Trump Overcomes Longtime Rival in Georgia Endorsement, Setting Stage for Key Senate Race
Trump beats a longtime adversary – In a pivotal moment for the Republican Party, President Donald Trump secured a victory over Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in the GOP primary for Senate, but the broader electorate showed its preference for a different outcome. The race saw Rep. Mike Collins, backed by Trump, emerge triumphant against Derek Dooley, Kemp’s selected candidate. This result positions Collins as a strong contender in what is anticipated to be one of the most closely contested Senate races of the midterms. Should Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff retain his seat, the contest could serve as a critical indicator of momentum for his potential 2028 presidential bid, fueled by his growing national visibility.
Uneven Outcomes for Trump’s Picks
While Trump’s endorsement proved decisive in Georgia, his choices faced mixed fortunes across other states. In Alabama, Trump-backed Rep. Barry Moore succeeded in winning the GOP Senate runoff, but in Oklahoma, his gubernatorial candidate, Mike Mazzei, finished in second place, capturing only a quarter of the vote. Meanwhile, Georgia GOP voters rejected the state’s current governor and Trump’s shared pick in a separate race, opting for self-funded businessman Rick Jackson over lieutenant governor Jones.
“That’s not exactly the right thing to say, and it’s certainly not what we all stand for with Make America Great Again,”
— Trump remarked during a telephone rally for Collins, criticizing Dooley for admitting that Trump lost Georgia in 2020. Kemp had previously recruited Dooley, a moderate former football coach, to challenge his own re-election bid four years ago. This time, Trump intervened late in the race, endorsing Collins—a staunch conservative aligned with the “Make America Great Again” movement—to counter Kemp’s influence.
Ossoff’s Position and Future Prospects
Senator Jon Ossoff, the first millennial elected to the U.S. Senate, now faces a formidable challenge in November. With over $32 million in campaign funds, he holds a significant financial advantage over Collins, who relies on Republican donations to close the gap. Despite this, Ossoff’s advisers acknowledge that the focus must remain on the 2026 elections. A loss in November would diminish his prospects for the 2028 presidential race, a goal Republicans are keenly aware of.
Democrats have also expressed optimism about Ossoff’s potential as a 2028 candidate, though Republicans initially hoped Kemp would lead the charge against him. Kemp, the only Democratic senator running for re-election in a state Trump won in 2024, is considered a key asset in this effort. However, his selections in both the Senate and gubernatorial races fell short, leaving his role in the 2028 race uncertain.
After Tuesday’s results, Ossoff swiftly launched a campaign against Collins, labeling him as “a notorious bigot, antisemite and extremist.” Collins, meanwhile, reiterated his commitment to defeating Ossoff, stating, “Y’all know what the mission is. It’s to put a Republican in that seat and get rid of that Jon Ossoff in November. Return this seat to the people of Georgia.” The race now hinges on whether Collins can translate his primary success into a November victory, with the outcome potentially reshaping the political landscape for years to come.
