Politics · United States · 3 hrs ago
Trump rallies Georgia Republicans as Senate and governor races tighten
Donald Trump is holding a rally in Dalton, Georgia, with Republican Senate candidate Mike Collins and gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson.
The White House hopes his visit will boost Republican enthusiasm ahead of the midterm elections.
Georgia is a major battleground, so the candidates need support beyond Trump’s loyal base to beat their Democratic opponents, Jon Ossoff and Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Georgia has also been central to Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, and Collins has echoed those claims.
Collins faces a steep fundraising gap: Ossoff raised $33.1 million in the third quarter, compared with Collins’s $2.8 million.
The Republican candidates have campaigned separately until this rally, while Ossoff and Bottoms have held joint events.
The election will test whether Trump’s backing can help Republicans win in a state where voters will also weigh the candidates’ records and policies.
Donald Trump is scheduled to rally with Republican Senate candidate Mike Collins and gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson in Dalton, Georgia, on Friday.
The visit is part of a White House effort to boost Republican enthusiasm in a state where both races are battleground contests.
Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms are running against Collins and Jackson, respectively.
Ossoff criticized the visit, saying Trump and Collins’ policies had driven up the cost of groceries, fuel and health care.
In third-quarter campaign finance reports, Ossoff raised $33.1 million, compared with Collins’ $2.8 million.
- Who
- Donald Trump will appear with Republican Senate candidate Mike Collins and gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson.
- What
- Trump is holding a rally to support Georgia Republicans.
- When
- Friday, October 16, 2026.
- Where
- Dalton, Georgia.
- Why
- The White House says the rally is intended to boost Republican enthusiasm ahead of an election that could affect the final years of Trump’s second presidency.
Republicans supporting Trump and the candidates
Democrats opposing them
Campaign visit
Republicans supporting Trump and the candidates
The White House says Trump is an “unmatched motivator” for Republicans.
Democrats opposing them
Ossoff said Trump’s visit would remind Georgians of policies he said raised living costs.
Senate race
Republicans supporting Trump and the candidates
Collins’ spokesperson said he welcomes the president’s attention and described Collins as a bipartisan workhorse.
Democrats opposing them
Ossoff is challenging Collins and criticized the policies they have supported.
Governor’s race
Republicans supporting Trump and the candidates
Jackson is the Republican nominee and has promised to be Trump’s “favorite governor.
Democrats opposing them
Bottoms urged voters to imagine Trump was on the ballot and is running against Jackson.
Trump appeared in Dalton the day before Democratic Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock won runoff elections.
Mike Collins was elected to Congress.
Trump won the district where Dalton is located by about 37 points; Marjorie Taylor Greene won it by 29 points.
Republican Clay Fuller won the special election to replace Greene by 12 points.
Trump is scheduled to rally in Dalton with Collins and Jackson.
- Rally location
- Dalton, Georgia
- Senate candidates
- Mike Collins and Jon Ossoff
- Governor candidates
- Rick Jackson and Keisha Lance Bottoms
- Ossoff third-quarter fundraising
- $33.1 million raised; $26.3 million remaining
- Collins third-quarter fundraising
- $2.8 million raised; $1.1 million remaining
3 sources
What people are saying
President Trump is the unequivocal leader, best messenger, and unmatched motivator for the Republican Party
I'm surprised Georgia Republicans want the president here
When Donald Trump says he wants people to imagine that he is on the ballot, I am asking the people of Georgia to do just that
Ossoff hates Trump more than he loves our state