U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, a staunchly pro-Trump candidate for U.S. Senate in Georgia, has advanced to a runoff after a sizable primary election showing on Tuesday night.
The Republican primary drew a crowded field, though three candidates were widely seen as the top contenders heading into Election Day. This included U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, Rep. Collins, as well as former college football coach Derek Dooley.
Collins, who built a successful trucking company prior to entering politics, positioned himself as the most “America First” candidate in the race who could best execute President Trump’s agenda in the Senate. He entered the race emphasizing border security, economic issues, and opposition to incumbent Senator Jon Ossoff.
Also a businessman, Carter operated a successful pharmacy business prior to entering politics. Prior to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, he served as Mayor of Pooler and in the Georgia General Assembly. A University of Georgia pharmacy graduate, he highlighted his health care and business experience and constituent services as key focal points of his campaign.
As for Dooley, the former coach entered the race as a political outsider, though he did secure a crucial endorsement from term-limited Republican Governor Brian Kemp. The son of legendary University of Georgia coach Vince Dooley, he emphasized a “Georgia First” approach while drawing on his coaching background for themes of teamwork, resilience, and representing everyday Georgians over Washington interests.
Spending in the primary has been robust but uneven. Ossoff holds a commanding financial edge overall, with more than $77 million raised and roughly $31–32 million cash on hand as of late April. Among Republicans, Carter has led in fundraising and self-funding, having raised around $6.7–6.8 million down the stretch of the primary race.
GA R Senate update – Collins far ahead but will not make the 50% needed to avoid a runoff. Dooley and Carter remain neck and neck. As anticipated, Dooley is winning the metro ATL region but not by large margins, while Carter is winning his CD big. Still too close to call for 2d.
— Henry Olsen (@henryolsenEPPC) May 19, 2026
Collins raised about $4.3 million, while Dooley trailed not far behind with $3.7 million. The GOP contenders have burned through millions just to win the nomination, leaving the eventual nominee at a significant cash disadvantage heading into November. This will likely change given the sizable GOP war chest on a national scale, however.
Under Georgia election rules, a candidate must secure a majority (more than 50 percent) of the vote to claim the nomination outright. With a crowded field and significant undecided voters heading into Election Day, no one cleared that threshold.
As of the latest reports with roughly 20-25 percent of votes counted, Collins held a commanding lead in the mid-40 percent range, well ahead of the rest of the field. This strong performance positions him as the clear favorite to secure the nomination in the runoff, where he would consolidate support from eliminated candidates and undecided voters in a more consolidated conservative electorate.
The contest determines who will challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November in one of the country’s premier battleground races. Georgia voted for Donald Trump in 2024, yet Ossoff — who was first elected in the dramatic 2020-21 election cycle — remains a formidable incumbent with high name recognition and a substantial financial edge.
Republicans see the seat as a prime pickup opportunity to bolster their Senate majority, though the race is projected to be razor close.
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