Georgia results: Collins will face Sen. Ossoff; Trump's pick loses governor runoff

ATLANTA — President Trump suffered a rare primary endorsement defeat Tuesday as Georgia Republicans narrowly voted for billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson to be the party's nominee for governor.

But the president's preferred pick to challenge incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff, Rep. Mike Collins, handily won his two-candidate runoff, according to a race call by The Associated Press. The Collins-Ossoff matchup will be closely watched nationally as the major political parties vie for control of the Senate.

For the governor's office, Jackson beat GOP Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, and will face Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.

Trump endorsed Jones, a longtime ally, in August 2025, but did not wade into the Senate race officially until after early voting ended for the runoff, issuing a lengthy post backing Collins in the early hours Sunday morning.

https://www.npr.org/2026/06/16/nx-s1-5860795/georgia-election-senate-governor-results-trump