Georgia Republicans are racing to settle on a Senate nominee before Tuesday's primary, with three candidates competing for the chance to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November's general election. The field includes Rep. Mike Collins, Rep. Buddy Carter and former college football coach Derek Dooley—a contest complicated by President Donald Trump's decision not to endorse any of them ahead of the vote.
Trump has withheld his endorsement, raising the likelihood of a June 16 runoff that would consume more time and resources before Republicans can focus on defeating Ossoff, who is seeking reelection in a state the president carried two years ago. If Ossoff loses, Democrats have almost no path to winning Senate majority—he's the only senator from his party running for reelection in a state Trump won.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican officials say Ossoff remains beatable despite his previous victories. They note that Trump carried Georgia in two of his three presidential campaigns and that Republicans control the state legislature, suggesting structural advantages that could translate to a Senate win.
Outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp recruited Dooley—describing him as a political outsider who can break through partisan gridlock—and rebuffed Senate Republican leaders' encouragement to challenge Ossoff himself. "We need a political outsider to do that," Kemp said Friday at a campaign event for Dooley, citing successful Senate races in other states where Trump-aligned outsiders defeated Democratic incumbents.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive groups and Democratic strategists say they see opportunity in the Republican primary's uncertainty. They point to Ossoff's track record of winning three consecutive Senate races in Georgia over the past six years, each time defeating Republicans who embraced Trump's election denial following his 2020 loss in the state.
Ossoff has run as a bipartisan dealmaker, including work on legislation with Republican colleagues. His campaign is expected to frame any Republican nominee as too extreme for Georgia voters based on their voting records and public statements during the primary.
What the Numbers Show
The candidates' fundraising reveals stark differences heading into the primary's final stretch: Ossoff raised more than $57 million through April 29 and had $31 million in cash on hand. Collins brought in $3 million from contributors plus $650,000 of his own money. Carter has pulled back advertising in recent weeks, suggesting insufficient financial support for a competitive bid.
In Georgia's three most recent Senate contests—two won by Ossoff and one by Sen. Raphael Warnock—Democratic candidates collectively defeated Republicans who pledged fealty to Trump. The candidates are competing across the state's diverse electorate, with Collins representing a district east of Atlanta in the state's population center, Carter from Savannah-based territory, and Dooley running as an outsider unburdened by prior voting records.
The Bottom Line
The outcome of Tuesday's primary will shape Republicans' strategy for flipping a seat that could determine control of the Senate. Without Trump's endorsement, any nominee faces a compressed timeline to unify the party before the general election against Ossoff's well-funded campaign. Watch for whether the June 16 runoff becomes necessary and how quickly Republicans coalesce around their nominee if no candidate wins outright Tuesday.