Trump-Kemp Clash Tests GOP Runoffs in Georgia, Alabama

Voters in Georgia and Alabama decide Republican nominees Tuesday in runoffs that pit President Donald Trump’s late endorsements against entrenched state party figures. The outcomes will shape November matchups for a Senate seat Republicans see as their best pickup opportunity and for an open governor’s race in a state that remains competitive.

In Georgia’s Senate runoff, Rep. Mike Collins, who finished first in the May 19 primary with 40 percent, faces former University of Tennessee coach Derek Dooley. Trump endorsed Collins over the weekend. Dooley carries the backing of Gov. Brian Kemp, whose political network helped him finish second with roughly 30 percent. The winner will challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, the only Senate Democrat seeking reelection in a state Trump carried in 2024. Collins has highlighted his early support for Trump and sponsorship of the Laken Riley Act; Dooley has presented himself as an outsider who can broaden the coalition needed to defeat Ossoff.

The same day, Georgia Republicans choose a nominee for governor between Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson. Trump backed Jones early; Kemp endorsed him days before the runoff after initially staying out. Jackson has spent more than $100 million of his own funds and secured the support of former Attorney General Chris Carr. The winner faces Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms.

In Alabama, Rep. Barry Moore, endorsed by Trump, meets former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson in the Senate runoff to succeed Tommy Tuberville. Moore took 39 percent in the first round; Hudson advanced with 26 percent. Moore has drawn outside support from groups tied to cryptocurrency interests and the Club for Growth; Hudson has positioned himself as an outsider while also pledging alignment with Trump’s agenda. The Democratic side also holds a runoff.

Oklahoma holds primaries for an open Senate seat and governor’s race, with Trump endorsing Rep. Kevin Hern for Senate and former state Sen. Mike Mazzei for governor. Washington, D.C., voters choose a Democratic mayoral nominee and a successor to longtime nonvoting delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Early voting in the Georgia Senate race closed before Trump’s endorsement, limiting its reach. Kemp’s support for Dooley has already produced visible advertising and turnout operations in metro Atlanta. Both states’ results will be watched for signs of whether Trump’s influence inside the party remains decisive or whether local networks can still prevail in runoffs.