Georgia's Republican Senate primary heads to a runoff

Thomas Wheatley

Two men at public events who are in a race for the U.S. Senate — Derek Dooley and Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.), the Republican candidates for a Georgia U.S. Senate runoff. Photos: Alyssa Pointer/AP & Mike Stewart/AP

Republicans Rep. Mike Collins and Derek Dooley will compete in a June 16 runoff to decide who will face Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) this November.

Why it matters: The race was one of the rare major GOP contests without a Trump endorsement, and Republicans see Ossoff's seat as one of their best pickup opportunities to maintain their majority.

Catch up quick: Reps. Collins and Buddy Carter, who represent districts east of Atlanta and the Georgia coast, respectively, openly competed for the MAGA vote in ads and appearances.

Meanwhile, Dooley, a former college football coach — and an "outsider" backed by the outgoing and well-liked Gov. Brian Kemp (R) — promised to "work with President Trump, but for you."

Zoom out: Georgia Democrats' recent statewide wins have buoyed hopes of a blue wave, even at the Republican-controlled state Capitol.

Ossoff is the only Senate Democrat running for reelection in a state that Trump won in 2024, AP notes.

Editor's note: This story is breaking and will be updated.

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Georgia's Republican Senate primary heads to a runoff

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