Republican voters in Georgia delivered a mixed verdict for President Donald Trump in the state's primary elections. While his endorsed Senate candidate won, his choice for governor was defeated.
The Tuesday primaries across four states and the District of Columbia were seen as a key test of President Trump's influence heading into this year's midterm elections.
In the Senate race, incumbent Representative Mike Collins, 58, defeated former football coach Derek Dooley and will face Senator Jon Ossoff. Ossoff, first elected in 2020, has criticized President Trump as a “national disgrace” who uses his office to enrich himself and his family.
Collins, a second-term congressman who calls himself a “MAGA warrior,” continues to support Mr. Trump's false claims that Georgia's 2020 election was rigged. In his victory speech, Collins thanked his wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, friends, supporters, and staff—but made no mention of the President.
The outcome of the November midterms will decide control of Congress for the final two years of President Trump's second term.
In the Georgia governor's race, health-care billionaire Rick Jackson, 71, defeated Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones after spending about $100 million of his own money on the campaign, overcoming Mr. Trump's endorsement of Jones. Jackson will face Democratic candidate and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.
The absence of President Trump from Republican candidates' post-election speeches marked a notable shift from earlier primary nights, when contenders routinely praised the party leader despite his declining approval ratings. Although he endorsed Jones, Mr. Trump did not campaign in Georgia for him.
Jackson, a wealthy political newcomer, often compared himself to Mr. Trump on the campaign trail but did not do so directly on election night. President Trump congratulated Jackson on social media, saying he “campaigned very successfully under the ‘TRUMP’ brand and won.”
The split results in Georgia come after most of President Trump's endorsed candidates won spring primaries. He faces another big test in Oklahoma in August, when his gubernatorial candidate enters a Republican runoff.
