire Rick Jackson claimed the gubernatorial nod by defeating a Trump-backed rival in a striking split decision for the president across the state’s primary runoff election results.
Collins, a U.S. representative, defeated former college football coach Derek Dooley in the Senate race. Trump had issued an 11th-hour endorsement of Collins just days before the runoff, putting him at odds with popular Republican Governor Brian Kemp, who had backed Dooley. Collins will now attempt to unseat Ossoff, an incumbent Democrat, in one of 2026’s most closely watched Senate contests.
In the governor’s race, Jackson, a billionaire healthcare executive, prevailed over Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones despite both Trump and Kemp endorsing Jones. Jackson entered the race in February with $50 million of his own money committed to the campaign and ultimately spent more than $100 million through the runoff, according to reporting on his spending blitz. His victory marked what observers described as one of the biggest upsets in Georgia political history. Jackson will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the November general election.
The mixed results reflected what AP News characterized as a “split decision for Donald Trump in Tuesday runoffs.” Georgia Republicans opted for Trump’s preferred Senate candidate while rejecting his choice in the governor’s race, illustrating internal divisions within the state’s GOP as it prepares for high-stakes fall contests.
Sources
- AP News — confirmed Collins and Jackson wins, Trump split decision
- ABC News — Trump’s 11th-hour endorsement of Collins, Kemp endorsement of Dooley
- The Washington Post — Jackson’s $50 million self-funded campaign launch and overall spending
- NBC News — Jackson described as billionaire healthcare executive who defeated Trump-backed Jones
- NPR — Collins will face Ossoff, Jackson will face Bottoms in November
