ATLANTA (AP) 鈥� Days before the , President Donald Trump has endorsed U.S. Rep. Mike Collins over former football coach , putting his stamp of approval on another loyalist who some conservatives believe could be a risky bet in November.
The Republican candidates are competing Tuesday for the chance to take on in one of the most closely watched campaigns in the November midterm elections. Collins has positioned himself as a stalwart ally of Trump and his 鈥淢ake America Great Again鈥� movement, and the president said in his announcement early Sunday on social media that the trucking company owner and second-term congressman 鈥渉as been with me from the very beginning鈥� and is a 鈥漷rue friend, fighter, and WARRIOR.”
Dooley, a political newcomer, is , who has clashed with Trump in the past.
Collins led Dooley in the May 19 primary but neither surpassed 40%, leaving many Republican votes up for grabs. Trump鈥檚 endorsement has proved powerful as he shapes a party identity that is increasingly indistinguishable from his own.
鈥淓verybody knows that I do best with the MAGA base,鈥� Collins said on primary night. 鈥淚t鈥檚 because they know I鈥檝e always been with President Trump.鈥�
Still, the president鈥檚 choice puts him at odds with more traditional Republicans, including Kemp. The endorsement is reminiscent of Trump鈥檚 decision to back Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton before his victory over U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the state鈥檚 recent primary runoff.
Collins has embraced Trump since his first campaign for Congress in 2022, and he has echoed the president鈥檚 false claims that his 2020 defeat to Democrat Joe Biden was fraudulent. Collins sponsored the Laken Riley Act, that requires immigrants be detained when charged with certain crimes. Republicans believe the issue damages Ossoff because he initially voted against the measure before supporting it after Trump returned to the White House.
Dooley 鈥� and Kemp as his top surrogate 鈥� argue that a first-time candidate has a better shot to defeat Ossoff, the only Democratic senator facing voters in a state Trump carried in 2024.
Kemp, who once drew Trump鈥檚 ire for refusing to help overturn Biden鈥檚 victory, was the top choice of Senate Republican leaders looking for an Ossoff challenger. Kemp recruited Dooley, a childhood friend, to run instead.
The governor points to a trio of first-term Republican senators 鈥� Montana鈥檚 Tim Sheehy, Pennsylvania鈥檚 Dave McCormick and Ohio鈥檚 Bernie Moreno 鈥� who defeated Democratic incumbents in 2024 running as outsiders who still aligned with the president.
Dooley鈥檚 argument is matched against Trump鈥檚 winning streak inside the party. In a matter of weeks, Trump has celebrated victories over Republicans who did not pass his test of loyalty.
Cornyn lost to Paxton, U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky lost to Ed Gallrein, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana failed to make a runoff and several Indiana state senators were defeated by challengers.
Dooley has told voters he will 鈥渨ork with President Trump but fight for you.鈥� He also emphasizes that Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race in Georgia since 2016.
Collins walks no such tightrope, and he still insists that he can have wider appeal in the fall.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 beat Jon Ossoff by having no record,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou win by having a record of results.鈥�
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