Trump’s Georgia Endorsement Absence Shapes Tuesday’s Senate and Governor Primaries
Why It Matters
Georgia is shaping up as one of the most competitive states in the 2026 midterm cycle, with both a U.S. Senate seat and the governorship on the line. The outcomes of Tuesday’s Republican primaries could determine which candidates face off against vulnerable Democratic incumbents and an energized Democratic gubernatorial field in November — potentially shifting the balance of power in Congress.
What Happened
President Trump has not endorsed a candidate in Georgia’s Republican U.S. Senate primary, leaving two House members — Rep. Buddy Carter and Rep. Mike Collins — competing to win over Trump’s political base without his formal blessing. Both have centered their campaigns on alignment with the president’s agenda.
“I am running for the United States Senate so that I can go to the Senate and be a warrior for Donald Trump and his ‘America First’ policies,” Carter said during a recent Atlanta Press Club debate. Collins echoed similar themes, saying the party must “continue Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda” after the president’s term ends.
Incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, considered one of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats facing reelection this cycle, will await the Republican primary result before a general election matchup is set. Republicans have dominated spending in the Georgia primary, while Democrats have driven record turnout ahead of Tuesday’s vote.
In the Republican governor’s race, Trump did issue an early endorsement — backing current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones — but the move failed to consolidate the field. Billionaire businessman Rick Jackson entered the race and is running neck and neck with Jones in polling, despite lacking Trump’s endorsement. Jackson has positioned himself in the MAGA lane, saying, “I’m a conservative outsider and a businessman that wants to bring business solutions to Georgia, just like President Trump did.”
Trump held a tele-rally for Jones earlier this month, attempting to clarify his support. “There’s a lot of confusion. Everyone’s saying I endorsed them. I didn’t. I endorsed a man named Burt Jones,” the president told supporters on the call.
Also running in the GOP governor’s primary are Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Attorney General Chris Carr, both making appeals to more traditional Republican voters.
Kemp’s Influence Also on the Line
Term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp declined to enter the Senate race himself and has thrown his support behind former college football coach Derek Dooley — son of legendary University of Georgia coach Vince Dooley — in the Senate primary. Kemp’s political action committee has poured millions into supporting Dooley’s bid, and Kemp has personally called donors on his behalf.
Kemp’s relationship with Trump has been strained since 2020, when Kemp rejected the president’s claims of election fraud. Despite a Trump-backed primary challenge in 2022, Kemp won reelection by a wide margin. Tuesday’s results will serve as a fresh measure of Kemp’s standing within the Georgia Republican Party — particularly relevant given that Kemp has not ruled out a potential presidential run in 2028.
By the Numbers
- 2 — House Republicans vying for Georgia’s open Senate seat without a Trump endorsement
- Millions — Amount Kemp’s PAC, Hardworking Americans Inc., has invested in the Senate primary to back Dooley
- 50% — Vote threshold required in Georgia to avoid a primary runoff
- 4 — Major candidates in the Democratic governor’s primary, including frontrunner Keisha Lance Bottoms
- 2022 — Year Kemp last won statewide, defeating a Trump-backed primary challenger
Democrats Eye the Governorship
On the Democratic side, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms — endorsed by former President Joe Biden — is the frontrunner in the governor’s primary but may fall short of the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff. Potential runoff opponents include former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, and former state Sen. Jason Esteves.
Bottoms has framed her campaign in direct contrast to Trump-aligned Republicans. A recent campaign ad stated she is “running to stand up to” the president, drawing a distinction from Jackson and Jones, who have openly courted Trump’s favor. The dynamics echo broader Republican loyalty tests playing out in competitive states across the country.
What’s Next
Georgia’s primary elections take place Tuesday. If no candidate in a contested primary clears the 50 percent threshold, a runoff election will follow. General election matchups — including the potentially high-profile Senate race between the Republican nominee and Sen. Ossoff — will then be set for November, with Georgia once again positioned as a central battleground in the fight for congressional control.