Georgia Republicans head to the polls Tuesday for primary runoff elections in marquee races for U.S. Senate and governor, as well as downballot contests that were not decided in the May 19 primary.
The highest-profile contest features U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley vying for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff in November. The general election race is among the most closely watched in the country, the Associated Press reported, because it could affect the balance of power in the Senate.
Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats. They can afford to lose up to three seats and still maintain control of the chamber, as Vice President JD Vance can cast tiebreaking votes. The party faces competitive seats to defend in Alaska, Maine, Ohio, North Carolina and elsewhere, making the Georgia race a key pickup opportunity to expand their majority.
The Senate runoff was triggered after neither Collins nor Dooley received a majority of the vote in the May 19 primary. Voters in several other races will also cast runoff ballots Tuesday. Those include contests for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and a handful of congressional and state legislative districts where no candidate received a majority in the primary.
Polls will close across Georgia on Tuesday evening, with results expected to follow.