Two last-minute endorsements from President Donald Trump and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp over the weekend shook up Tuesday’s primary runoff elections for the top two seats on the Georgia ballot.
It started at 1 a.m. Sunday with Trump posting his endorsement of Congressman Mike Collins in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate to face incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff from Georgia. Collins posted on social media Sunday afternoon just before a rally in Woodstock.
“President, thank you so much for your endorsement. You don’t know what that means to me. I appreciate you putting confidence in me to make sure that we put someone in that U.S. Senate seat that represents not just the state of Georgia, but the people and our values,” he said.
Trump also took shots at Collins’ opponent, Derek Dooley, for saying that Trump lost Georgia in 2020.
Dooley addressed the endorsement at a Monday morning press event in Chamblee, Georgia.
“My position has not changed since the day I got into this race, and I said I’d be honored to have everybody’s endorsement, but the most important endorsement I’ve been working toward every single day is that of the people of Georgia because that’s what matters most and that’s what I’m gonna continue to focus on for these next 24 hours,” he said.
Dooley’s campaign has been backed by Kemp, who spoke as well.
“Look, I was very clear with the president that I thought we needed a political outsider in this race, the best political outsider was Derek Dooley to be Jon Ossoff. Obviously he disagreed, and the voters are going to weigh in tomorrow to settle that score,” Kemp said.
Kemp did not address whether not having Trump’s endorsement would hurt Dooley in the November general election. “I’m not worried about any political equations or keeping score. Everything I’m doing is to make sure we win in November,” he added.
Earlier Monday morning in Atlanta, Kemp was also standing next to Lt. Gov. Burt Jones after Kemp made a last-second endorsement of Jones in the Republican primary for governor.
“I can’t say enough about how appreciative Jane and I are of of this endorsement, Governor and First Lady, and we think that this is exactly what’s gonna put us over the top,” Jones said.
Then, Monday afternoon, Jones’ opponent, billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, rallied with Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Supporters of Jackson said they were surprised, shocked and confused by Kemp’s decision. As for Jackson himself, he was not critical of Kemp when asked about the endorsement.
“We’re gonna win big tomorrow. I’m gonna, I respect, Gov. Kemp very much, and, I think people are ready for an outsider. That’s what they want. That’s what they’re gonna vote for, and that’s why we’re going to win tomorrow,” Jackson said.
