Trump's endorsement power faces crucial tests in closely watched Georgia and Alabama GOP runoff elections

Donald Trump’s political influence is under scrutiny in Georgia and Alabama as his endorsed candidates face runoff elections that could shape the GOP’s future. In Georgia, Trump backed Rep. Mike Collins in the Senate race against former college football coach Derek Dooley, who has strong support from Gov. Brian Kemp. Collins, a MAGA-aligned politician and son of former Rep. Mac Collins, secured Trump’s endorsement just days before the runoff, arguing it would solidify his lead. Dooley dismissed Trump’s backing, emphasizing his own support from Kemp and the people of Georgia. The two advanced from a crowded primary where no candidate secured over 50% of the vote. The Senate runoff winner will face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in the midterms, with Republicans viewing Ossoff as a vulnerable incumbent. Meanwhile, Alabama’s Senate runoff will also test Trump’s influence, as his endorsed candidate competes for the GOP nomination. Georgia’s gubernatorial runoff is another key test, though the article does not specify Trump’s endorsed candidate. The outcomes in these states could determine whether Republicans maintain their slim Senate majority. Both races highlight the divide within the GOP between Trump’s loyalists and establishment-backed candidates like Dooley, who has ties to Kemp’s administration. Voter turnout and Trump’s late endorsement may play decisive roles. Collins, who represents Georgia’s 10th Congressional District and owns a trucking company with his wife, contrasts with Dooley, a lawyer and former football coach whose father was a legendary Georgia athletic director. The runoff results will signal whether Trump’s endorsement remains a dominant force in Republican politics.