June 16, 2026 — In a series of pivotal elections, Georgia's political landscape has shifted dramatically. The state witnessed a Republican Senate primary victory for Mike Collins, a close ally of President Donald Trump, who was endorsed by the former president just days before the runoff. Collins' win sets the stage for a high-stakes Senate race against the rising Democratic star, Sen. Jon Ossoff, in November. Meanwhile, the governor's race took an unexpected turn as billionaire Rick Jackson, a political newcomer, defeated Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the Republican runoff. Jackson's victory, fueled by his substantial personal spending, marks a significant shift in Georgia's political dynamics.
The election results in Georgia also extended to the Senate, where Collins' victory is seen as a triumph for Trump and a defeat for Governor Brian Kemp, who had initially backed Collins' opponent, Derek Dooley. Collins, a member of the House of Representatives, has positioned himself as a staunch supporter of Trump's MAGA agenda. His win in the Republican primary runoff is a clear indication of the former president's enduring influence in the state.
In Oklahoma, the Republican gubernatorial primary saw former state Sen. Mike Mazzei and Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond advance to a runoff in August. Mazzei, a 12-year veteran of the state Senate, received an endorsement from President Trump, but it wasn't enough to secure the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff. Drummond, an ardent critic of the establishment, leveraged his statewide name recognition to advance to the next round.
The Democratic primary in Oklahoma featured State House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, who became the first Asian American woman elected to the Oklahoma state Legislature in 2015. Munson, a vocal opponent of the state's near-total abortion ban, has made the repeal of the legislation and the restoration of reproductive healthcare rights a central pillar of her message. She now advances to a general election where the math is daunting, as Oklahoma has not elected a Democratic governor since 2006.
In Alabama, the Republican primary for the Senate seat held by outgoing Sen. Tommy Tuberville saw US Rep. Barry Moore emerge victorious. Moore, a small business owner and member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, was endorsed by President Trump to succeed Tuberville, who is running for governor. Moore's victory in the runoff election is a clear indication of the president's sway in the state.
The election results in Georgia and Alabama also extended to the governor's race, where Rick Jackson's victory in the Republican runoff is a significant development. Jackson, a billionaire health care executive, poured more than $100 million from his personal fortune into his outsider bid for the GOP nomination, defying the state political establishment and overcoming President Donald Trump's endorsement of his runoff rival, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. Jackson's win sets the stage for a high-profile gubernatorial race against Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.
In Oklahoma, the Republican primary for the US Senate saw Rep. Kevin Hern emerge as the winner. Hern, a four-term congressman representing the Tulsa area, established a reputation as a staunch conservative and Trump supporter. He now advances to the general election as a heavy favorite in reliably Republican Oklahoma.
The election results in Georgia and Oklahoma also highlighted the impact of endorsements and personal spending on election outcomes. Collins' victory in the Republican Senate primary runoff is a clear indication of Trump's enduring influence in the state, while Jackson's win in the Republican gubernatorial runoff is a testament to the power of personal spending and strategic cultivation of ties to the president. The election results in these states underscore the complex interplay between political endorsements, personal spending, and the shifting dynamics of the Republican Party in the post-Trump era.
