Trump Backs Mike Collins in Pivotal Georgia Senate Runoff

WHO:

CNN - President Donald Trump endorsed Rep. Mike Collins.

CNN - Collins is running against Derek Dooley in the Georgia Senate runoff election.

CNN - Dooley is a former football coach at the University of Tennessee.

CNN - Georgia Governor Brian Kemp supports Derek Dooley.

CNN - Vice President JD Vance appeared alongside Collins at campaign events.

WHAT:

[11:37 AM EDT] - CBS News - Collins finished first in the runoff with almost 41% of the vote, while Dooley secured around 30% of the vote in the previous primary election.

[11:37 AM EDT] - CBS News - Trump stated, "I don’t know Derek Dooley, and neither does anyone else, but he seems like a nice person," while criticizing Dooley for not voting in 2016 or 2020.

[11:37 AM EDT] - CBS News - Collins has sponsored the Laken Riley Act, a 2025 law that requires immigrants to be detained when charged with certain crimes.

CNN - Trump endorsed Mike Collins for the U.S. Senate, stating he has his "Complete and Total Endorsement."

CNN - Collins led Dooley by more than 10 points in the previous primary election.

CNN - Trump criticized Dooley for not voting in the 2020 or 2016 elections.

CNN - Collins thanked Trump for the endorsement and stated he aims to "fire Jon Ossoff in November."

ABC News US - Trump’s endorsement is part of his support for "MAGA" candidates in Republican primaries.

WHERE:

CNN - The Senate runoff election is taking place in Georgia.

WHEN:

CNN - The runoff election is scheduled for Tuesday.

WHY:

[11:37 AM EDT] - CBS News - Dooley maintains that Georgia voters want "a political outsider" rather than "typical D.C. politicians like Mike Collins."

CNN - Trump endorsed Collins as he is viewed as a "true Friend, Fighter, and WARRIOR" who has been supportive of Trump from the beginning.

CNN - Dooley's lack of support for Trump in the past and his history of not voting were cited as reasons for Trump's lack of endorsement.

HOW:

[11:37 AM EDT] - CBS News - Kemp and Dooley are scheduled to campaign together again.

CNN - Collins has embraced Trump's inner circle and campaigned alongside administration officials.

(UPDATED June 14, 2026 17:19 UTC)

In a recent runoff, Mike Collins finished first with nearly 41% of the vote, while Derek Dooley secured about 30%. Trump commented on Dooley, saying, "I don’t know Derek Dooley, and neither does anyone else, but he seems like a nice person," while also criticizing him for not voting in the last two presidential elections. Looking ahead, Kemp and Dooley are set to campaign together again on June 24, 2026.

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(UPDATED June 14, 2026 15:32 UTC)

President Trump has officially endorsed Rep. Mike Collins for the U.S. Senate, declaring he has his "Complete and Total Endorsement" as Collins prepares to face off against Derek Dooley in the Georgia Senate runoff election scheduled for Tuesday. Collins, who previously led Dooley by more than 10 points in the primary, expressed gratitude for Trump's support and emphasized his goal to "fire Jon Ossoff in November." Meanwhile, Trump criticized Dooley for his past lack of participation in elections and highlighted Collins as a "true Friend, Fighter, and WARRIOR" who has consistently backed him.