Georgia gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson speaks during a Georgia primary election party on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
ATLANTA — Rick Jackson has been declared the winner of the Republican runoff for Georgia governor by The Associated Press, defeating Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in a closely watched intraparty contest.
With 86% of the vote counted, Jackson led Jones 52.7% to 47.3% late Tuesday as returns continued to be tabulated.
The race marked the conclusion of a competitive Republican primary runoff after neither candidate secured a majority in the May primary, setting up a head-to-head contest that drew significant attention from state and national GOP leaders.
Jackson was strong in the metro areas of Atlanta, Columbus, Augusta and Savannah, helping push him across the finish line in the statewide contest. Jones carried many smaller counties in South Georgia.
In Habersham County, Jackson also carried the unofficial complete vote, defeating Jones 3,112 to 2,861, according to county election results.
The Republican Governors Association quickly congratulated Jackson on the projected victory.
“Congratulations to Rick Jackson on his primary victory,” said RGA Chair Gov. Greg Gianforte. “As a businessman and job creator, Jackson understands firsthand what it takes to grow a business, create opportunity, and strengthen communities across Georgia. As governor, Jackson will continue lowering taxes, supporting law enforcement, and keeping Georgia a national leader in business and job growth. While Democrats push the same failed agenda of high costs and more government control, Jackson remains focused on commonsense conservative leadership that will deliver results for Georgia families.”
The Democratic Governors Association sharply criticized Jackson following the AP call.
“Rick Jackson is only out for himself – not Georgia,” said DGA Executive Director Meghan Meehan-Draper. The statement accused Jackson of seeking office “to enrich himself and block anything that protects Georgians from high costs and threats to their health care,” and cited his business record and past controversies.
It added that Jackson has benefited from “a billion dollars in state contracts,” opposed Medicaid expansion efforts, and has been criticized over his company’s record.
The statement also said Jackson “has even bragged about profiting off the tariffs crippling Georgia farmers and companies,” and concluded: “We look forward to making sure that Jackson spends next year back on his estate in Cumming and gets nowhere near the Governor’s Mansion.”
Jackson will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the November general election.
Jackson’s victory caps a runoff cycle defined by endorsements, competing conservative messaging and turnout-driven strategy across Georgia’s Republican electorate.
In Habersham County, voters interviewed earlier Tuesday cited endorsements, candidate familiarity and conservative alignment as key factors shaping their decisions in the Republican runoff.
Sen. Josh McLaurin. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)
ATLANTA — Georgia Democrats have completed their statewide slate for November after voters selected nominees in four key runoff elections Tuesday night.
With roughly 80% of precincts reporting, state Sen. Josh McLaurin secured the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, defeating former state Sen. Nabilah Parkes 55% to 45%.
In the race for secretary of state, former judge Penny Reynolds won decisively, earning 64% of the vote over Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett, who received 36%.
Democrats also selected their nominee for insurance commissioner, with former Atlanta City Council member Keisha Sean Waites defeating DeAndre Mathis by a 59% to 41% margin.
For labor commissioner, Nikki Porcher emerged victorious, defeating Michelle Sanchez 62% to 38%.
The runoff results complete the Democratic ticket ahead of the November 3 general election, when nominees will compete for several statewide offices that have been held by Republicans for years. Georgia Democrats are also fielding candidates in the state’s marquee races for governor and U.S. Senate, where incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is seeking a second term. He’ll face challenger Mike Collins, who defeated Kemp-backed Derek Dooley in Tuesday’s GOP runoff.
McLaurin’s victory gives Democrats a nominee for lieutenant governor as the party seeks to win the office for the first time in more than two decades. The seat is open because current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is running for governor.
Tuesday’s runoffs were required because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the May 19 primary elections. Georgia law requires a runoff when no candidate wins an outright majority.
While vote counting was still ongoing Tuesday night, the margins in all four Democratic runoff contests appeared large enough to establish the party’s nominees heading into the fall campaign.
U.S. Senate candidate Mike Collins reacts during an election-night watch party, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Jackson, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
ATLANTA (AP) — Rep. Mike Collins on Tuesday defeated first-time candidate Derek Dooley for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in Georgia, advancing to face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff for a seat that will help determine control of Capitol Hill for the final years of Donald Trump’s second presidency.
President Donald Trump will be a key fault line in the general election matchup. Collins, who was endorsed by Trump on Sunday, has identified closely with the president since he first won his House seat in north Georgia in 2022. A trucking company owner and son of a congressman, Collins campaigns as a self-described “MAGA warrior.”
Ossoff, first elected in 2020, has blasted Trump as a “national embarrassment” who is using the presidency to enrich himself and his family. The 39-year-old is the lone Senate Democrat running in a state that Trump won in 2024. Democrats face tremendous pressure to hold his seat as they try to gain a net of four seats to claim a Senate majority.
Senate contest previews a titanic fall fight
Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate contest in Georgia since 2016, Trump’s first election.
Despite his ties to Trump and the Republican base, Collins has argued that he can build a broad coalition, and he plans to use immigration as a contrast with Ossoff. In the House, Collins sponsored the Laken Riley Act, a 2025 law that requires immigrants accused of certain crimes to be detained. It is named for a Georgia nursing student killed in 2021 by a Venezuelan man who was in the U.S. illegally. Ossoff voted against a version of the legislation before backing the final proposal after Trump’s return to power.
Collins won the nomination despite his Republican opponents highlighting a House ethics complaint that accuses him of abusing taxpayer funds by paying the girlfriend of his former top adviser for congressional job duties she allegedly did not fulfill. After an initial investigation, a federal panel forwarded the matter to the House Ethics Committee.
The congressman begins his general election campaign at a financial disadvantage. Collins raised about $4.9 million through the end of May, and reported having less than $1.2 million remaining. Through late April, the last time Ossoff had to file before his primary, the incumbent had raised $60.4 million and had $32.5 million on hand.
Georgia voters also were nominating a Republican in the gubernatorial contest to face former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat.
Trump picked his candidate for governor 10 months ago, endorsing Burt Jones, the Georgia lieutenant governor who was part of Trump’s attempt to overturn his 2020 defeat to former President Joe Biden. In that race, it was Kemp who made a late-hour endorsement, announcing his support for Jones on Sunday.
The power of Trump’s endorsement — and Kemp’s — is being tested by billionaire Rick Jackson, whose campaign has spent more than $100 million, mostly out of his own pocket, to win the nomination.
Polls closed at 7 p.m.
What voters in Georgia are saying
Voters Jenny Beth Martin and Debbie Dooley — who has no relation to Derek Dooley — were split over which Republican has the best chance of defeating Ossoff.
Martin, who supported Collins, says energizing the conservative base is necessary to protect Republican majorities that aren’t populated with Republican “anti-Trumpers” or “liberals like Jon Ossoff.”
But Debbie Dooley, who voted for Derek Dooley, said Collins has too much baggage and is too closely tied to the far-right to win.
“He will drag down the whole Republican ticket in Georgia,” she predicted. “This is about actually winning. It’s not about just following Donald Trump.”
Gubernatorial primary is a unique challenge for Trump
The president’s preferred primary candidates have a strong record so far in 2026. But none have faced a self-funded rival with Jackson’s spending power.
Jackson, a 71-year-old business owner, amassed a fortune from his company that provides contract healthcare personnel, and he’s used it to blanket television and online platforms with ads. Appealing to hard core Trump supporters, he’s pledged that immigrants in Georgia illegally will be “deported or departed.” He promises a slew of tax cuts. And previewing a potential general election argument, he’s played up his biography as a product of the state foster care system and featured his grandchildren advising him on how to make friendlier ads.
Jones, 47, comes from a wealthy family but is running a more modest campaign. Framing himself as a “proven leader,” Jones proposes eliminating Georgia’s state income tax — without detailing how he’d make up the revenue. And he trumpets his presidential seal of approval and time as a University of Georgia football player in the 1990s. As lieutenant governor, Jones pushed legislation that ultimately did not pass but would have disqualified Jackson’s company from receiving taxpayer-funded contracts.
Trump did not travel to Georgia to campaign with Jones but he’s given the lieutenant governor a fresh round of support on social media and called in to a telephone rally during the early voting period.
“Burt was strongly committed to my Campaign in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and worked tirelessly to help us WIN. He has been with us from the very beginning,” Trump posted on Truth Social last week.
Runoffs for elections chief could shape 2028
Georgia’s secretary of state race was open for the first time since Trump’s attempts to subvert the 2020 election, famously pressuring outgoing Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find 11,800 votes” to overtake Biden. Raffensberger refused.
For his potential successor, Republicans were left to choose between an outright election denier, Vernon Jones, and a state lawmaker, Tim Fleming, who avoids explicitly disputing the president’s 2020 election lies. They went with Fleming, who won the nomination on Tuesday.
Jones, a perennial candidate who was once a Democrat, embraced Trump’s “stop the steal” movement and said he stood “with those who believe there was election fraud.” Fleming, who once served as deputy secretary of state, has said there were “irregularities” in 2020, a word choice that has become code for Republicans who want neither to ratify nor call out Trump’s errant claims.
Democrats voted for Penny Brown Reynolds — a former state judge in Fulton County who also served in the Biden administration as deputy assistant secretary for civil rights for the Department of Agriculture — over Dana Barrett, a Fulton County commissioner.
FILE - This combination of photos shows Republican candidates for U.S. Senate Jared Hudson, left, on May 7, 2026, in Enterprise, Ala., and Rep. Barry Moore, right, on April 17, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo, File)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama congressman backed by President Donald Trump is seeking to defeat a political outsider in Tuesday’s Republican runoff for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat.
As polls closed across the state, U.S. Rep. Barry Moore is facing former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson for the Republican nomination to advance to November’s general election. The GOP is seeking to retain the seat vacated by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor. Two Democrats also are in a runoff.
Trump’s picks have largely prevailed in Republican primaries this year, although his preferred candidate for Iowa governor was defeated earlier this month. The Alabama race will be another test of his endorsement powers.
Moore is a three-term congressman and a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. He led first-round voting in May with nearly 40% of the ballot to Hudson’s 25%. He was an early backer of Trump’s first presidential campaign and Trump returned the support.
“Barry Moore has my complete and total endorsement. He’s the best America First candidate you can imagine,” Trump said recently.
Trump’s pick, challenger both try to position themselves as outsiders
Running as an outsider, Hudson had attacked Moore over his Washington ties while promising to be “a warrior for President Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda.”
“If you want the same thing over and over again, elect a career politician. If you want different results, somebody who can take your issues to Washington and not bring the stupidity of Washington back here to you, send a warrior to Washington,” Hudson said during a candidate forum in May.
Hudson secured a runoff spot in May by narrowly edging a leading early contender, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall.
Moore has leaned into his Washington record, highlighting Trump’s endorsement and his scorecard from a conservative group that ranks members of Congress on their voting records. He said many candidates say they support Trump, but he can prove it.
“Look at my record, the most conservative member in the Alabama delegation, an ally of the president,” Moore said. “The president has endorsed me because he’s seen me in the fire. I never bow down.”
Moore’s experience was a deciding factor for some voters who cast their ballots for him Tuesday, as a steady rain fell across much of Alabama.
“He’s the best qualified, I can tell you that — no question,” said Bob Marshall, 91, who voted for Moore at a Methodist church in Pike Road, a rural-feeling suburb near Montgomery, the state capital.
Hudson has quipped that he doesn’t have a legislative scorecard, but has racked up a high score “against the Taliban in over 60 combat operations.”
Julian Metheny, who voted for Hudson in Shelby County, said he was drawn to the Republican candidate’s service as a Navy SEAL, his Christian messaging and that he is not part of the political system.
“I like the fact that he was willing to put his life on the line for our country,” said Metheny, 70, who is from a family with multiple veterans.
“He’s not playing the game of politics. He’s an outsider,” he said.
Democratic candidates took different routes to the ballot
On the Democratic side, attorney Everett Wess and business owner Dakarai Larriett are in a runoff for the nomination. Wess led in the initial primary round, 39% to Larriett’s 29%.
Republicans currently hold all statewide offices, but Democrats believe frustration with inflation and other issues could give them an opening.
“Families throughout Alabama are struggling with inflation, housing costs, high gas bills, high utility bills and these everyday expenses,” Wess said during an online candidate forum hosted by Birmingham Indivisible.
Wess is the managing partner of The Wess Law Firm and a former municipal judge, city prosecutor and public defender. His legal practice is primarily focused on estate planning and criminal defense.
He has emphasized his legal experience, community positions and experience working within the Democratic Party.
Larriett is the owner of a pet care business. He said he was motivated to run after an encounter with police officers in Michigan two years ago when he said he was falsely arrested.
“We can and we must nominate a fighter, a Democratic fighter, for the United States Senate, someone who represents our values,” Larriett said during the forum. He said the party needs someone who “takes reproductive health seriously” and will “fight like hell” for voting rights.
Ballot also features heated races for some statewide offices
Competitive runoffs for attorney general and lieutenant governor also are on Tuesday’s ballot.
Secretary of State Wes Allen and former Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl are battling for the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor. The winner will face Democrat Phillip Ensler in November.
For attorney general, former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell faces Katherine Robertson, who is chief counsel to the current attorney general, Marshall. Mitchell attacked Robertson over initial work by the attorney general’s office to uphold the conviction of a police officer accused of manslaughter for an on-duty shooting. Robertson has called Mitchell a “woke lawyer.”
The winner will face Democrat Jeff McLaughlin in November.
Andrew Sneed and Candice Duvieilh also have a runoff for the Democratic nomination for the 5th Congressional District. The winner will face Republican Rep. Dale Strong, who was first elected in 2022.
Primaries under a redrawn US House map are approaching
Alabama will hold a new round of congressional primaries in August after winning permission from the U.S. Supreme Court to switch to a different congressional map favoring Republicans for the midterms.
The state is holding special primaries to decide nominations in the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th congressional districts. The new map could give Republicans an opportunity to recapture the 2nd Congressional District in November, currently represented by Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures. It could be important nationally in the battle for control of the narrowly divided chamber.
Alabama is one of several Southern states that quickly redrew their U.S. House maps and eliminated districts held by Black Democrats following a Supreme Court decision that severely weakened the Voting Rights Act.
Georgia voters turned out at the polls in steady numbers Tuesday for a primary election featuring competitive races for governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. Senator, and other statewide candidates.
Here are the unofficial, incomplete county-level vote totals from across the region. Scroll over the counties to see vote totals. Check back here for updates.
The Habersham County Voter Registration Office during the June 16th runoff election. (Patrick Fargason/NowGeorgia.com)
CORNELIA, Ga. — As Georgia voters headed to the polls Tuesday to decide Republican runoff elections for governor and U.S. Senate, Habersham County voters offered a glimpse into the competing forces shaping two of the state’s most closely watched races.
The runoffs pit Lt. Gov. Burt Jones against former state Sen. Rick Jackson in the Republican gubernatorial contest and U.S. Rep. Mike Collins against former college football coach Derek Dooley in the Republican Senate race. Both contests advanced to a runoff after no candidate secured a majority in the May primary.
Outside polling locations at the Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center and the Habersham County Board of Elections Office in Cornelia, voters cited everything from endorsements and policy concerns to electability and a desire for political outsiders.
For Brian Lee, concerns over data centers helped drive his choice for governor.
“I was concerned about data centers and Burt Jones’ stance on them,” Lee said after casting his ballot for Jackson.
For the Senate race, Lee backed Dooley.
“It wasn’t that I didn’t like Collins,” he said. “Dooley is the only one who has a chance to beat Ossoff.”
Several voters said endorsements played a major role in their decisions.
Art Davis said he supported Jones and Collins because both received President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
“I voted for Burt Jones and Mike Collins,” Davis said. “We need MAGA warriors who can save this state from the Democrats.”
Amy Oliver also pointed to Trump’s support when explaining her vote for Jones and Dooley.
“We align with him on a lot of things, so we respect his opinions,” she said.
For Dwayne Cannon of Mt. Airy, another endorsement proved influential.
“I was going to vote for Jackson, but then Gov. Brian Kemp endorsed Jones,” Cannon said. “I think Kemp is one of the best governors we’ve ever had.”
Other voters said they were looking for candidates outside the traditional political establishment.
Wendall Jackson said that was the primary reason he supported Jackson for governor and Dooley for Senate.
“I’m so sick of the system and anyone involved with it,” he said. “We need fresh ideas from people who haven’t been a part of politics.”
Adam Delight expressed a similar view in supporting Jackson.
“He’s the outsider,” Delight said. “I just had a good feeling about him.”
Some voters focused less on endorsements or ideology and more on personal impressions of the candidates.
Susan Mann said she voted for Jones for governor because she was uncomfortable with Jackson.
“I don’t know about Rick Jackson; he seemed … shady,” she said.
Mann supported Collins in the Senate race for a simpler reason.
“Name recognition.”
Joyce Robinson also voted for Jones but chose Dooley for Senate.
“I just trust him,” Robinson said.
John Dodd said he supported Jones because he believed Jackson was not conservative enough.
“Jackson tends to lean too much to the Democratic side,” Dodd said.
For some voters, the campaign itself became a factor.
Mike Able cast a ballot for Dooley but declined to choose a candidate in the governor’s race.
“Those television ads were so nasty,” Able said. “Neither one of them deserved my vote.”
Not every voter interviewed participated in the Republican runoff. One voter who requested anonymity said she chose the Democratic ballot despite living in a heavily Republican area.
“People need to vote their heart and who they feel is the best person,” she said.
The interviews reflected the diverse motivations driving voters in the final hours of the campaign. Some followed endorsements from Trump or Kemp. Others were motivated by issues such as data centers and taxes, while some simply backed the candidates they believed had the best chance of winning in November.
With control of the Republican nominations for governor and U.S. Senate hanging in the balance, Habersham voters appeared as divided over their reasoning as the statewide electorate is expected to be when the final votes are counted.
Now Georgia will continue to provide election results as they are reported throughout the night.
Joshua M. Peck, Patrick Fargason, Hazel Cording contributed to this story.
Beyond the Ranger Hall of Fame ceremony, inductees will be honored at the Ranger Hall of Fame at the National Infantry Museum. (Photo/National Infantry Museum)
On Wednesday, June 24, the Maneuver Center of Excellence and Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade, in partnership with the 75th Ranger Regiment, will host the 34th Annual Ranger Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
The Ranger Hall of Fame is the pinnacle of recognition for America’s most extraordinary Rangers. Established in 1992, it commemorates those who have proven unparalleled courage, selfless service, and elite leadership throughout the history of U.S. Army Ranger units.
Twelve inductees will be honored. The 2026 class includes high-ranking retired generals, combat veterans, and honorary members recognized for their contributions to the Ranger community. The ceremony will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Marshall Auditorium at McGinnis-Wickham Hall, Fort Benning.
Rangers Lead the Way. (Photo/Fort Benning)
The Hall of Fame is deeply significant for a few key reasons, including serving as the official archive honoring contributions spanning every era of Ranger history, from the early colonial days through modern conflicts. It also creates role models and provides examples of the Ranger Creed for current-era soldiers.
The U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame (RHOF) honors the legacy of extraordinary Rangers and is housed at the National Infantry Museum. It is jointly managed by the 75th Ranger Regiment and the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade
The 2026 class included high-ranking retired generals, combat veterans, and honorary members recognized for their contributions to the Ranger community.
Notable inductees range from early Ranger pioneers to modern military leaders and combat veterans. They include GEN Creighton Abrams, who oversaw the troop withdrawal from the Vietnam War, COL William Darby, legendary commander of Darby’s Ranger in WWII, and GEN Austin Scott Miller, Retired general who commanded all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
New inductees to be honored. Photo/Army Garrison Fort Benning)
The new inductees have made significant contributions, whether through military contributions or civilian support. They share a common goal to help Rangers Lead the Way.
The Habersham County 10U All-Star baseball team was recognized Monday night by the Habersham County Board of Commissioners
CLARKESVILLE, Ga. – The Habersham County 10U All-Star baseball team, fresh off a region championship run and state tournament berth, was recognized Monday night by the Habersham County Board of Commissioners, where officials also honored a county Solid Waste Department employee for outstanding public service.
The youth baseball team received the spotlight early in the June 15 meeting as players addressed commissioners ahead of their upcoming trip to the Georgia State Tournament in Statesboro.
State-bound 10U All-Stars recognized
Dax Holt, a player with the 10u All-Stars, speaks before the county commission. (Hazel Cording/NowGeorgia.com)
The players told commissioners they were proud to represent Habersham County after winning the District 7 championship and earning a berth in the state tournament at Mill Creek Regional Park in Statesboro.
“We have worked hard all season, spent many hours practicing and learning the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship and never giving up,” the players said in a prepared statement.
The team said travel, lodging and meal costs associated with the trip can be difficult for families and asked for community support as they prepare to compete on the state level.
“We are honored to wear Habersham across our jerseys, and we promise to represent our community with pride, respect and good sportsmanship,” they said.
Commission Chairman Bruce Harkness said during the meeting he would donate his commissioner salary this month to support the team’s trip.
The Habersham 10U All-Stars open state tournament play June 23 at 7 p.m. against Bremen in a double-elimination bracket.
Community fundraising effort
Assistant coach Zachary Ford previously said donations are being used to help cover travel, lodging and meal expenses for families making the trip to Statesboro.
Donations can be made via Venmo at @Habersham10U. Checks may be made payable to The Easton Foundation, which supports youth sports programs in the area.
Solid Waste employee recognized
The Board of Commissioners honored Ryan Ireland for his work at the county recycling center. (Patrick Fargason/NowGeorgia.com)
The commissioners also recognized Ryan Ireland of the Habersham County Solid Waste Department as part of the county’s observance of Solid Waste and Recycling Workers Week.
Solid Waste Director Johnnie Vickers praised Ireland for his work at the county’s recycling center, saying residents consistently commend his willingness to help unload recyclables, assist elderly residents and provide guidance on proper recycling practices.
Vickers said Ireland’s customer service and professionalism help educate the public on recycling efforts and reflect positively on county operations.
“He represents Habersham County with integrity and professionalism, and his contributions make a lasting difference in the lives of the citizens he serves,” Vickers said.
This GOES-19 GeoColor satellite image provided by NOAA, shows a storm system forming along the Gulf coast of Texas, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (NOAA via AP)
MIAMI (AP) — A cluster of storms along the Gulf Coast could become the first named tropical storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, the National Hurricane Center said.
The storms threatened to bring heavy downpours that could lead to dangerous floods across southern states, including Texas and Louisiana. The system was centered Tuesday afternoon about 55 miles south-southwest of Corpus Christi, Texas, according to a hurricane center advisory.
National Hurricane Center director Michael Brennan said meteorologists are expecting the system to strengthen, possibly into a tropical storm by early Wednesday. But coastal areas could experience tropical storm conditions this week, even if the system doesn’t officially get a name, Brennan said.
“The main hazard with these types of systems is largely the flooding from the heavy rainfall,” Brennan said. “And we could see potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding across the Texas coast eastward into central Mississippi through Thursday. Prolonged rainfall may extend the flood threat into the weekend.”
Tornadoes were possible from the upper Texas coast across southern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, forecasters said.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds were around 30 mph Tuesday, just shy of the 39 mph needed to be named a tropical storm. The system had a 70% chance of forming into a tropical cyclone over the next two days, the hurricane center said.
Houston, where a World Cup match between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo is scheduled for Wednesday, has been under a flood warning since Monday. The stadium is covered, and no plans have been announced to move or reschedule the match.
By Thursday, the storms could drop 4 to 8 inches of rain, with isolated totals of a foot in coastal areas.
A tropical storm watch was already in effect from Sargent, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana. Rough surf could cause rip currents along the Gulf for the next couple of days.
Georgia governor candidate Rick Jackson campaigns in Alpharetta, Ga., Monday, June 15, 2026, before the runoff against Lt. Gov Burt Jones on June 16. (AP Photo/Bill Barrow)
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Republicans are waging their latest fight over party identity in runoffs Tuesday that decide the nominees to face U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff and defend the governor’s office against former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
President Donald Trump is at the center of each contest.
In the Senate race, the president made a late endorsement of Rep. Mike Collins, a second-term congressman who calls himself a “MAGA warrior,” over Derek Dooley, a first-time candidate and former football coach who has the backing of outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp.
Trump picked his candidate for governor 10 months ago, endorsing Burt Jones, the Georgia lieutenant governor who was part of Trump’s attempt to overturn his 2020 defeat to former President Joe Biden. In that race, it was Kemp who made a late-hour endorsement, announcing his support for Jones on Sunday.
The power of Trump’s endorsement — and Kemp’s — is being tested by billionaire Rick Jackson, whose campaign has spent more than $100 million, mostly out of his own pocket, to win the nomination.
Senate contest previews a titanic fall fight
Georgia is key to the national fight for control of Capitol Hill. Ossoff, first elected in the 2020 cycle, is the only Democratic senator running in a state Trump won in 2024; Democrats desperately need to keep his seat if they hope to notch a net gain of four seats in order to have a majority.
Republicans’ choice hinges on a familiar debate over electability, with Dooley, 58, insisting his newcomer status is a benefit.
“We have got to get the best candidate to beat Jon Ossoff,” Dooley said at a campaign stop Monday. “The Republican Party has not won a Senate race in 10 years. … We have to learn some lessons from that.”
Before becoming a college and NFL coach, Dooley hailed from a storied family in Georgia sports lore. His father was legendary University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley.
The younger Dooley also has criticized Collins for a House ethics complaint accusing the congressman of abusing taxpayer money by paying the girlfriend of a former top aide for a congressional job she allegedly did not perform. An initial inquiry yielded a referral of the matter to the House ethics committee.
Collins, the son of a congressman, celebrated his endorsement from Trump. But he argues that his record actually makes for the best contrast with Ossoff, especially on immigration, and can attract a broader coalition.
“We’ve got a great organization with the right voting record and the right message,” he said.
U.S. Rep Mike Collins campaigns in Woodstock, Ga., Sunday, June 14, 2026. ( AP Photo/Bill Barrow)
Collins, 58, sponsored the 2025 Laken Riley Act, which requires immigrants accused of certain crimes to be held without bond. The law is named for a Georgia nursing student killed in 2021 by a man who had entered the U.S. illegally. Ossoff voted against the measure before flipping to back it after Trump returned to the White House.
Collins also emphasizes his ownership of a trucking company, saying it’s exposed him to the struggles workers and business owners endure. “We must protect Americans first, protect our people, put them first, get the federal government off the backs of hardworking men and women out there,” he said.
Whoever wins the nomination will face an immediate campaign finance gap and depend heavily on national GOP resources. By the end of May, neither GOP hopeful had reached $5 million in fundraising and both had less than $2 million on hand. Through late April, the last time Ossoff had to file before his uncontested primary, the senator had raised $60.4 million and had $32.5 million on hand.
What voters in Georgia are saying
Voters Jenny Beth Martin and Debbie Dooley — who has no relation to Derek Dooley — were split over which Republican has the best chance of defeating Ossoff.
Martin, who supported Collins, says energizing the conservative base is necessary to protect Republican majorities that aren’t populated with Republican “anti-Trumpers” or “liberals like Jon Ossoff.”
But Debbie Dooley, who voted for Derek Dooley, said Collins has too much baggage and is too closely tied to the far-right to win.
“He will drag down the whole Republican ticket in Georgia,” she predicted. “This is about actually winning. It’s not about just following Donald Trump.”
Gubernatorial primary is a unique challenge for Trump
The president’s preferred primary candidates have a strong record so far in 2026. But none have faced a self-funded rival with Jackson’s spending power.
Jackson, a 71-year-old business owner, amassed a fortune from his company that provides contract healthcare personnel, and he’s used it to blanket television and online platforms with ads. Appealing to hardcore Trump supporters, he’s pledged that immigrants in Georgia illegally will be “deported or departed.” He promises a slew of tax cuts. And previewing a potential general election argument, he’s played up his biography as a product of the state foster care system and featured his grandchildren advising him on how to make friendlier ads.
Jones, 47, comes from a wealthy family but is running a more modest campaign. Framing himself as a “proven leader,” Jones proposes eliminating Georgia’s state income tax — without detailing how he’d make up the revenue. And he trumpets his presidential seal of approval and time as a University of Georgia football player in the 1990s. As lieutenant governor, Jones pushed legislation that ultimately did not pass but would have disqualified Jackson’s company from receiving taxpayer-funded contracts.
Trump did not travel to Georgia to campaign with Jones but he’s given the lieutenant governor a fresh round of support on social media and called in to a telephone rally during the early voting period.
“Burt was strongly committed to my Campaign in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and worked tirelessly to help us WIN. He has been with us from the very beginning,” Trump posted on Truth Social last week.
Runoffs for elections chief could shape 2028
Georgia’s secretary of state race is open for the first time since Trump’s attempts to subvert the 2020 election, famously pressuring outgoing Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find 11,800 votes” to overtake Biden. Raffensberger refused.
For his potential successor, Republicans are left to choose between an outright election denier, Vernon Jones, and a state lawmaker, Tim Fleming, who avoids explicitly disputing the president’s 2020 election lies.
Jones, a perennial candidate who was once a Democrat, embraced Trump’s “stop the steal” movement and says he stands “with those who believe there was election fraud.” Fleming, who once served as deputy secretary of state, says there were “irregularities” in 2020, a word choice that has become code for Republicans who want neither to ratify nor call out Trump’s errant claims.
Democrats will choose between Dana Barrett, a Fulton County commissioner, and Penny Brown Reynolds, a former state judge in Fulton County who also served in the Biden administration as deputy assistant secretary for civil rights for the Department of Agriculture.
Mrs. Ladell Pass Tutt went home peacefully to be with the Lord on Monday, June 15, 2026.
Born on January 22, 1930 in Mount Airy, Georgia, she was a daughter of the late Viola Stephens Pass Fortson, Ed Pass, and Ernest Fortson, Sr. Ladell was a woman of deep faith, unwavering strength, and a loving spirit who devoted her life to her family, her church, and her community.
In 1947, Ladell was united in holy matrimony to the love of her life, Deacon Willie Eddie Tutt of Cornelia, Georgia. Together, they shared 58 wonderful years of marriage and were blessed with four daughters whom she treasured deeply. Her greatest joy in life was raising her girls and pouring love, wisdom, and encouragement into her family.
Ladell attended school in Habersham County and joined the Baptist Church at an early age. She faithfully served alongside her husband at Shady Grove Baptist Church in Cornelia, where she was a dedicated member of the Usher Board, Food Committee, and numerous other church ministries. Following Eddie’s passing, she returned her membership to Ebenezer Baptist Church in Mount Airy, where she continued her faithful service through the Flower Committee, Senior Mission Ministry, and EBC Cell Ministry.
Mrs. Tutt made history as the first African-American hired at Riegel Textile Corporation (Mount Vernon Mills) in Alto, Georgia. Through hard work and determination, she dedicated more than 30 years of service before retiring in 1996.
Ladell found happiness in life’s simple pleasures. She loved walking, growing beautiful flowers, and baking for those she loved. Her famous “Pound Cake” became a cherished favorite at church gatherings and among many loyal customers. She was also a gifted storyteller and author. In 2013, she collaborated with her daughter, Teddy, to publish her first book, “Walking and Talking with Mom,” which shared the story of her life. In 2018, she released her second book, “Cooking with Momma Ladell,” featuring many of her treasured recipes. Both books became local best sellers. She was also honored as one of the “Faces of Habersham” by Heather Burke-Cody.
Ladell was the last surviving member of her immediate family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Deacon Eddie Tutt; brothers, Clifford Pass, Ernest Fortson, Jr., Willie Fortson, and Oscar Fortson, Sr. (Una Christine); sister, Fannie Fortson Dooley (Wilborn); nephew, Michael Fortson; and niece, Ona Estelle Fortson.
Those left to cherish her precious memories include her daughters, Teresa Crafter (Ed), Sandra “Teddy” Tutt, Marie Tutt, and Phyllis Tutt; beloved dog, Ivory; sister-in-law, Hattie Owens Fortson; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many dear friends.
Graveside services are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Thursday, June 18, 2026 at Yonah Memorial Gardens with Rev. Joe Lee Banks, Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11:00 a.m. until the service hour on Thursday.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center Care Team, Gainesville Internal Medicine Group, and Dr. Roger Owens, who faithfully cared for Mrs. Tutt for more than 40 years.
