In the Republican runoffs held on June 17, 2026, in Georgia and Alabama, candidates endorsed by former President Donald Trump had varied success. Trump-backed candidates won two out of three key races. In Alabama, Rep. Barry Moore, a Trump supporter, defeated Jared Hudson in the GOP Senate runoff. In Georgia, Rep. Mike Collins secured victory in the Senate runoff against Derek Dooley, who was endorsed by Governor Brian Kemp. Collins will face Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in the upcoming general election.
However, in Georgia's gubernatorial runoff, Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones lost to Rick Jackson, who campaigned as an outsider. Jackson cited Trump as an inspiration for his candidacy. Trump's endorsement power has been evident in recent GOP primaries, although it faced a setback when his endorsed candidate in Iowa, Rep. Randy Feenstra, lost to Zach Lahn. Trump rebounded with a successful endorsement in South Carolina, where Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette secured a spot in the gubernatorial primary.
Political analysts noted that while Trump's endorsements carry significant weight, they are not guaranteed to ensure victory. The focus now shifts to unifying the party for the upcoming elections.