Mike Collins and Derek Dooley Advance to Georgia GOP Senate Primary Runoff

May 20, 2026

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and former coach Derek Dooley advance to a June 16 runoff in Georgia's GOP Senate primary. The winner will challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in a key November race that could decide Senate control. Collins, a Trump-aligned hard-liner, faces Dooley, a political newcomer backed by Gov. Brian Kemp, in a race that has some Republicans concerned about their general election chances.

Georgia GOP Senate primary runoff

▪The runoff, scheduled for June 16, was required because no candidate captured a majority of the votes.
▪A third leading candidate, Representative Buddy Carter, was eliminated from the race.
▪With 80% of the vote counted, Mike Collins led Derek Dooley 40.5% to 30%.
▪U.S. Representative Mike Collins and former coach Derek Dooley advanced to a runoff in Georgia's Republican U.S. Senate primary on May 19, 2026.

Mike Collins immigration hard-liner

▪Described as an immigration hard-liner, Mike Collins has adopted a brash persona similar to Donald Trump.
▪Mike Collins sponsored the Laken Riley Act, named for a student killed by a man charged with being in the U.S. illegally.
▪Mike Collins is a 58-year-old, two-term Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Derek Dooley political newcomer

▪Derek Dooley has run as an alternative to politics in Washington.
▪Derek Dooley is a 57-year-old former University of Tennessee football coach and a lawyer who has never held elective office.

Brian Kemp campaign support

▪Governor Brian Kemp's political organization directed millions of dollars to support Derek Dooley's candidacy.
▪Derek Dooley is endorsed by two-term Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who is a lifelong friend.

Jon Ossoff general election challenge

▪The runoff winner will face incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, a 39-year-old former media executive, in the November general election.
▪Jon Ossoff did not face a challenger in the Democratic primary.
▪Jon Ossoff won his Senate seat in a 2021 runoff election against Trump-aligned Republican incumbent David Perdue.

Republican competitiveness concerns

▪The outcome of the Georgia Senate race could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate, where Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority.
▪Incumbent Senator Jon Ossoff has been polling ahead of both Republican candidates, Mike Collins and Derek Dooley.
▪Despite Donald Trump winning Georgia in 2024, independent political analysts rate the state as leaning Democratic.
▪Some Republicans have grown anxious that the party is poorly positioned for the competitive November general election.