Endorsement chaos sows confusion in Georgia’s Republican U.S. Senate runoff

Endorsement war

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (left) and former football coach Derek Dooley will face each other in the June 16 runoff in the Republican primary for Georgia's U.S. Senate seat. (AJC file photos)

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Things to know

Keisha Lance Bottoms and U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff lead the Democratic ticket for governor and senator after the May primaries. (AJC file)

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• President Donald Trump’s baseless claims about his 2020 defeat in Georgia have never stopped shaping state Republican politics, and the race to succeed outgoing Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is a case in point, writes the AJC’s Caleb Groves.
• Ossoff and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms are joining forces atop the Democratic ticket in November, Bluestein writes.
• The sports betting industry invested heavily in 34 state legislative races ahead of last week’s primary. A review by the AJC’s David Wickert found the industry’s favored candidates won or advanced to a runoff in all but two of those races.

He’s out

Then-Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Chase Oliver speaks to supporters during a 2022 party meeting at Manuel's Tavern. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

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Abrams endorsement

State Sen. Josh McLaurin, who is running for lieutenant governor, speaks to media at the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center in January. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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Fallout continues

(Photo Illustration: Broly Su/AJC; Source: Courtesy of Brandon Phillips)

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Hold that snapper

From left to right: Russel Kent, Hudson Kent and Brian Kent show off their red snapper catch on the final day of the recreational fishing season last summer. (Courtesy)

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Listen up

John Hope Bryant, CEO of Operation HOPE, seen here in 2024. (Jenni Girtman for The AJC)

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