[BREAKING] Mike Collins wins GOP nod for Georgia Senate, teeing up battle with Sen. Jon Ossoff

WASHINGTON – Rep.

Mike Collins (R-Ga.) cruised to victory in the Georgia GOP Senate runoff elections Tuesday night.

Collins had won about 55% of the electorate, while Dooley had about 45% when the Associated Press called the race at 8:37 p.m.

Eastern time.

The winner will face Sen.

Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), who is running for a second term, in the Nov.

3 general election, one of several races widely seen as a chance for Republicans to increase their 53-47 majority in the Senate.

That will be a challenge given the political hurdles the Republican Party faces on economic issues, as well as Ossoff's sizable $32 million campaign war chest.

Although Dooley had earned the endorsement of popular Peach State Governor Brian Kemp, President Trump opted for "'MAGA' Mike Collins" in the final days of the race.

"Mike has the strong support of the most respected MAGA patriots in Georgia and beyond, and many Republicans in the United States House and Senate.

He is a WARRIOR and a WINNER!" the president published on his Social Truth Sunday.

“I don't know Derek Dooley, or anyone else, but he seems like a good person,” Trump also said.

“Unfortunately, he has lived outside of Georgia for most of his life, did not vote in 2020 or 2016, and said I lost Georgia in 2020 when, in fact, the facts have now shown that I won by a landslide.” In the state governor's race, Lt.

Gov.

Burt Jones earned endorsements from both Trump and Kemp, with the latter providing a last-minute endorsement over the weekend.

Collins, a co-author of the first law Trump signed after returning to the White House, came first in the May 19 primary against Dooley and fellow Rep.

Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), with 40%, 30% and 25% of the vote each won, respectively.

The Laken Riley Act forced illegal immigrants to be charged with assault, robbery, robbery, or violent crimes resulting in death or serious injury.

It is named after the University of Georgia nursing student who was killed by a Venezuelan migrant in February 2024.

Collins' office has recently faced an ongoing investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations that his chief of staff funneled taxpayer funds to a friend, although representatives have denied the allegations.

The Georgia representative founded a successful trucking company before running for Congress in 2022 after incumbent Rep.

Jody Hice (R-Ga.) decided not to run in the 10th District.

Dooley is the son of legendary University of Georgia coach Vince Dooley and became the head coach of the University of Tennessee in 2010.

Although he failed to have a winning season in three years, Derek Dooley returned to coaching as a senior offensive analyst for the University of Alabama under Nick Saban.

"The basis of football is the American spirit.

You work hard, you play by the rules, you keep fighting when adversity hits you; you have a good chance of achieving your dreams," he had said when launching his campaign last August.

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