Former college coach Derek Dooley lost the Georgia Republican Senate runoff to Rep. Mike Collins on June 16, 56% to 44%. Dooley’s private acknowledgment that Trump lost Georgia in 2020 and his limited political experience are seen as factors in the race, and Trump’s endorsement of Collins two days before the runoff shifted momentum. Collins will challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November. Dooley, 58, conceded and said the campaign simply ran out of time.
Derek Dooley Loses Georgia GOP Senate Runoff After Trump Backs Mike Collins
Derek Dooley watches the Tennessee Volunteers warm-up during practice in preparation for the Music City Bowl in 2010.
Former college football coach Derek Dooley was defeated in the Republican U.S. Senate runoff in Georgia on June 16, conceding to U.S. Rep. Mike Collins after Collins captured 56% of the vote to Dooley’s 44% with all 159 localities reporting.
Dooley, 58, the son of legendary University of Georgia coach Vince Dooley, ran as a political newcomer who leaned on his family name and football résumé. He previously served as head coach at Louisiana Tech (2007–2009) and Tennessee (2010–2012) and worked as an offensive analyst at Alabama in 2023. His head-coaching records were 17–20 at Louisiana Tech and 15–21 at Tennessee.
Trump Endorsement Shifts Race
Two days before the runoff, former President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Collins. In a June 14 post on Truth Social, Trump criticized Dooley for saying Trump lost Georgia in 2020 and noted Dooley’s years living outside the state and inconsistent voting history. Dooley had privately acknowledged in an audio recording obtained by the Washington Examiner that Trump lost Georgia in 2020 — a comment that likely weakened his standing with the party’s pro-Trump base.
“I don’t know Derek Dooley, and neither does anyone else, but he seems like a nice person,” Trump wrote. “Unfortunately, he has lived outside of Georgia for most of his life, didn’t vote in 2020 or 2016, and said that I lost Georgia in 2020 when, in actuality, the facts have now proven that I won by a lot!”
What Comes Next
Collins, who promoted claims that the 2020 election was stolen, will face incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in the November general election for a closely watched Senate seat. Dooley congratulated Collins after the results and told supporters, “Like my old high school coach said, the clock just ran out on us. I wish we had a little more time.”
Dooley had earlier received the endorsement of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who has pushed back against claims that the 2020 election was stolen. In the May primary, Collins advanced with 41% in a five-way field while Dooley finished second with 30%, setting up the June 16 runoff.
Dooley’s loss also means the next Senate class will not include a former college head football coach: Tommy Tuberville, who won a Senate seat in 2020 after securing Trump’s backing, is leaving the Senate to run for governor of Alabama.
Reporting note: This account is based on unofficial state results and reporting from USA TODAY and the Washington Examiner. The story was updated to include the most recent information.
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