Georgia GOP Worried About Divided Primary as Trump Stays Silent on Endorsement

Georgia Republicans are concerned about a potential runoff situation similar to Texas as three GOP candidates compete for the nomination to challenge Sen. Jon Ossoff. While Ossoff builds his war chest with over $25 million, the Republican field remains split without a Trump endorsement.

ATLANTA — Republican leaders in Georgia are growing increasingly concerned as their party faces a divided primary field while Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff leads the nation in campaign fundraising and continues building support among voters.

The situation in Texas this week has only heightened these worries. Without former President Donald Trump stepping in with an endorsement to narrow the field, Senator John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton are heading toward a costly and divisive runoff that could drain resources from more competitive races across the country.

While Trump has indicated he will eventually pick a side between the Texas candidates, he hasn’t revealed his timeline or preference. There’s also no indication the former president plans to get involved in Georgia’s May 19 primary, potentially setting up Republicans for the same challenging scenario.

State party chair Josh McKoon expressed his concerns about the timeline, saying “I’d like to have as many days as I can to focus the public’s attention on the choice between our nominee and Sen. Ossoff.” He added, “Assuming that President Trump does not weigh in, it seems like it is more likely than not that we will have a runoff.”

Three major Republican candidates are vying for the nomination: Representative Mike Collins, Representative Buddy Carter, and former football coach Derek Dooley. All three have branded themselves as the strongest Trump ally who could best serve the former president’s agenda in Washington. A Trump endorsement would likely determine the winner given his influence within the party.

Faith & Freedom Coalition chairman Ralph Reed emphasized the power of Trump’s backing, calling it “the gold standard of the party” and “the strongest endorsement I’ve ever seen in my career.”

Ossoff appears to welcome the Republican infighting over Trump’s support. During a speech at Georgia’s state capitol this week, he said, “My opponents have already made clear they will be Donald Trump’s puppets.”

National Republican leaders are sounding alarms about the fractured field. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told The Washington Examiner last month that the crowded primary could lead to a general election defeat in Georgia.

“We need to get it down to one candidate as soon as possible,” Scott explained. “And if we are able to do so, we have a chance to be successful there. But as long as we have three candidates, it’s going to be tougher for us.”

Republican strategist Stephen Lawson, who supports Collins, warned that Ossoff “continues every day going unscathed.” He stressed, “I do think there has to be some sense of urgency on settling on a candidate and clearing the field sooner rather than later.”

Collins has secured numerous in-state endorsements and backing from the Club for Growth, an influential conservative organization. He markets himself as the “America First MAGA candidate.” However, he’s currently dealing with an ethics complaint from a congressional watchdog alleging his policy adviser and former chief of staff improperly hired his girlfriend as an intern despite her not completing required work. Collins has dismissed the complaint as “bogus.”

Carter, a longtime political figure in southeast Georgia, positioned himself differently in a recent interview, stating “I’m the one without any baggage.” He calls himself a “MAGA warrior” and has advocated for stronger immigration enforcement throughout the state, despite criticism of harsh tactics used elsewhere.

The financial disparity between parties is stark. Ossoff has amassed more than $25.5 million in campaign funds, while his potential Republican opponents lag far behind: Collins with $2.3 million, Dooley with $2.1 million, and Carter with $4.2 million (much of it his own money).

Despite this gap, McKoon remains optimistic that Republican donors will rally around whoever emerges as the nominee and help level the playing field financially.

Trump’s endorsement history in Georgia presents a mixed record. In 2021, his backed candidates David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler lost to Ossoff and Senator Raphael Warnock. The following year, Warnock defeated Trump-endorsed football legend Herschel Walker.

Carter speculated that Trump might avoid making an endorsement to protect the narrow Republican House majority, which includes both Carter and Collins. “The president really is probably going to sit this one out,” Carter predicted.

Collins took a different approach, praising Trump’s strategic timing, saying he has “always had the impeccable ability to put his name on someone at the right time to get the most bang for his buck.”

The candidates aren’t just working to prove their Trump loyalty to voters—they’re also trying to convince the former president they have the best chance of winning in November. According to Reed, electability is Trump’s primary concern.

“The only thing that drives Trump more than finding candidates that are loyal both philosophically and personally is identifying and getting behind candidates that can win,” Reed explained. “He wants to win.”