Trump endorses Collins in upcoming Georgia Senate runoff
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. Mike Collins over political newcomer Derek Dooley in the Georgia Senate runoff, praising Collins as a loyal ally and "true friend" of his MAGA movement.
- Dooley, backed by Gov. Brian Kemp, criticized Collins as a typical politician and expressed confidence in his outsider appeal to Georgia voters, despite Trump's endorsement of Collins.
- The endorsement highlights the ongoing tension between Trump and Kemp, with Kemp recruiting Dooley as a political outsider to challenge incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff, contrasting with Collins' strong alignment with Trump.
- Collins has echoed Trump's false claims about the 2020 election and sponsored conservative immigration legislation, positioning himself as a staunch MAGA candidate, while Dooley emphasizes working with Trump but maintaining independence.
- Trump's recent primary endorsements have favored loyalists, contributing to several GOP primary wins, though some traditional Republicans like Kemp resist full alignment with Trump’s influence in the party.
