Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday endorsed Mike Collins in Georgia’s 10th Congressional District runoff, a move that once again puts him at odds with former President Donald Trump while helping him settle the score against a former opponent.
Kemp is the latest member of the Republican establishment to back Collins, a trucking company owner and son of the late congressman Mac Collins. Collins is running against Vernon Jones, a former primary foe of Kemp’s who has received Trump’s backing. In Georgia’s Republican primary last month, Kemp soundly defeated another Trump-supported candidate: former U.S. Sen. David Perdue.
Jones, a longtime Democrat who began backing Trump and switched parties when he left the state House in 2021, abandoned a Republican bid against Kemp to clear the field for Perdue at Trump’s behest. In exchange, Trump endorsed Jones in the 10th District, which covers 18 counties east of Atlanta, including Athens.
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