Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) won the Republican Senate runoff in Georgia on June 16, 2026, defeating former football coach Derek Dooley. The Associated Press called the race for Collins at 8:37 p.m. with Collins receiving 55% of the vote compared to Dooley's 45% with 56% of the votes counted.
Collins entered the runoff with the endorsement of former President Donald Trump and positioned himself as a candidate aligned with Trump's policies, particularly on immigration. Dooley was supported by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and much of the state's Republican establishment, who campaigned alongside him in the final weeks of the runoff.
The race drew national attention due to the rivalry between Trump and Kemp, although some Republicans argued that it did not represent a full-scale proxy war. Collins had previously led the primary on May 19 with approximately 40% of the vote, while Dooley received around 30%.
Concerns about low voter turnout were raised, with factors such as summer heat and voter fatigue potentially impacting mobilization efforts. Collins's connection to Trump was seen as advantageous in a state where Trump remains popular. Collins will now face Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) in the general election, which is considered a key race for Republicans in their efforts to gain Senate seats in 2026.