NBC News projects that Mike Collins will win the Republican Senate primary runoff in Georgia, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown against Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff this November. Collins, who received a last-minute endorsement from President Donald Trump, defeated former college football coach Derek Dooley in the runoff held on Tuesday (June 16).

The race attracted significant attention as it could determine control of the U.S. Senate. Republicans, who currently hold a narrow 53-seat majority, see Georgia as a key battleground, especially after Trump carried the state in 2024. However, Ossoff's popularity and substantial campaign funds pose challenges for the GOP. According to NBC News, Collins led Dooley by about 10 percentage points in the primary last month.

Collins, the son of former Georgia congressman Mac Collins, campaigned as a staunch Trump supporter, emphasizing his alignment with the former president's policies, including the Laken Riley Act. Despite facing an ethics investigation over allegations against a former chief of staff, Collins managed to secure Trump's endorsement, which has proven influential in primary races nationwide. The Hill reports that Collins's victory is a significant win for Trump, as it pits him against Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who backed Dooley.

Dooley, who campaigned as a political outsider, failed to secure Trump's endorsement partly due to his acknowledgment of Trump's 2020 election loss in Georgia. Despite Kemp's support, Dooley's campaign struggled to overcome Collins's lead. The upcoming general election against Ossoff is expected to be fiercely contested, with both parties eyeing the seat as pivotal for Senate control.

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