Trump Endorses Mike Collins in Georgia Runoff as GOP Fears 3rd Straight Senate Loss
Updated
Updated · ms.now · Jun 16
Trump Endorses Mike Collins in Georgia Runoff as GOP Fears 3rd Straight Senate Loss
3 articles · Updated · ms.now · Jun 16
Summary
Days before Tuesday’s runoff, Trump elevated Rep. Mike Collins as the GOP favorite to face Sen. Jon Ossoff, even as Georgia Republicans privately warned he could be a weak statewide nominee.
Collins led Derek Dooley by 10 points in the May 19 primary and now has Trump’s backing, but critics inside the party cite his hardline abortion record, personal baggage and combative style as liabilities with metro Atlanta and female voters.
Ossoff already holds a cash-on-hand edge of more than $30 million over either Republican, leaving the eventual nominee to rebuild GOP unity before trying to compete for swing voters.
The anxiety reflects Georgia’s shift into battleground territory: Republicans have lost 3 straight Senate races there, including Herschel Walker’s 2022 defeat after Trump-backed campaigns helped sink the party in earlier contests.