Elections

The Hill -   Georgia Republicans dealt a blow to President Trump on Tuesday, bucking his preferred pick, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R), for healthcare executive and billionaire Rick Jackson in the Peach State’s gubernatorial primary.  Jackson defeated Jones by single digits in the Republican gubernatorial runoff — marking the second time one of Trump’s endorsees in a major statewide race has lost this cycle.

Yet, Trump did see several bright spots in the Tuesday primaries and runoffs in Georgia, Oklahoma and Alabama. His last-minute endorsement for Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) in the Georgia Senate GOP runoff paid off, with Collins easily defeating former college football coach Derek Dooley, who was supported by Gov. Brian Kemp (R). The congressman will now take on Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in one of the most competitive races this year.

And in Alabama, Trump-backed Rep. Barry Moore (R) won the GOP runoff to replace Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R), though some polling had signaled potential trouble for the president’s endorsee. Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), another Trump pick also won his GOP primary for Oklahoma Senate.