Trump Endorses Mike Collins in Georgia Runoff, Backing 10th District Rep

President Donald Trump made trump endorses mike collins his 11th-hour intervention in Georgia's Republican Senate runoff on Saturday, backing Rep. Mike Collins ahead of Tuesday's vote. Collins faces former college football coach Derek Dooley, who has Gov. Brian Kemp's support.

The winner will claim the GOP Senate nomination and move on to face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November's midterm elections. Republicans view Ossoff as the most vulnerable Senate Democrat seeking re-election, giving the runoff a direct role in determining who carries the party's challenge into the general election.

Collins And Dooley

Collins represents Georgia's 10th Congressional District and is the son of the late Rep. Mac Collins. He is also the founder and co-owner of a trucking company with his wife. He and Dooley emerged from last month's crowded primary field as the top two finishers after no candidate topped 50%.

Buddy Carter was also in that primary field, but he did not advance. Trump had stayed neutral through the primary and runoff until Saturday, leaving the race without his backing until the final stretch.

Ossoff And The Senate Race

The Georgia contest has drawn attention because it is one of the races that could help decide whether Republicans keep their slim Senate majority. Ossoff said in an interview with Stephen Colbert that the system was rigged and called it a symptom of a deeper disease.

That sets up a split Republican field around Collins and Dooley at the same moment the party is trying to settle on one nominee. The runoff on Tuesday will decide which candidate carries the endorsement, the party's label, and the attack line into the race against Ossoff.