Welcome to From the Politics Desk , a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.
Ahead of tonight’s primary runoffs in Alabama and Georgia, Steve Kornacki spotlights the key areas that could swing the outcomes. Plus, Yuliya Talmazan explores how President Donald Trump is starting to turn his attention back to the Russia-Ukraine war.
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— Adam Wollner
The places to watch in Alabama and Georgia tonight
Analysis by Steve Kornacki
The power of President Donald Trump ’s endorsement will be put to the test in three high-profile Republican primary runoffs today.
In the Georgia Senate race, the president threw his support behind Rep. Mike Collins , who finished first in the May 19 primary with 41%, over the weekend. He is facing off against former football coach Derek Dooley , who came in second with 30%.
Collins is the clear favorite. In the initial primary, he demonstrated a geographic breadth of support that Dooley didn’t match, winning a majority of the states’ 159 counties and finishing second everywhere else.
Critically, this includes the Savannah-based 1st Congressional District , where a third candidate — Rep. Buddy Carter , the local congressman — posted blowout margins. Collins finished second in the district, while Dooley struggled to break single digits there. This should position Collins to make inroads with the newly up-for-grabs Carter voters who loom large in the runoff.
Dooley’s support, meanwhile, was much more concentrated in the primary. He fared best in the Atlanta metro area , home to a professional-class voter base that has proven willing to defy Trump in past primaries. Dooley won only 13 counties, but they were generally large counties that together accounted for 25% of all votes cast statewide. To have any chance of pulling an upset, Dooley will need landslide margins around the Atlanta area and lower turnout in the state’s rural areas.
Georgia’s GOP gubernatorial primary runoff looks much closer. Trump is backing Lt. Gov. Burt Jones , who finished first with 38% in the May 19 primary. He is facing off against Rick Jackson , a self-funding businessman who came in second with 33%.
A major late development came over the weekend when Gov. Brian Kemp endorsed Jones. That could be significant because Kemp’s strongest backers inside the Republican Party are from the (somewhat) Trump-skeptical Atlanta metro area.
In the initial primary, a third candidate, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , posted his strongest numbers in this area. Raffensperger had earned Trump’s ire after refusing to go along with his unfounded claims about Georgia’s 2020 presidential election result being illegitimate. Kemp’s seal of approval for Jones could make the lieutenant governor more palatable to these voters.
Notably, the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr. , took to social media to praise Jackson yesterday and to argue that “no matter who wins tomorrow, it’s a victory for MAGA” — a seemingly clear sign of the contest’s volatility.
Across the border in Alabama, Trump is backing Rep. Barry Moore in the GOP Senate primary runoff. Moore finished first in the May primary, besting former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson 39% to 26%. But the limited available polling since then has shown a tight race. Trump has stood by his endorsement, but he has not attacked Hudson, who has portrayed himself as a strong ally of the president.
There were some clear geographic divisions in the initial primary. Moore cleaned up in southern Alabama , where his congressional district is based, while Hudson scored impressively in and around Birmingham . That makes northern Alabama , where Attorney General Steve Marshall , the other major candidate in the primary was from, critical tonight. Madison County, home of fast-growing Huntsville — which recently supplanted Birmingham as the state’s largest city — will be worth paying particular attention to.
🗳️What else to watch tonight: Beyond Alabama and Georgia, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C., are holding primaries, while voters in California’s 14th District will weigh in on a replacement for former Rep. Eric Swalwell . Read more →
🎥 Tune in to the Kornacki Cam at 7 p.m. ET to watch Steve break down all the results.
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Read the full article at NBC News →📄Source document: Truth Social post by Donald Trump→14 reports
PolitiFactIndependentCenter2 days agoA Jon Ossoff campaign ad claims that Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Collins 'admitted' that former President Donald Trump was in the Epstein files. The ad uses a clip of Collins saying, 'Yeah, I'm sure he's in there,' but omits what Collins said immediately afterward. The article notes that the ad creates the impression that Collins is confirming Trump's presence in the files for nefarious reasons, while omitting key context.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both sides of the issue without taking a stance. It highlights the omission in the ad and provides context about the timing and nature of Collins' remarks without endorsing either the claim or its rebuttal.
AxiosIndependentCenter4 days agoRepublican Rep. Mike Collins won the Georgia Senate runoff election against Derek Dooley and will face off against Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) in the November general election. Collins received approximately 55% of the vote, according to preliminary results. The race is seen as significant for Republicans, who view Ossoff's seat as crucial for maintaining control of the U.S. Senate. Collins ran as a Trump loyalist focusing on immigration enforcement, while Governor Brian Kemp supported Dooley. Collins raised $4.3 million in campaign funds.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly favoring either candidate. It includes details about both candidates' positions, fundraising, and endorsements but does not use loaded language or emphasize one side over the other. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the significance of
Official sources cited
- government Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's office
- press release Associated Press (AP)
- organisation Open Secrets
The New York Times (US)Independent🔒Center4 days agoMike Collins, endorsed by former President Donald J. Trump, has won the Georgia Republican Senate runoff election. Collins positioned himself as a MAGA-aligned candidate while also seeking to attract moderate voters.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It mentions Trump's endorsement but does not frame it as particularly significant or controversial. The description of Collins' campaign strategy is neutral.
PoliticoParty-alignedCenter4 days agoGeorgia Rep. Mike Collins won the Republican primary runoff against former football coach Derek Dooley, securing the GOP nomination to face Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in the general election. Collins received a late endorsement from former President Donald Trump, which played a significant role in his victory. The primary became a contentious battle between Governor Brian Kemp, who supported Dooley, and Trump, who endorsed Collins. Collins' campaign faced internal challenges, including an incident involving a top aide who posted a vulgar comment online, though Collins distanced himself from
Bias read (Center): The article presents the events objectively without overtly favoring either candidate or political side. It includes details about both candidates, their campaigns, and external factors like Trump's endorsement, but does not use loaded language or emphasize one perspective over the other.
NBC NewsIndependentCenter4 days agoRep. Mike Collins has won the Republican Senate runoff in Georgia, setting up a race against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Collins defeated former college football coach Derek Dooley in the primary. Collins received support from President Donald Trump, while Dooley was backed by Governor Brian Kemp. The race is considered crucial for both parties, with Georgia being a key battleground. Collins, a first-term congressman, has positioned himself as a strong conservative and has begun outlining his campaign against Ossoff.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly favoring either candidate. It includes details about both candidates' endorsements, their positions, and the significance of the race without using biased language or selective sourcing. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the outcome and
NBC NewsIndependentCenter4 days ago The places to watch in Alabama and Georgia tonight: From the Politics DeskNBC News provides an analysis of the upcoming Republican primary runoffs in Alabama and Georgia, focusing on the impact of President Donald Trump's endorsements. The article highlights the Georgia Senate race between Rep. Mike Collins and former football coach Derek Dooley, noting Collins' strong geographic support and the potential influence of Trump's backing.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced overview of the political landscape in the runoffs, discussing both candidates' strengths without overtly favoring one side. It focuses on factual analysis and does not include biased language or one-sided sourcing.
Official sources cited
- press release From the Politics Desk
The Daily WireIndependentRight4 days agoIn the Georgia Senate runoff election, Republican Rep. Mike Collins was selected as the party's nominee to face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Collins currently holds a lead over former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley. The race highlights tensions between the MAGA movement and the Republican establishment, with President Donald Trump endorsing Collins for the first time in this race.
Bias read (Right): The article emphasizes the MAGA movement's influence and features extensive quotes from Donald Trump endorsing Collins, using strong positive language such as 'WARRIOR and WINNER' and highlighting Trump's endorsement as significant. The framing suggests support for the MAGA-aligned candidate without
PoliticoParty-alignedCenter5 days ago Trump questioned whether Mike Collins could win Georgia with his abortion stancePresident Donald Trump unexpectedly endorsed Rep. Mike Collins for Georgia's Senate seat shortly before his 80th birthday, despite concerns during a prior meeting where Trump criticized Collins' strict abortion stance and questioned his electability in a general election. This endorsement shifted momentum in the GOP Senate runoff, favoring Collins over Governor Brian Kemp's preferred candidate.
Bias read (Center): The article presents facts without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on Trump's actions and the internal discussions around Collins' endorsement, without taking a clear ideological stance. The framing appears balanced, covering both the surprise of the endorsement and the pre
The Daily WireIndependentRight6 days ago Trump Makes Endorsement Ahead Of Critical Senate RunoffPresident Donald Trump endorsed Rep. Mike Collins for the Senate ahead of the Georgia Republican primary runoff election. Collins faces former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley in the runoff, with the winner set to challenge Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff. Trump emphasized Collins' loyalty and support from MAGA voters, highlighting Collins' strong backing within the Republican Party.
Bias read (Right): The article uses highly partisan language such as 'MAGA Mike Collins,' 'WARRIOR and WINNER,' and emphasizes Trump's endorsement of a Republican candidate in a critical Senate race. The framing highlights Trump's influence and the significance of the MAGA movement, without providing balanced counter-
CBS News (US)IndependentCenter7 days agoPresident Donald Trump endorsed Rep. Mike Collins in the Republican Senate runoff in Georgia, which will determine the opponent for Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Collins faces former college football coach Derek Dooley in the runoff following the lack of a Republican candidate securing over 50% of the vote in the primary. The race is considered one of the most closely watched Senate contests and could influence control of the Senate.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on Trump's endorsement of Collins but does not frame it as favoring one side over another. The content remains neutral in tone and provides context about the election dynamics without taking a
Official sources cited
- statement Truth Social post by Donald Trump
The Washington TimesIndependentRight7 days agoPresident Trump has endorsed Rep. Mike Collins for the Georgia Senate runoff election, which will determine the Republican candidate facing Senator Jon Ossoff in the November general election. Collins and former college football coach Derek Dooley both failed to secure more than 50% of the primary vote, necessitating a runoff. Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican who has frequently clashed with Trump, has endorsed Dooley. The runoff is seen as a test of Trump's influence in Georgia, a state he won in 2024. Trump praised Collins as being strongly supported by 'Highly Respected MAGA Patriots' and '
Bias read (Right): The article emphasizes Trump's endorsement of Mike Collins, using terms such as 'MAGA Patriots' and highlighting Trump's support for Collins while noting Kemp's opposition to Trump's views on the 2020 election. This framing aligns with conservative rhetoric and highlights Trump's influence within a右
ABC News (US)IndependentRight7 days agoPresident Donald Trump has endorsed U.S. Rep. Mike Collins in the Georgia Senate runoff election, positioning Collins as a loyal supporter of Trump's 'Make America Great Again' movement. Collins faces former football coach Derek Dooley in the runoff, with Collins currently leading in the primary but neither candidate securing more than 40% of the vote. Trump criticized Dooley for not voting in previous elections, though Dooley claims he voted for Trump in 2024.
Bias read (Right): The article frames Trump's endorsement of Collins as a 'stamp of approval' and emphasizes Collins' alignment with Trump's MAGA movement. The language used to describe Collins ('stalwart ally,' 'true friend, fighter, and warrior') is strongly positive and aligned with conservative rhetoric. In对比, Do
The HillIndependentRight7 days agoPresident Trump has endorsed Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) in the upcoming Georgia Republican Senate runoff against former college football coach Derek Dooley. Trump praised Collins as being strongly supported by 'Highly Respected MAGA Patriots' and described him as a 'WARRIOR and WINNER.'
Bias read (Right): The article uses explicitly partisan language such as 'MAGA Patriots,' which aligns with far-right ideological framing. The endorsement is presented without counterpoints or balanced perspective, emphasizing Trump’s strong support for Collins.
The New York Times (US)Independent🔒Center7 days ago President Trump Endorses Mike Collins in Georgia Senate RunoffPresident Trump has endorsed Mike Collins in the Georgia Senate runoff election, choosing him over Derek Dooley, a former football coach supported by Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican with a strained relationship with the president.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual statement without overtly biased language or framing. It reports on an endorsement without taking a stance or emphasizing any particular perspective.
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