Republican Rep. Mike Collins won Georgia’s GOP Senate runoff Tuesday, defeating former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley and securing the party’s nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.
The Associated Press called the race for Collins at 8:37 p.m., delivering a significant victory for Donald Trump, who endorsed the congressman just days before the election. The outcome also represents a setback for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who had strongly supported Dooley and argued the political newcomer would be better positioned to defeat Ossoff in November.
Collins will now face Ossoff in a contest expected to be among the most expensive and competitive races of the 2026 midterm cycle, with control of the Senate potentially hanging in the balance.
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Trump Scores Key Primary Victory
Collins received a late boost from Trump, who endorsed him after early voting had already concluded. Trump’s backing reinforced Collins’ standing among Republican voters and helped solidify his position in the runoff.
The congressman campaigned as a loyal supporter of Trump’s agenda, frequently describing himself as a “conservative workhorse” capable of advancing Republican priorities in Washington while maintaining conservative principles.
His victory underscores Trump’s continued influence within the Republican Party, particularly in high-profile primary contests.
From Trucking Executive to Senate Nominee
Before his election to Congress in 2022, Collins served as founder and chief executive officer of a trucking company. He currently represents Georgia’s conservative 10th Congressional District, which stretches east from metro Atlanta to the South Carolina border and includes Athens.
Politics also runs in the family. His father, former Rep. Mac Collins, represented Georgia in Congress from 1993 to 2005.
During his time in the House, Collins gained national attention as the primary author of the Laken Riley Act, legislation named after a Georgia nursing student who was killed by a man who entered the country illegally.
The law expanded detention requirements for immigrants charged with certain crimes and became the first bill signed into law by Trump during his second term.
Challenges Ahead in General Election
While Collins easily consolidated Republican support, Democrats are expected to highlight issues they believe could make him vulnerable in a statewide election.
Critics have pointed to a history of controversial social media posts and an ongoing ethics investigation involving Collins and former chief of staff Brandon Phillips.
The House Ethics Committee is examining allegations that government funds were improperly used to pay a woman who was dating Phillips for work investigators allege she did not perform.
Collins has repeatedly dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and described the investigation as partisan theater.
Ossoff Enters Race With Major Financial Advantage
The November contest is expected to draw national attention because Ossoff is the only Democratic senator seeking reelection in a state won by Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Republicans view Georgia as one of their best opportunities to expand their Senate majority, while Democrats consider Ossoff a critical part of their efforts to remain competitive in the South.
Ossoff enters the general election with a substantial fundraising advantage. Federal Election Commission filings show he raised approximately $14 million during the first quarter of 2026 and reported more than $31 million cash on hand in his most recent filing.
Those figures rank among the strongest fundraising totals of any Senate candidate in the country.
Battle for Senate Control
The Georgia race is expected to become a centerpiece of the national fight for Senate control, drawing millions of dollars in outside spending and intense attention from both parties.
Republicans will seek to tie Ossoff to national Democratic policies and portray him as out of step with Georgia voters, while Democrats are likely to focus on Collins’ ties to Trump, the ethics investigation and his record in Congress.
With both parties viewing Georgia as a must-win battleground, the contest is poised to become one of the defining races of the 2026 election cycle.
