SouthernWorldwide.com – The influence of former President Donald Trump’s endorsements is facing significant scrutiny in crucial Republican runoff elections scheduled for Tuesday in Georgia and Alabama.
Candidates who have received Trump’s backing are competing in closely contested races against rivals supported by influential figures like Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Senator Ted Cruz. These showdowns are considered high-stakes for the Republican Party.
The contests in Georgia and Alabama are part of a broader election day that also includes primary elections in Oklahoma and the District of Columbia. Additionally, a special election in California’s 14th Congressional District will narrow down the field of candidates vying for the seat vacated by Representative Eric Swalwell.
However, the primary focus is on Georgia, where Trump made a late endorsement in the Senate race. This election is one of several key midterm contests that will determine whether the Republican Party maintains its narrow majority in the Senate.
In the Georgia Senate race, Trump has endorsed Republican Representative Mike Collins, a vocal supporter of the former president. Collins is facing off against Derek Dooley, a former college football coach who has secured the backing of Georgia’s popular conservative Governor Brian Kemp.
When asked about the timing of Trump’s endorsement, Collins expressed confidence, stating, “I don’t think President Trump ever is too late. He has this impeccable ability of putting his thumb right on the scale at the right time with whatever he wants to do.”
Dooley, in response to the endorsement of his rival, emphasized his own support base. “I’m honored to have Governor Kemp’s endorsement. I certainly would have been honored to have the President’s endorsement. But the most important endorsement that I’m fighting for is the people of Georgia,” he stated.
Collins, who represents Georgia’s 10th Congressional District, is the son of the late Representative Mac Collins and co-owns a trucking company with his wife.
Dooley, a lawyer and former University of Tennessee football coach, is the son of legendary University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley. He has received significant support from Governor Kemp, a longtime friend. Both Governor Kemp and his wife, First Lady Marty Kemp, have actively campaigned with Dooley.
Collins and Dooley emerged as the top two candidates in a crowded primary election last month, which also included Representative Buddy Carter. As neither candidate secured over 50% of the vote, they advanced to the runoff.
The winner of the Republican Senate nomination in Georgia will face Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in the general election. Republicans view Ossoff as a vulnerable incumbent and are targeting his seat. However, Ossoff has built a substantial campaign war chest that is expected to provide him with a significant fundraising advantage.
The power of Trump’s endorsement is also being tested in Georgia’s gubernatorial runoff. Last year, Trump endorsed Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones in the race to succeed the term-limited Governor Kemp. Jones is competing against businessman Rick Jackson, who has personally funded his campaign with over $100 million.
The winner of this race will face former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who served in the Biden administration, in the general election. Bottoms secured her spot by winning a majority of the votes in the Democratic primary.
Jones and Jackson were the leading candidates in the competitive Republican gubernatorial primary, which also featured state Attorney General Chris Carr and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. The runoff was triggered as no candidate reached the 50% threshold.
Governor Kemp made a last-minute endorsement of Jones on Sunday, stating his goal is to ensure the strongest candidates are at the top of the ticket for the November elections. Kemp cautioned against the potential negative consequences of not winning, referencing states like Virginia, New York, and California.
Jones, a former University of Georgia football captain and an oil executive, previously served as a state senator before being elected lieutenant governor in 2022.
Jackson, who was not widely known before launching his gubernatorial campaign in February, gained recognition through extensive advertising. His personal story of building a business empire despite a challenging upbringing has resonated with voters.
Jackson predicted that voters are “ready for an outsider” and that this sentiment will lead to his victory. He also received a last-minute endorsement from Senator Ted Cruz, who campaigned with him on the eve of the runoff.
Senator Cruz, when asked about his endorsement of Jackson over Trump’s preferred candidate, stated his objective is to endorse the strongest conservative candidate who can win. He clarified that his endorsements are typically made late in races where his support could be impactful.
Jones, in response to Cruz’s visit, expressed a preference for Trump’s endorsement, noting that Jackson is relying on support from out-of-state senators.
In Alabama, Trump is supporting Representative Barry Moore in the Republican Senate runoff. Moore is facing off against former Navy SEAL sniper Jared Hudson. The seat is being vacated by Senator Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor.
Moore, who founded a waste hauling company and served in the state legislature before his election to the U.S. House in 2020, was an early supporter of Trump’s presidential bid in 2015. He has also received endorsements from Vice President JD Vance and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
Hudson, running as an outsider, defeated state Attorney General Steve Marshall to reach the runoff against Moore.
In addition to his military background, Hudson has experience as a sheriff’s deputy, firefighter, and small business owner. He also leads a nonprofit focused on training law enforcement to combat human trafficking.
Hudson has garnered endorsements from figures such as former Senator Markwayne Mullin (now Trump’s Secretary of Homeland Security), Senator Tim Sheehy, the National Association for Gun Rights PAC, and conservative media personality Riley Gaines.
The winner between Moore and Hudson is expected to be the front-runner in the general election against the victor of the Democratic runoff between businessman Dakarai Larriett and former judge Everett Wess.
In Oklahoma, Trump has endorsed Mike Mazzei, a former state senator and budget secretary, in the Republican gubernatorial primary. The race is to succeed outgoing Republican Governor Kevin Stitt.
Trump is also backing pastor Jackson Lahmeyer in the Republican primary for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District. Lahmeyer founded the group Pastors for Trump, and the seat is being vacated by Representative Kevin Hern, who is running for the Senate.
In Washington D.C., the Democratic primary among seven candidates seeking to succeed outgoing Mayor Muriel Bowser will effectively determine her successor in the District of Columbia.
Trump’s endorsement power has been evident in recent Republican primaries, where his favored candidates have unseated incumbents in states like Indiana, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Texas.
However, Trump’s endorsement streak in statewide and congressional Republican primaries was broken two weeks ago when his late endorsement of Iowa Representative Randy Feenstra failed to secure his victory in the race for governor.
Feenstra was narrowly defeated by Zach Lahn, a businessman and former political strategist backed by the political wings of the Make America Healthy Again movement and Turning Point USA.
Trump’s influence was reaffirmed last week when his endorsed candidate in the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, finished first and secured a spot in the nomination runoff.
Meanwhile, Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime Trump ally, won a majority of the vote in the South Carolina Republican Senate primary, avoiding a runoff.
Graham faced primary challenges from five candidates, including businessman Mark Lynch, who criticized Graham’s stance on the war in Iran. Lynch received backing from some MAGA leaders who have been critical of Trump.
