Republican Representative Mike Collins from Georgia is set to face former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley in a runoff election. This follows Tuesday night’s primary where neither contender secured over 50 percent of the vote. The runoff will decide the GOP candidate for Georgia’s U.S. Senate seat.
On Wednesday, Quantus Insights conducted a snap poll revealing Collins leading Dooley by double digits. Corbin Keown, a spokesperson for Collins’ campaign, stated to Newsweek via email that despite a significant disparity in campaign spending, Collins achieved 40% of the vote in a five-way primary. Keown cited Collins’ attributes of hard work, authenticity, and proven results as reasons for his success. Dooley’s campaign was also contacted by Newsweek for comment on the poll.
What To Know
According to the Associated Press, Collins gained 40.5% of the vote in the primary against Dooley’s 30.2% and Earl L. Carter’s 25.1%. The winner of the runoff will challenge Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in November’s high-stakes race in Georgia.
The Quantus Insights poll showed Collins at 53.5% and Dooley at 37.2%. Conducted among 782 likely Republican voters on Wednesday, the poll’s effective sample size was 739, with a 3.9% margin of error.
After the primary, Collins expressed gratitude on X, emphasizing his commitment to President Trump’s America First agenda. Dooley also commented on X, advocating for a political outsider capable of challenging Ossoff’s record, promising to serve Georgia and deliver results.
Georgia’s Republican Governor Brian Kemp has endorsed Dooley, while former President Donald Trump has remained neutral regarding endorsements.
Lauren French, spokesperson for Senate Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, communicated via email that the Republican field appears weak, anticipating continued internal conflicts among candidates. French noted the contrast between these candidates and Jon Ossoff, who they see as possessing a solid record and voter confidence.
The runoff election is scheduled for June 16.
What Polls Show
An early April poll by Echelon Insights indicated Collins with 44% support against Ossoff’s 51%. This survey included 407 likely voters in Georgia, with a 6.5% margin of error. An Emerson College poll from early March showed Ossoff leading with 49% of the hypothetical vote against Dooley’s 41%, with 10% undecided. Against Collins, Ossoff had 48% versus Collins’ 43%, with 9% undecided. Conducted February 28 to March 2, this poll surveyed 1,000 likely voters in Georgia and had a margin of error of 3%.
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