Voters in Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Washington, D.C., head to the polls Tuesday for primary runoffs that will test President Trump’s endorsement power and shape the battle for control of the Senate and several governor’s mansions.
In Georgia, the marquee race is the Senate runoff between Trump-backed Rep. Mike Collins and former college football coach Derek Dooley. The winner will face vulnerable Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in a contest that Cook Political Report rates as “lean Democrat.” Trump made a last-minute endorsement over the weekend, boosting Collins, who led Dooley by about 10 points in the May primary but fell short of a majority. The race also serves as a proxy fight between Trump and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who endorsed Dooley, reflecting their long-running feud over the 2020 election results.
Georgia Governor’s Race Aligns Trump and Kemp
In the governor’s race to replace term-limited Kemp, Trump and Kemp found rare common ground by both endorsing Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. Jones faces Republican billionaire Rick Jackson, who entered the race late and scrambled the field. The winner will take on former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, the Democratic nominee. This toss-up contest is one of the few competitive gubernatorial races nationwide.
Alabama Senate Runoff Tests Trump’s Grip
In Alabama, Trump’s pick, Rep. Barry Moore, is locked in a tight runoff with Navy SEAL Jared Hudson for the Senate seat vacated by Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor. Despite Trump’s strong 2024 win in Alabama, recent polls show Hudson leading Moore by nearly 10 points, raising questions about the president’s influence. A Cygnal poll found that while Trump’s backing helps, it’s not decisive for many voters.
If Moore prevails, it would extend Trump’s recent run of primary victories, including ousting Rep. Thomas Massie and Sens. John Cornyn and Bill Cassidy. On the Democratic side, business owner Dakarai Larriett and attorney Everett Weiss are competing in their own runoff.
Oklahoma and D.C. Races Round Out Tuesday’s Ballot
Oklahoma voters will choose a Republican nominee to succeed Gov. Kevin Stitt, with Trump backing his preferred candidate. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., holds an open Democratic primary for mayor after Muriel Bowser’s retirement—the first without an incumbent in two decades. The winner will lead the capital through the remainder of Trump’s second term, a period marked by tensions over issues like the $13 million reflecting pool renovation and broader federal-local conflicts.
These races collectively illustrate the enduring—but not absolute—power of Trump’s endorsement as the 2026 midterms take shape.
