Mike Collins appears to be in a strong position after the May primary, leading a June 16 runoff and drawing high-profile Trump aides into his operation, according to polling and campaign moves.
The main runoff is set for June 16, after neither candidate cleared the 51 percent threshold in the May 19 primary. Mike Collins took 40 percent of the vote, Derek Dooley earned 30 percent, and Earl L. “Buddy” Carter finished with 25 percent and did not advance. Those numbers leave Collins as the clear front-runner on paper heading into the next round.
That standing matters because runoffs reward organization and turnout, and Collins appears to have both momentum and outside help. His coalition is consolidating while Dooley tries to pick up steam from the governor’s backing. For Republicans watching the match, Collins’ position looks like the one to back if they want a robust conservative nominee.
In a recent poll by JMC Analytics and Polling, voters were asked if the runoff were held today, who they would vote for. Collins won it running away:
https://x.com/PollTracker2024/status/2060148668976574828
Collins has bolstered his operation with seasoned national talent, and those hires send a message that this race is being taken seriously. He tapped political pros with direct experience from President Trump’s circles to steer message, data, and strategy, signaling both resources and intent. That kind of outside muscle often matters most in the last weeks before a runoff when every voter contact counts.
Several of President Trump’s top political advisers are joining Rep. Mike Collins’ campaign in the Georgia Senate race, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The hires provide the clearest indication yet that Trump may be leaning towards endorsing Collins ahead of his June 16 primary runoff against former University of Tennessee head football coach Derek Dooley.
The winner will challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
Zoom in: Trump 2024 adviser Tony Fabrizio has been tapped to serve as Collins’ pollster and senior strategist.
Trump campaign chief data strategist Tim Saler will serve in the same capacity for Collins.
Chip Englander, who was Trump’s battleground states’ strategist, will be general consultant.
The names listed in that report matter because they are not just consultants, they are people who read polls, build turnout models, and execute rapid-response plans. Bringing that expertise into a runoff transforms a campaign from local scramble to national-grade operation. For Collins, it’s a clear effort to lock down the base and expand into the parts of the electorate that often skip runoffs.
What voters see now is a Republican candidate who is both politically aggressive and strategically smart, rallying experienced operators to finish the job. The dynamic also raises pressure on Dooley to find a path to peel off Carter supporters and persuade undecideds quickly. With Ossoff waiting in November, the stakes are high and the timeline is tight.
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