ATLANTA — The winner of Tuesday’s Republican Senate runoff in Georgia will face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November, in a race that could tip control of the U.S. Senate. The contest has become a proxy battle between former President Donald Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp, with each backing a different candidate.
Trump endorsed Rep. Mike Collins over the weekend, after early voting had already closed. Kemp has thrown his weight behind former football coach Derek Dooley, a political newcomer who argues his pragmatic style can expand the GOP coalition. The runoff has become a test of influence for both national figures.
Dooley sat down with “Raising America” and said he can appeal beyond the Republican base. “I just think it’s so important to have a candidate that not only can energize the Trump Republican voters, but you’ve got to have somebody that can find some common ground or connect them from a leadership style standpoint with voters that don’t always vote Republican, or maybe they don’t vote in the midterms or the primaries,” Dooley said. “Everybody deserves respect. And it’s just something I’ve done for 30 years as a coach.”
Collins, a conservative congressman from Georgia’s 10th District, finished first in the May 19 primary with roughly 40 percent of the vote to Dooley’s 30 percent. Rep. Buddy Carter came in third. The runoff winner will immediately pivot to taking on Ossoff, who is seeking a second term and has amassed a massive war chest of roughly $33 million cash on hand after raising nearly $60 million.
Recent polling shows Collins holding a lead, with the RealClearPolling average favoring him. But Dooley argues that his campaign’s emphasis on pragmatism and respect can attract independents, suburban voters, and moderate Republicans — a coalition similar to the one that helped Kemp win statewide elections comfortably.
“If you look at our history of our state and look at a certain leadership style, I don’t care if it’s Gov. Brian Kemp, Johnny Isakson … Sam Nunn, back in the day, a Democrat. There is a leadership style that I think the Georgia people want,” Dooley said. “There’s a level of pragmatism and respect for all groups. I think it’s rooted in some basic conservative principles. I do. When you deviate from that style, whether it’s you’re super radical in your politics or you’re not representing the people in a way that they deem appropriate, then they’re going to resist it.”
Dooley has frequently argued that Republicans must expand beyond their traditional base to defeat Ossoff. The financial disparity is stark: both Collins and Dooley have raised significantly less than the incumbent. “What I found about Jon Ossoff, you know, when I rode around this state, I was stunned at how few people really know who he is and what he represents. And so that’s why he’s going to be tough to beat,” Dooley said. “It’s very important that whoever wins this race, which I believe it’s going to be me, has an ability to stay on offense … to educate the Georgia people on what Jon Ossoff is, who he represents, what he votes for. I believe that’s intentional because deep down, he knows what he votes for and what he supports does not reflect the values of the Georgia people.”
The runoff is a key test of Trump’s endorsement power in a state where his influence has been mixed. Kemp, who defied Trump’s pressure to overturn the 2020 election results, has built a strong statewide brand. Dooley’s strategy mirrors Kemp’s approach: appeal to the GOP base while reaching out to swing voters.
“Raising America” reached out to the Collins and Ossoff campaigns for comment. The show is a NewsNation podcast hosted by Elizabeth Prann.
