Mike Collins and Derek Dooley Advance to Georgia GOP Senate Runoff

Rep. Mike Collins and former football coach Derek Dooley will face off in a June 16 runoff for the Republican Senate nomination in Georgia, NBC News and CBS News project. The runoff follows Tuesday’s primary where no candidate secured a majority, with Collins leading at roughly 40% and Dooley at 30%. GOP Rep. Buddy Carter, who finished third with about 25%, was eliminated.

The winner will challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in the November general election. Ossoff, who has served since 2021 and was unopposed in the Democratic primary, has amassed over $32 million in campaign funds as he prepares for a competitive race in a state President Donald Trump won in 2024.

Collins, a trucking company owner and first-term congressman, has emphasized his MAGA credentials and grassroots support throughout the primary. His campaign highlighted Trump’s praise and his role in authoring the Laken Riley Act, the first bill signed into law during Trump’s second term, which addressed immigrant detention. Collins describes himself as a “true conservative” who can pass bipartisan legislation without compromising conservative values. However, he faces a House Ethics Committee investigation over allegations of misusing congressional funds, which he denies.

Dooley, a former University of Tennessee football coach and son of legendary University of Georgia coach Vince Dooley, positioned himself as a political outsider. Endorsed early by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who has campaigned alongside him, Dooley advocates for reforms such as congressional term limits and banning stock trading by members of Congress. He has faced criticism for not voting in the 2016 or 2020 presidential elections, attributing it to his coaching career. While Dooley met with Trump and seeks his endorsement, he has been less aligned with Trump on the 2020 election, stopping short of calling it stolen and privately acknowledging Trump lost, according to leaked audio.

The primary highlighted divisions within the GOP. Collins is an election denier who publicly supported the FBI raid on Fulton County’s election office, while Dooley has taken a more measured stance on election integrity issues. Despite their efforts, Trump has not endorsed any candidate in the runoff.

Republicans view Georgia as a key pickup opportunity in 2026, especially after Trump’s 2024 victory there, but the prolonged primary battle has diverted resources and attention. Some Republicans, like former Cobb County GOP chairman Jason Shepherd, acknowledge the difficulty of unseating Ossoff, citing the incumbent’s strong constituent services and the challenges of a midterm election with a Republican president.

Democrats have also invested heavily, with the Senate Majority PAC announcing a $20 million ad buy in Georgia, while the Senate Leadership Fund, a GOP super PAC, has committed $44 million overall. Georgia has been a battleground state, with narrow margins in recent elections and Democrats winning two Senate runoffs in 2021 and 2022.

The June runoff will determine which Republican faces Ossoff in a race that could influence control of the U.S. Senate.