Key facts
- Senator Ted Cruz is endorsing candidates in Georgia and South Carolina who are not backed by President Donald Trump.
- In Georgia, Cruz is supporting Rick Jackson over Burt Jones for governor, while Trump backs Jones.
- In South Carolina, Cruz is backing Alan Wilson over Pamela Evette for governor, with Evette also not having Trump's endorsement.
- Cruz stated his endorsements are based on selecting the strongest conservative candidate who can win the general election.
- The Georgia Senate runoff features Trump-backed Mike Collins against Kemp-backed Derek Dooley.
- Georgia's primary runoffs conclude on Tuesday, and South Carolina's conclude next week.
Georgia Republicans are participating in primary runoffs to select their nominees for the U.S. Senate and governor, with the contests serving as a significant test of President Donald Trump's endorsement power against the influence of Governor Brian Kemp.
In the closely watched Senate race, Trump has backed Rep. Mike Collins, a conservative congressman. Collins faces Derek Dooley, a former football coach and first-time candidate, who has received support from Governor Kemp. Dooley is campaigning on a platform of pragmatism and the necessity for Republicans to broaden their appeal beyond their traditional base to secure victory against incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.
Collins secured more votes than Dooley in the initial primary, advancing both to the runoff. Recent polling indicates Collins holds an advantage over Dooley. The winner will face Ossoff in the general election, a race considered critical for determining control of the U.S. Senate.
Senator Ted Cruz is also making his own endorsements in the runoffs, backing candidates who differ from Trump's choices. In Georgia's gubernatorial race, Cruz is supporting billionaire Rick Jackson over Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who has Trump's endorsement. Jackson has reportedly spent over $100 million on his campaign. In South Carolina, Cruz is endorsing Attorney General Alan Wilson for governor, while Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette is also seeking the nomination without Trump's backing.
Cruz stated that his decisions are not about directly opposing Trump but about endorsing the strongest conservative candidate who can win the general election, emphasizing the high stakes of the upcoming contests.