Key Primaries Highlight GOP Divisions and Unlikely Alliances

WHO:

CNN - The GOP Senate primary runoff in Georgia features Rep. Mike Collins and former football coach Derek Dooley.

AP News - Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson are competing for the Republican nomination for governor in Georgia.

CNN - Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson are competing for the Republican nomination for governor in Georgia, with Trump and Kemp both endorsing Jones.

AP News - Texas Senator Ted Cruz endorsed Rick Jackson for governor, putting him at odds with Trump and Kemp.

Talking Points Memo - Rep. Mike Collins is a candidate in the Georgia Senate runoff.

CNN - Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson are competing for the Republican nomination for governor in Georgia, with Trump and Kemp both endorsing Jones.

AP News - Texas Senator Ted Cruz endorsed Rick Jackson for governor, putting him at odds with Trump and Kemp.

CNN - President Donald Trump endorsed Rep. Mike Collins in the Georgia GOP Senate primary runoff.

CNN - Georgia Governor Brian Kemp endorsed former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley in the same Senate primary.

AP News - Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson are competing for the Republican nomination for governor in Georgia.

AP News - Texas Senator Ted Cruz endorsed Rick Jackson for governor.

Talking Points Memo - Rep. Mike Collins is a candidate in the Georgia Senate runoff.

WHAT:

CNN - In the Georgia GOP Senate primary runoff, Rep. Mike Collins is seen as the frontrunner after winning more than 40% of the vote in the May 19 primary, while Derek Dooley received 30%.

AP News - The Republican primary runoff in Alabama features Rep. Barry Moore and former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson, with Moore earning a plurality of the votes in the May 19 primary, receiving 39% support to Hudson’s 26%.

CNN - In the Georgia GOP Senate primary runoff, Rep. Mike Collins received over 40% of the vote in the May 19 primary, while Derek Dooley received 30%.

AP News - Collins is seen as the frontrunner in the Senate race, while Jackson trailed Jones by about six percentage points in the primary.

CNN - The winner of the Georgia governor's race will face Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.

CNN - In the Georgia GOP Senate primary runoff, Rep. Mike Collins received over 40% of the vote in the May 19 primary, while Derek Dooley received 30%.

AP News - Collins is seen as the frontrunner in the Senate race, while Jackson trailed Jones by about six percentage points in the primary.

CNN - Georgia voters are participating in key Republican primary runoffs, including a Senate race against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and a governor's race.

CNN - Collins received over 40% of the vote in the May 19 primary, while Dooley received 30%.

AP News - The Senate primary features a split between Trump-aligned Collins and Kemp-backed Dooley.

AP News - The Republican primary runoff in Alabama features Rep. Barry Moore and former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson.

CNN - The winner of the Georgia governor's race will face Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.

Talking Points Memo - Collins is described as a controversial figure with a history of inflammatory statements and actions.

WHERE:

CNN - The primaries are taking place in Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Washington, DC.

AP News - The Senate primary is specifically in Georgia, where voters are deciding between Collins and Dooley.

CNN - The next mayor of Washington, DC will be chosen in a ranked-choice primary.

WHEN:

CNN - The next mayor of Washington, DC will be elected in a primary on a future date.

CNN - The Senate primary runoff in Georgia is scheduled for a future date.

CNN - The special election in California to fill former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s term is also set for a future date.

CNN - The next mayor of Washington, DC will be elected in a primary on a future date.

CNN - The Senate primary runoff in Georgia is scheduled for a future date.

CNN - The next mayor of Washington, DC will be elected in a primary on a future date.

CNN - The special election in California to fill former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s term is also set for a future date.

WHY:

AP News - The internal divisions within the Republican Party are being tested as candidates seek to consolidate support ahead of the general election.

AP News - Kemp argues that an outsider like Dooley is necessary to defeat Ossoff in November.

HOW:

CNN - Trump endorsed Collins via a social media post, emphasizing his support from "the most Highly Respected MAGA Patriots in Georgia and beyond."

AP News - Kemp campaigned for both Jones and Dooley at separate events in metro Atlanta.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 14:40 UTC)

In a significant GOP Senate primary runoff in Georgia, Rep. Mike Collins is emerging as the frontrunner after securing over 40% of the vote in the May 19 primary, while former football coach Derek Dooley garnered 30%. Meanwhile, in Alabama, Rep. Barry Moore is competing against former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson, with Moore receiving 39% of the votes in the same primary, compared to Hudson's 26%. Trump has endorsed Collins, highlighting his backing from "the most Highly Respected MAGA Patriots in Georgia and beyond," as the Republican Party navigates internal divisions ahead of the general election.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 12:36 UTC)

In Georgia, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson are vying for the Republican nomination for governor, with Trump and Governor Kemp backing Jones, while Texas Senator Ted Cruz has thrown his support behind Jackson, creating a divide within the party. Meanwhile, in the Senate race, Rep. Mike Collins is emerging as the frontrunner after securing over 40% of the vote in the recent primary, while Jackson trails Jones by about six percentage points. The stakes are high, as the winner of the governor's race will face Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in November, and the Senate primary runoff is set for a future date.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 10:35 UTC)

In a significant development in Georgia's political landscape, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is vying for the Republican nomination for governor with support from Trump and Kemp, while businessman Rick Jackson has received an endorsement from Texas Senator Ted Cruz, putting him at odds with the two. In the Georgia GOP Senate primary runoff, Rep. Mike Collins emerged as the frontrunner, securing over 40% of the vote in the May 19 primary, while Derek Dooley trailed with 30%, and Jackson is currently about six percentage points behind Jones. The primaries are unfolding in several states, including Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Washington, DC, as the Republican Party navigates internal divisions and candidates work to consolidate support ahead of the general election.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 08:53 UTC)

President Trump has endorsed Rep. Mike Collins in the Georgia GOP Senate primary runoff, while Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is backing former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley in the same race. Voters in Georgia are participating in crucial Republican primary runoffs, including a Senate contest against Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, with Collins having secured over 40% of the vote in the May primary compared to Dooley's 30%. The Senate primary runoff in Georgia is set to take place on a future date, and the winner will face Ossoff in November, highlighting the internal divisions within the Republican Party as candidates strive to consolidate support ahead of the general election.