Representative Mike Collins Heads to Runoff in G.O.P. Senate Race in Georgia

"The Republican Senate primary in Georgia will head to a runoff next month, with Representative Mike Collins, an immigration hard-liner and a trucking executive, advancing and no candidate on track to win a majority of the vote Tuesday, according to The Associated Press. Mr. Collins was leading Derek Dooley, a former University of Tennessee football coach, and Representative Buddy Carter, a former pharmacy owner, according to incomplete results. It was unclear who would secure the second spot in the runoff."

"The three Republicans have battled for the chance to take on Senator Jon Ossoff, a first-term Democrat who is seen by his party as a rising star and by Republicans as a formidable adversary. Mr. Ossoff did not face a primary challenger on Tuesday. As the Republican race has played out, some in the party have become anxious that they are poorly positioned for what is expected to be one of the most competitive Senate elections in November. The uncertain outcome Tuesday did not appear likely to allay those fears."

"The Republican race now moves toward a June 16 runoff that could bruise the finalists and drain resources that would otherwise be used in the general election. Attacks between the candidates had already begun to sharpen in the final days before Tuesday's primary. Mr. Carter assailed Mr. Collins over a House ethics inquiry related to allegations that a member of Mr. Collins's staff had a romantic relationship with an intern, and that the intern received pay without doing work. Mr. Collins has dismissed the matter, calling the complaint bogus."

"Mr. Collins's campaign called Mr. Dooley a failed coach and claimed that Mr. Carter was corrupt. (The Federal Election Commission in 2022 investigated a claim that Mr. Carter's campaign had violated campaign finance laws but ultimately cleared him.) Mr. Collins also has a history of incendiary social-media posts, including one suggesting that President Joseph R. Biden Jr. sent the orders for an assassination attempt agai"

The Georgia Republican Senate primary will move to a runoff on June 16 after no candidate won a majority on Tuesday. Representative Mike Collins led the field, with Derek Dooley and Representative Buddy Carter trailing based on incomplete results, and it remained unclear who would take the second runoff spot. The runoff will determine the Republican nominee to face Senator Jon Ossoff, a first-term Democrat viewed as a rising star by Democrats and a strong opponent by Republicans. Party concerns have grown that the Republican field may be poorly positioned for a highly competitive November election. Campaign attacks intensified before the primary, including ethics-related accusations involving Collins and Carter and claims of corruption and failed leadership among the candidates.

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