Focus on Georgia: Republicans Deliver Strong Primary Performance

ATLANTA — Georgia Republicans advanced strong, Trump-aligned candidates in key races during Tuesday’s primary, setting the stage for what many in the party see as their best opportunity in years to expand their statewide footprint in the battleground state.

In the high-profile open governor’s race to succeed term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones led with 38.4% of the vote, followed closely by businessman Rick Jackson at 32.5%. The two will face off in a June 16 runoff. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger finished third with 15%, while Attorney General Chris Carr took 11.8%. Both Jones and Jackson are viewed as solid conservatives who strongly support President Trump’s agenda.

In the U.S. Senate race to challenge incumbent Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff, Rep. Mike Collins took first place with 40.5%, advancing to a runoff against former University of Georgia football coach Derek Dooley, who finished second with 30.2%. Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter placed third with 25.1%. Collins, a vocal Trump supporter, is expected to be the stronger general election fighter in the runoff.

Republicans also saw solid performances in other statewide and congressional races. Most incumbent House members advanced easily, and the party maintained strong positioning in competitive districts.

Runoffs and General Election Outlook

• Governor: The Jones-Jackson runoff on June 16 will produce a nominee widely expected to give Democrats a tough fight. The Democratic nominee is former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who won her primary outright.
• U.S. Senate: The Collins-Dooley runoff will determine the challenger to Ossoff. Republicans view this seat as a prime pickup opportunity given Georgia’s recent Republican trend at the presidential level.
• Other key races, including lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state, advanced nominees or headed to runoffs with conservative candidates favored.

The primary results reflect strong base enthusiasm and effective consolidation behind Trump-endorsed or aligned candidates. Georgia remains a critical battleground, but Tuesday’s outcomes position the GOP well for competitive general election matchups in November. Final certification of primary results is expected in the coming weeks.