'Hammer Down!' Trump-backed favorite wins Georgia Republican Senate runoff



Republican voters in Georgia have showed up to the polls to officially agree with the president's recommendation.

More than 700,000 votes decided the Georgia Republican Senate runoff on Tuesday, with the victory going to the Trump-endorsed favorite.

'Now it's time to get to work.'

Sitting U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) received a detailed endorsement from President Trump just two days before the election, when he called Collins a "Highly Respected Congressman who has been with me from the very beginning," in a post on Truth Social.

Collins won the runoff with about 56% of the vote against fellow Republican Derek Dooley — a former football coach for the University of Tennessee Volunteers — despite Dooley outperforming Collins in the counties surrounding Atlanta, including Fulton County, where the capital city is located.

Collins' victory was by nearly the same margin that separated the two during the May primary. At that time Collins finished with nearly 41% of the vote, while Dooley had about 30%, according to CBS News. This time, Dooley finished 11 points behind Collins again, garnering nearly 45% in the head-to-head vote, per The Hill.

RELATED: Early red flag for GOP? Democrats rack up massive Q1 fundraising hauls

Collins has long been considered the favorite in the election as a MAGA-style Republican and led polls ahead of the primary by an average of 11.5 points. However, polls had him with just a two-point advantage over Dooley ahead of the runoff election in June.

Collins now heads to the November general election against Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff. Ossoff went unopposed in the Democratic primary, having held his office since 2021.

Collins reacted to his victory with a post on X, saying he is "honored" to be the Republican nominee.

"Now it's time to get to work, defeat Jon Ossoff, and take this seat back for the people of this state. Hammer Down!" Collins wrote.

RELATED: 'Friend' of President Trump advances to Georgia Republican Senate primary runoff

Jason Allen/Getty Images

Trump had previously endorsed Collins ahead of the primary, as well, calling Collins his "friend" while adding that he likes him "a lot."

On Sunday, the president assured voters that Collins would work hard to "Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Champion American Energy DOMINANCE," and more.

Collins reaffirmed his immigration stance in a post on runoff Election Day, stating that "America wasn't built by people who chose the easy path. It was built by patriots who worked hard, took risks, and never gave up."

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'Friend' of President Trump advances to Georgia Republican Senate primary runoff



The president likes him "a lot," but Georgia voters still have to prove they agree.

Sitting U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) took home the most votes in the Georgia GOP primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, but it was not enough to secure an outright nomination.

'28 more days of putting the hammer down!'

Collins was first in the primary, but since he did not garner 50% of the vote, he will have to go head-to-head against runner-up Derek Dooley in a runoff election on June 16. Collins finished with nearly 41% of the vote, while Dooley had about 30%, according to CBS News.

"Thank you, Georgia. Love y'all. 28 more days of putting the hammer down!" Collins wrote on X after securing the most votes in the primary.

Collins was considered the favorite as a MAGA-style Republican and led polls by an average of 11.5 points between April and May.

The 58-year-old also received an unofficial endorsement from President Donald Trump in February, but it is unclear how much that endorsement helped him.

A video posted February 19 showed Trump telling supporters, "He's a friend of mine. He's a good guy."

"I like him a lot," Trump added.

RELATED: Early red flag for GOP? Democrats rack up massive Q1 fundraising hauls

Megan Varner/Getty Images

The video garnered nearly 1 million views on X, but subsequent polls showed Collins' lead shrank from about +25 in mid-February to just +14 by the end of the month.

Still, Collins was considered to be Trump-aligned, having similar views on immigration and spearheading the Laken Riley Act. As well, Collins voted against aid to Ukraine in October 2023, but voted in favor of Israeli aid the same month.

Dooley, a former football coach for the Tennessee Volunteers, was consistently second or third in polling and was endorsed by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R).

Dooley put out a statement late on Tuesday thanking his voters for their support.

"This campaign has been about putting the people of Georgia first and sending a new type of leader up to D.C. who's in it for the right reasons, and that's to serve," Dooley wrote on X.

"Let's get to work and win this runoff!" he added alongside a photo that featured Gov. Kemp.

RELATED: Georgia man allegedly threatened to kill Pam Bondi and stab Kristi Noem's eyes out 'with a dull knife'

Megan Varner/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Third place went to Rep. Earl "Buddy" Carter (R-Ga.), a former pharmacist and mayor who received approximately 25% of the vote.

Other candidates included businessman and real estate developer John Coyne, as well as Jonathan McColumn, a retired U.S. Army Reserve brigadier general and pastor. Both got less than 5% of the vote.

The winner of Collins vs. Dooley will face off against Democrat Senator Jon Ossoff in November. Ossoff went unopposed in the Democrat primary and has been in office since 2021.

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Early red flag for GOP? Democrats rack up massive Q1 fundraising hauls



The first-quarter campaign fundraising total for the 2026 midterms reveals that House and Senate Democratic candidates have picked up significant early momentum, potentially spelling trouble for Republicans as more primary elections approach.

At least one Democratic candidate raised more than a Republican in Georgia, North Carolina, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, New Hampshire, and Alaska, Punchbowl News reported.

'There's no way for Republicans to spin this: Their candidates are getting crushed.'

Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D) raised $27.1 million, breaking a record for the largest amount for a Senate candidate in any state. Talarico's fundraising significantly outpaced his potential opponents. Sen. John Cornyn (R) raised $9 million, and Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) raised $2.2 million.

Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) raised $14 million during the first quarter. The incumbent's fundraising far outpaced that of Republicans hoping to unseat him. Rep. Mike Collins (R) raised just over $1 million, and Rep. Buddy Carter (R) raised just $470,000.

In Ohio, former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) is hoping to defeat Republican incumbent Sen. Jon Husted. Brown raised $10.1 million in the first quarter, while Husted brought in $2.9 million.

Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) is running against Michael Whatley (R) and three other candidates to secure retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis’ seat. Cooper raised $13.8 million in the first quarter, while Whatley raised $5 million.

RELATED: 'Record' cash advantage gives GOP upper hand in state AG races

James Talarico. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

House Democratic challengers also raised significant funds in the first few months of the year.

In Arizona, JoAnna Mendoza (D) raised over $2.3 million, among the highest reported by a Democratic House candidate. Mendoza's opponent, incumbent Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R), raised $1.1 million.

In Wisconsin, Democratic candidate Rebecca Cooke is looking to oust incumbent Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R). Cooke raised $2.4 million, while Van Orden raised $1.3 million.

"Of course, this is only part of the picture. Candidates are now using joint fundraising committees to air TV ads. Super PACs will play a big role," Punchbowl News reported. "GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson did raise the most in Iowa's open Senate race. And Democratic primaries will drain some resources."

"But there's no way for Republicans to spin this: Their candidates are getting crushed," the outlet stated.

RELATED: 'We have a glaring disadvantage': Democrats panic as GOP dominates in fundraising, NYT reports

Visions of America/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

While Punchbowl News insisted it was all doom and gloom for Republican candidates, the National Republican Congressional Committee saw the Q1 funding results as a win for the GOP.

"Republicans are LAPPING Democrats in fundraising & building a war chest they can't match," the NRCC wrote in a post on X, adding that the GOP "outraised, outworked, [and] outmatched" their Democratic counterparts.

Mike Marinella, the national press secretary for the NRCC, stated, "Once again, and for every single quarter this campaign cycle, @NRCC Patriots have outraised [the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee] Frontliners."

"House Republicans have the momentum on our side, and the money proves it," he wrote.

Federal Election Commission reporting showed that Democratic Senate candidates have raised $368 million for their 2026 races, compared to $324 million raised by Republicans. Democratic House candidates collected $691 million, while Republicans raised $578 million.

Some of the most prominent names in Republican political consulting did not respond to a request for comment on this story.

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Sanders Resolution Blocking Arms Sales to Israel Garners Approval From 2028 Dem Presidential Hopefuls

A majority of the 47 Democrats in the Senate backed two resolutions from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) blocking arms and equipment sales to Israel, including a handful of potential 2028 presidential candidates.

The post Sanders Resolution Blocking Arms Sales to Israel Garners Approval From 2028 Dem Presidential Hopefuls appeared first on .

Republicans receive another grim midterm forecast



Democrats and Republicans alike are eyeing the home stretch before the 2026 primaries, but the latest forecast suggests the GOP is facing a major disadvantage.

Republicans have enjoyed a supermajority following the 2024 election after Americans elected President Donald Trump back to the White House and the GOP took back the Senate and maintained its narrow House majority. The electoral forecast is now indicating that the pendulum will swing back in favor of Democrats, with four key races shifting away from Republicans.

None of the Democrat-held seats seem to be leaning Republican.

The Cook Political Report was initially tracking Senate races for Georgia, which is held by incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff, and North Carolina, which is held by retiring Republican Thom Tillis, as toss-ups that could go either way. The same report also had the Ohio Senate race leaning Republican and the Nebraska Senate race as a solid Republican rating.

As of Monday, all of these races have shifted in favor of Democrats.

RELATED: Democrats’ latest victory in deep-red Mar-a-Lago district offers bleak midterm forecast

Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

The toss-up races in North Carolina and Georgia have both shifted to leaning Democrat, and Ohio, which is held by Republican incumbent Sen. Jon Husted, has changed to a toss-up race. The seat of Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska is still rated likely GOP, but nonetheless there is an evident electoral shift away from Republicans.

None of the Democrat-held seats seem to be leaning Republican. Michigan's Senate seat, which is held by retiring Democrat Gary Peters, is rated as a toss-up. Maine's Senate seat, held by Republican Susan Collins, is also notably rated a toss-up.

Republicans currently hold 53 seats and can afford to lose a maximum of just two Senate seats in order to maintain their majority, though Vice President JD Vance could always break any tie votes.

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'Errand boy': Mike Collins rips Jon Ossoff's silence on Maduro, points to Laken Riley's Venezuelan killer



Republican Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia slammed Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia for his silence and inaction following Nicolas Maduro's capture, arguing Ossoff "sat on his hands and did nothing" when a Venezuelan illegal alien killed Laken Riley.

Collins, who is running to unseat Ossoff, criticized the Democrat for his inaction following Riley's brutal murder. Ossoff first opposed a Senate amendment similar to the Laken Riley Act in 2024 but later reversed his position to support Collins' landmark legislation, which was signed into law in 2025.

Ossoff has also refrained from weighing in on Maduro's arrest, although he never misses an opportunity to brand President Donald Trump an "authoritarian."

'Jon Ossoff doesn’t support anything unless it’s championed by radical leftists or hurts President Trump.'

"Jon Ossoff is an errand boy for Chuck Schumer who would rather ignore the capture of the ruthless dictator responsible for sending Laken Riley’s killer into our country than admit President Trump is right," Collins told Blaze News in an exclusive statement.

"His entire political agenda is to lie to Georgians about his work in D.C. and be a puppet for the California crazies and New York nutjobs. He doesn’t deliver for Georgians; he just resists."

RELATED: Maduro captured following 'large scale strike' in Venezuela, Trump says

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

"When Laken Riley was killed, I made it my sole mission to ensure no family would have to live through their pain again," Collins told Blaze News. "I knocked on Democrat doors in the House and Senate to get the Laken Riley Act passed while Jon Ossoff sat on his hands and did nothing. Jon Ossoff doesn’t support anything unless it’s championed by radical leftists or hurts President Trump."

When asked why he hasn't commented on Maduro's capture, Ossoff said he needed more information about President Donald Trump's vision for Venezuela.

RELATED: 'We're going to run it': Trump reveals Venezuela's fate following Maduro's capture

Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Breakthrough T1D

“We need to understand what the president meant when he said ‘boots on the ground,’” Ossoff said in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We need to understand what the president meant when he said the United States would run Venezuela. Congress needs that information immediately.”

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