Georgia GOP Faces Turmoil as Trump and Kemp Clash Ahead of Runoffs
WHO:
ABC News - Derek Dooley, a first-time candidate and former football coach, is running against Rep. Mike Collins in the Senate race.
ABC News - Rick Jackson, a billionaire businessman, is a candidate in the gubernatorial race.
Alternet - President Donald Trump endorsed Rep. Mike Collins in the 2026 Georgia Senate primary.
Alternet - Trump backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones over billionaire Rick Jackson in the gubernatorial race.
Alternet - Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, is involved in the political dynamics in Georgia.
Alternet - Debbie Dooley, a former tea party organizer, is backing Jones for governor and Collins in their respective campaigns.
Alternet - Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Attorney General Chris Carr, and Gabriel Sterling lost their primary battles.
WHAT:
Alternet - Trump’s endorsement of Rep. Mike Collins has been described as landing with a clear sense of dread within the Republican Party, according to a prominent Georgia Republican strategist who stated, “If you went to a laboratory and tried to create the worst general election candidate for this state and environment possible, you couldn’t do better than Mike Collins.”
ABC News - Billionaire Rick Jackson, who is running for governor, has spent more than $100 million on his campaign, primarily from his own resources.
ABC News - Collins led by 10 points in the May 19 primary before receiving Trump’s endorsement.
ABC News - Neither GOP hopeful had reached $5 million in fundraising by the end of May, and both had less than $2 million on hand.
ABC News - Jackson has pledged that immigrants in Georgia illegally will be “deported or departed” and promises a slew of tax cuts.
ABC News - Jones proposes eliminating Georgia’s state income tax without detailing how he would make up the revenue.
ABC News - Rick Jackson has spent more than $100 million on his campaign for the gubernatorial nomination.
ABC News - Collins sponsored the 2025 Laken Riley Act, which requires immigrants accused of certain crimes to be held without bond.
ABC News - Ossoff has raised $60.4 million and has $32.5 million on hand as of late April.
MS NOW - Trump endorsed Rep. Mike Collins as the party favorite to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in the fall.
MS NOW - A prominent Georgia Republican strategist stated, “If you went to a laboratory and tried to create the worst general election candidate for this state and environment possible, you couldn’t do better than Mike Collins.”
MS NOW - Jon Ossoff has a cash advantage of roughly $30 million over either of his GOP competitors, according to recent federal campaign finance filings.
MS NOW - Trump referred to Ossoff as “a Radical Left Lunatic, a Dumocrat, and doesn’t represent the values of the Great People of Georgia” in a Truth Social post.
Alternet - Trump’s endorsement of Rep. Mike Collins is against former football coach Derek Dooley in the Senate primary.
Alternet - Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones advanced to the gubernatorial runoff alongside billionaire Rick Jackson.
Alternet - Debbie Dooley stated, “We better get it together after Tuesday,” highlighting the urgency for party unity.
Alternet - Kemp emphasized, “It’s making sure we have the right people at the top of the ticket,” regarding his strategy for the general election.
Alternet - The Georgia elections are exposing deeper rifts within the Republican Party.
Alternet - Trump allies, including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Rep. Mike Collins, advanced to runoffs in their respective races.
Alternet - Trump-backed candidates won their races by wide margins, including House candidates Jim Kingston, Houston Gaines, and Clay Fuller.
Alternet - The results of the elections will test the internal party influence of both Trump and Kemp.
WHERE:
Alternet - The events are taking place in Georgia, a key swing state.
WHEN:
Alternet - The Georgia Senate primary is set for 2026.
Alternet - The gubernatorial runoff is scheduled for a future date after the primary.
WHY:
ABC News - Dooley argues that the Republican Party has not won a Senate race in 10 years and emphasizes the need for a strong candidate to beat Ossoff.
MS NOW - The anxiety within the Republican Party reflects a broader reckoning as Georgia has shifted into battleground territory, with the GOP losing three straight Senate contests influenced by Trump's actions.
Alternet - The internal divisions in the Republican Party are highlighted by Trump's endorsements and the differing strategies of Trump and Kemp.
Alternet - Kemp's strategizing is aimed at maximizing the GOP’s advantage in the upcoming general election.
Alternet - The internal divisions in the MAGA world and the Republican Party are highlighted by Trump's endorsements.
HOW:
ABC News - Collins has been criticized for a House ethics complaint regarding the misuse of taxpayer money.
Alternet - Trump’s endorsements are influencing the outcomes of the Republican primaries in Georgia.
(UPDATED June 16, 2026 21:51 UTC)
Trump's endorsement of Rep. Mike Collins has sparked concern among Republicans, with a Georgia strategist remarking that Collins might be the worst candidate imaginable for the general election in the state. Meanwhile, billionaire Rick Jackson is making waves in the governor's race, having invested over $100 million of his own money into his campaign, while both he and Collins struggled to reach $5 million in fundraising by the end of May. Jackson has made strong promises regarding immigration and tax cuts, while his opponent, Jones, is advocating for the elimination of Georgia's state income tax, although he hasn't clarified how he would compensate for the lost revenue.
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(UPDATED June 16, 2026 16:25 UTC)
Derek Dooley, a first-time candidate and former football coach, is challenging Rep. Mike Collins in the Senate race, while billionaire businessman Rick Jackson is making waves in the gubernatorial race after spending over $100 million on his campaign. Collins, who sponsored the controversial 2025 Laken Riley Act, has faced criticism for a House ethics complaint related to the misuse of taxpayer money, and Dooley argues that the Republican Party hasn't won a Senate race in a decade, highlighting the need for a strong candidate to take on Jon Ossoff, who has raised $60.4 million and has $32.5 million on hand as of late April. As the political landscape heats up, these candidates are positioning themselves for what promises to be a competitive election season.
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(UPDATED June 16, 2026 12:37 UTC)
Trump has officially endorsed Rep. Mike Collins as the Republican candidate to take on Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in the upcoming election. A notable Georgia Republican strategist criticized Collins, claiming that if one were to design the worst general election candidate for the state, it would be him. Meanwhile, Ossoff holds a significant financial advantage, boasting about $30 million more in campaign funds than his GOP rivals, as Trump continues to label him as “a Radical Left Lunatic” who does not represent the values of Georgia.
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(UPDATED June 16, 2026 01:50 UTC)
Trump has endorsed Rep. Mike Collins in the Senate primary against former football coach Derek Dooley, while his backed candidate, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, has advanced to the gubernatorial runoff alongside billionaire Rick Jackson. Debbie Dooley has expressed urgency for party unity, stating, “We better get it together after Tuesday,” as tensions within the Republican Party continue to rise. Meanwhile, Governor Kemp has emphasized the importance of having the right people at the top of the ticket as part of his strategy for the general election.
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(UPDATED June 15, 2026 23:38 UTC)
President Trump has endorsed Rep. Mike Collins in the upcoming Georgia Senate primary and backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones over billionaire Rick Jackson in the gubernatorial race. The elections are revealing significant divisions within the Republican Party, as Trump allies like Collins and Jones advance to runoffs, while other prominent figures, including Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Attorney General Chris Carr, faced defeats in their primaries. With the gubernatorial runoff scheduled for a future date after the primary, the results will test the influence of both Trump and Governor Brian Kemp within the party.