Several of President Trump's top political advisers are now working for Rep. Mike Collins in the Georgia Senate race, signaling a potential endorsement from the former president. The hires come just weeks before the June 16 primary runoff, where Collins will face former University of Tennessee head football coach Derek Dooley. The winner will challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
Trump 2024 adviser Tony Fabrizio will serve as Collins' pollster and senior strategist. Tim Saler, Trump's campaign chief data strategist, takes on the same role for the congressman. Chip Englander, who was Trump's battleground states' strategist, will act as general consultant for the campaign.
Collins won 41% of the vote in last week's primary but failed to clear the 50% threshold required to avoid a runoff. Dooley finished second with 30%, setting up a competitive two-man contest for the Republican nomination. A Collins victory would mark a key test of Trump's influence in Georgia elections.
If Trump endorses Collins, the move could rally conservative voters but also risk alienating moderates needed in a general election against Ossoff. The seat is seen as a critical pickup opportunity for Republicans aiming to flip Senate control. Trump's team has yet to issue an official endorsement.
Trump's endorsement decisions have been unpredictable; he backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn despite Cornyn hiring several of Trump's former strategists. The Georgia race mirrors that dynamic, with competing insider factions now at play.