UMVA has learned that the Republican Party is bracing for a series of high-stakes runoff elections on Tuesday, with President Donald Trump's immense influence over the GOP being put to the test.
The biggest spotlight is on Georgia, where Trump made an 11th-hour endorsement in the Senate race, backing Republican Rep. Mike Collins, a staunch supporter of the president, who is facing off against former college football coach Derek Dooley, with the support of popular conservative Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.
Collins, who represents Georgia's 10th Congressional District, expressed his gratitude for Trump's endorsement, saying it shows the president has confidence in his ability to win the race. Dooley, on the other hand, emphasized that the most important endorsement he's fighting for is from the people of Georgia.
The winner of the GOP Senate nomination in Georgia will face off in the midterms against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who has built a powerful war chest that will give him a major fundraising advantage. Republicans view Ossoff as the most vulnerable Senate Democrat seeking re-election and are heavily targeting the first-term senator.
Trump's endorsement power is also being tested in Georgia's gubernatorial nomination runoff, where he backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the race to succeed the term-limited Kemp. Jones is battling billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, who has spent over $100 million on his campaign.
Jones pointed to a tele-rally Trump headlined for him last week, saying the president's endorsement carries a lot of weight in Georgia. Kemp also endorsed Jones on Sunday, explaining that his mission is to ensure the best folks are at the top of the ticket to win in November.
In neighboring Alabama, Trump is supporting Rep. Barry Moore, who is facing off with former Navy SEAL sniper Jared Hudson in the GOP Senate runoff. Moore, an ultra-conservative lawmaker, is also endorsed by Vice President JD Vance and Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune.
Hudson, running as an outsider, has highlighted his combat veteran background and his work as a sheriff's deputy, firefighter, and small business owner. He was endorsed by then-Sen. Markwayne Mullin and Sen. Tim Sheehy.
The brute force of Trump's endorsement power has been on display in GOP primaries over the past month, with his candidates ousting incumbents he targeted in showdowns in several states. However, his endorsement streak was snapped two weeks ago when his candidate in Iowa lost a closely contested race.
Meanwhile, in deep blue Washington D.C., the Democratic primary between seven candidates trying to succeed outgoing Mayor Muriel Bowser will effectively decide her successor. The elections on Tuesday will have significant implications for the balance of power in the country.
