Mike Collins wins GOP nod for Georgia Senate, teeing up battle with Sen. Jon Ossoff

WASHINGTON — Rep.Mike Collins (R-Ga.) cruised to victory in the Georgia Senate GOP runoff Tuesday night.Collins had won about 55% of the electorate, whereas Dooley secured roughly 45% when the race was called by the Associated Press at 8:37 p.m.

ET.The winner will face Sen.Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), who is running for a second term, in the general election Nov.

3, one of several races widely seen as a pickup opportunity for Republicans to increase their 53-47 Senate majority.That will be a challenge given both the political headwinds facing the GOP on economic issues — as well as Ossoff’s sizable, $32 million campaign war chest.Though Dooley had gotten the backing of popular Peach State Gov.Brian Kemp, President Trump broke for “‘MAGA’ Mike Collins” in the race’s final days.“Mike is strongly supported by the most Highly Respected MAGA Patriots in Georgia and beyond, and many Republicans in the U.S.

House and Senate — He is a WARRIOR and WINNER!” the president posted on his Truth Social Sunday.“I don’t know Derek Dooley, and neither does anyone else, but he seems like a nice person,” Trump also said.“Unfortunately, he has lived outside of Georgia for most of his life, didn’t vote in 2020 or 2016, and said that I lost Georgia in 2020 when, in actuality, the facts have now proven that I won by a lot!”In the state’s gubernatorial contest, Lt.

Gov.Burt Jones won the backing of Trump as well as Kemp, with the latter delivering an 11th-hour endorsement over the weekend.Collins, who co-authored the first piece of legislation that Trump signed after returning to the White House, had come in first in the May 19 primary against Dooley and fellow Rep.

Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), with 40%, 30% and 25% of the vote won by each, respectively.The Laken Riley Act forced illegal immigrants charged with assault, theft, burglary, larceny, or violent crimes resulting in death or serious injury.It was named after the University of Georgia nursing student who ...