Trump renews backing for Collins and Jackson at Georgia rally

President Donald Trump campaigned for Republican Senate nominee Mike Collins and gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson at Dalton Municipal Airport in Georgia on 16 October 2026, reinforcing months-old endorsements during the first week of early voting for the 3 November midterms. [10] [6]

Collins, who represents Georgia’s 10th district in the US House of Representatives, is challenging Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff. Jackson faces former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, the Democratic nominee for governor. [5] [9]

“We must get Congressman Mike Collins elected to the U.S. Senate,” Trump wrote in a 16 October Truth Social post preserved by Trump’s Truth. He also praised Jackson as a prospective governor. [1]

Trump had endorsed Collins for the Senate on 14 June. He publicly congratulated Jackson on 17 June, then issued a formal endorsement on 23 July with an appeal for Republicans to unite behind him. [2] [3] [4]

Jackson had defeated Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Trump’s original choice, in the Republican primary runoff for governor, according to the Associated Press. The move to support Jackson therefore preceded the Dalton visit by months. [10]

Both campaigns had confirmed the visit by 12 October, WSB-TV reported. The station described Dalton as the first event at which Collins and Jackson had appeared together. [8] [9]

Georgia’s early-voting period began on 13 October and runs through 30 October. At the rally, Trump urged supporters to approach the midterms as though he were standing himself: “You have to pretend I’m on the ballot,” he said, AP reported. [6] [10]

Collins hoped Trump could give his campaign momentum, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, describing him as facing a fundraising and polling disadvantage against Ossoff. [11]

The renewed presidential backing came with different messages from the candidates. The newspaper reported that Jackson had been playing down his connection to Trump during the general election campaign. At Dalton, it recorded a brief tribute from Jackson thanking Trump for his work for abused and neglected foster children. Collins, by contrast, promised to “have this man’s back” in the Senate. [11]