Mike Collins wins Georgia GOP Senate runoff

June 17, 2026

2–3 minutes

Summary

Rep. Mike Collins won Georgia’s GOP Senate runoff and will face Sen. Jon Ossoff in a race critical to Senate control.

Why this matters

Georgia is one of the most competitive Senate races this cycle and could help determine which party controls the chamber. The result also sets up a high-profile contest between a Trump-backed Republican and a first-term Democratic incumbent.

Rep. Mike Collins will face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November after winning Georgia’s Republican Senate runoff Tuesday night, CBS News projected.

Collins defeated Derek Dooley, a former college football coach, after no candidate won more than 50% in last month’s primary. A third candidate, Rep. Buddy Carter, was eliminated in that vote.

Collins, who owns a trucking business and has represented Georgia in the House since 2023, led the primary field with nearly 41% of the vote. Dooley, an attorney and former University of Tennessee football coach, won about 30%. He is the son of former University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley.

Collins received a late endorsement from President Trump on Sunday. Trump called Collins a “true Friend, Fighter, and WARRIOR, who has been with us from the very beginning.”

The endorsement underscored a split between Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp, who backed Dooley. Their relationship has been strained since Kemp resisted Trump’s efforts to intervene in Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results.

During the primary, Collins emphasized his support for Trump, including sponsorship of an immigration bill named for Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was killed by an undocumented immigrant in 2024. Dooley presented himself as a political outsider and said he would work with Trump for Georgians. After Trump’s endorsement, Dooley wrote on X that “the most important endorsement is that of the Georgia people,” and said he was better positioned to defeat Ossoff.

The race now shifts to the general election in a state Republicans see as central to their Senate map. Ossoff is the only Democrat seeking reelection this cycle in a state Trump won in 2024, making him one of the party’s most vulnerable incumbents. The long Republican primary delayed the party’s broader campaign against him, while Ossoff built a large fundraising advantage.

Ossoff, 39, was elected in a 2021 runoff that helped give Democrats control of the Senate. Georgia moved to the right in the last election, but voters have not elected a Republican senator since 2016.

Republicans hold 53 Senate seats and are seeking to keep control of the chamber. Democrats are trying to flip four seats while defending several competitive races, including Georgia.

Democrats are also expected to focus on Collins’ close ties to Trump and allegations that he misused congressional funds. The House Ethics Committee is investigating the matter, and Collins has denied the allegations.

More top news

North Carolina

N.C. Democrats seek cannabis vote, Senate odds low

A House proposal moving forward would bar people younger than 21 from buying hemp-derived consumable products.

Full story +

North Carolina Senate Democrats filed a bill that would place two constitutional amendments on the November ballot to legalize cannabis for recreational and medical use.

Senate Bill 1072 would ask voters whether to allow possession of “limited amounts of cannabis” for recreational use and medical use by patients with qualifying conditions.

“The people of North Carolina deserve a voice in determining the future of cannabis policy in our state,” said Sen. Kandie Smith, D-Edgecombe, a lead sponsor. “What it does is, it provides a pathway for North Carolinians to vote on whether limited personal possession and medical use should be permitted under our state’s constitution.”

Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, said Wednesday that the bill was unlikely to advance.

“I’m not sure that we’re in a place where legalizing marijuana is going to be taken up,” Berger said.

Berger said lawmakers were discussing hemp regulation, including whether to impose a ban or create a regulatory framework.

Berger previously supported medical marijuana. In 2024, the Senate passed a bill, 36-10, to legalize medical marijuana and restrict hemp-based consumables. Senate Rules Chairman Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick, a cancer survivor, backed the measure and said cannabis helped him endure chemotherapy for colon cancer.

The House did not take up that bill because of insufficient Republican support. North Carolina is one of 10 states that have not approved medical marijuana.

Without a medical cannabis program, some North Carolinians have used hemp products for pain, insomnia, anxiety, and other conditions. Many of those products are expected to be affected by stricter federal limits on hemp-derived consumables set to take effect in November.

A Meredith College Poll in February 2025 found 71% of North Carolinians supported medical marijuana legislation, while 17% opposed it. Polls by Elon University and Carolina Forward also found majority support in recent years for recreational marijuana.
lejeune lead

Surf City Pier cleared after bomb threat report

Authorities said the investigation remained ongoing.

Full story +

A reported bomb threat prompted an evacuation and emergency response at Surf City Pier on Wednesday night, but officials said no threat was found.

According to the Town of Surf City, the threat was reported around 8 p.m. at the pier on South Shore Drive. Patrons were evacuated and moved to a safe location while emergency crews responded.

Surf City police, fire, emergency management, and mutual aid agencies secured the area. The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad and the State Bureau of Investigation Bomb Squad also responded to assess the threat.

After a search and investigation, officials said around 10:30 p.m. that the pier and surrounding area were clear.

Town officials thanked residents and visitors for their patience, saying all threats are taken seriously and public safety remains a priority.
North Carolina

UNC reaches College World Series championship series

The best-of-three championship series begins Saturday night.

Full story +

North Carolina advanced to the College World Series championship series for the first time since 2006 after beating West Virginia 12-7 on Wednesday in Omaha.

The Tar Heels also defeated the Mountaineers 5-2 on Sunday and finished unbeaten in their bracket.

North Carolina will play the winner of the opposite bracket, where Oklahoma and Georgia were competing for the other spot in the finals. Oklahoma entered Wednesday needing one more win to advance, while Georgia was trying to force a winner-take-all game.
North Carolina, US

Raleigh man charged over threats against President Trump

Carnes was charged under federal law and faced up to five years in prison if convicted.

Full story +

A Raleigh, NC man faced a federal charge after authorities said he posted Facebook videos threatening President Donald Trump.

According to federal court documents, Christopher Carnes, 33, was charged with knowingly and willfully making a threat to take the life of, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm upon the president of the United States. A U.S. magistrate judge signed the criminal complaint Wednesday.

Investigators alleged Carnes posted several videos in May 2026 that included direct threats against Trump, including statements authorities said referenced killing the president and urged viewers to notify the U.S. Secret Service. Federal authorities said investigators determined Carnes was in Raleigh when the videos were posted.

According to the complaint, Carnes posted another video June 6 in which he referred to the earlier threats and discussed having pipe bombs. Authorities said the video showed what Carnes described as a “PVC blaster” in the trunk of his vehicle.

On June 10, investigators met with Carnes at the Raleigh Police Department. According to court records, he arrived in the same vehicle shown in the videos. After a police dog alerted to the possible presence of explosive materials, officers searched the vehicle and recovered PVC pipe and a metal pin.

U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle announced the charge. The U.S. Secret Service and the Raleigh Police Department investigated the case.
South Carolina

Hilton Head shell rings park set to open this summer

The rings were intentionally circular and would have stood several feet tall. They date to 5,000 to 3,000 years ago.

Full story +

A park built to protect a Native American archaeological site on Hilton Head Island is set to open later this summer after several months of construction.

Ford’s Shell Rings Park contains two shell rings built by the island’s Native American inhabitants about 4,000 years ago. The park will allow visitors to view the rings and learn about their history.

The Town of Hilton Head Island and Beaufort County bought the 6.8-acre site in 2003 to prevent development, according to a town news release. In 2020, Beaufort County Council voted to build a park there to protect the shell rings and inform the public about them. The park is named for former landowner Henry Ford.

Construction began in March 2026. It will add parking and road access to the park.

The town said the work used “low-impact” construction methods aimed at minimizing damage to the rings.

According to the news release, the shell rings contain hundreds of thousands of discarded oyster, clam, and mussel shells, along with animal bones. The two rings form a figure-eight shape. One is larger and older, while the smaller ring partially overlaps it. They were first excavated in the 1960s.

Hilton Head Island has multiple shell rings, according to the Archaeological Society of South Carolina. Similar rings have been found from North Carolina to Florida.

The rings are buried under soil and are identified using ground-penetrating radar. Archaeologists have not determined their purpose, though theories include religious sites and village walls. Researchers have used them to learn about the diet and lifestyle of the people who built them.

Town ordinances protect the rings from damage.
Hawaii

Oahu visitor had dengue case, Hawaii count stays at 5

Anyone who suspects a dengue infection should call the Disease Reporting Line at 808-586-4586.

Full story +

The Hawaii Department of Health identified a travel-related dengue case on Oahu involving a visitor.

Because the person was not a Hawaii resident, the department did not include the case in the state’s official total, which remained at five statewide. The person was exposed while traveling in a region where dengue is common.

“Due to specifics of this case, the expected risk of local transmission is low,” the Department of Health said in a news release. “The visitor is no longer in Hawaii and at time of departure was no longer considered to be infectious as related to human-to-mosquito transmission.”

The department said teams conducted inspections, distributed outreach materials, and carried out mosquito control measures in the affected area, which it did not identify.

The agency said the case was a reminder to remove standing water to help reduce mosquito populations and the risk of local transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.

Dengue is a viral illness spread through mosquito bites and remains a year-round risk in many parts of the world, including tropical and subtropical areas of Central and South America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau.

Hawaii has Aedes mosquitoes, which can carry dengue, but the disease is not endemic in the state. Mosquitoes need only small amounts of standing water to breed.

Common breeding sites include buckets, water-catching plants such as bromeliads, small containers, planters, rain barrels, and cups left outside. The department advised people to empty containers to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.

Residents who develop dengue symptoms, including fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, and body aches, within two weeks of returning from affected areas should seek medical evaluation.
North Carolina

NC bill would tighten Medicaid rules for autism care

A North Carolina bill would add Medicaid requirements for autism therapy providers after a sharp rise in ABA spending.

Full story +

North Carolina lawmakers moved to add new Medicaid requirements for providers of applied behavioral analysis therapy for autism as state spending on the service rose sharply.

State and federal Medicaid spending on applied behavioral analysis, or ABA, exceeded $505 million in 2025, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. That was up from $1.9 million five years earlier.

The increase came as ABA providers in other states began offering telehealth services in North Carolina and billing Medicaid for them. Some local providers and advocates said remote services may not be as effective for all patients.

A revised version of House Bill 34 passed the Senate Health Care Committee without debate Wednesday. The bill sought to slow growth in ABA spending by adding requirements for providers.

Sen. Benton Sawrey, R-Johnston, said the measure included recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services and law enforcement to strengthen Medicaid compliance.

“The other big piece of this bill that we’ve had some conversations about is closing the network for peer support, community support, and our ABA services,” Sawrey said while presenting the bill. “Closing networks in the best interest of making sure that our local providers get those services to the patients is needed.”

Under a closed network, providers would have to submit credentials and meet requirements to qualify for reimbursement.

“There’s a threshold they have to meet in order to gain enrollment,” Sawrey told NC Newsline.

David Laxton, communications director at the Autism Society of North Carolina, said he believed the bill would improve the quality of ABA therapy in the state and help “ensure quality and sustainability” for the treatment.

Autism Speaks Vice President David Sitcovsky said he was concerned that additional requirements could limit access to treatment. He said Medicaid was a “lifeline” for many autistic people and their families because it provides access to ABA and other services.

“As states consider changes to strengthen accountability, they should take a careful, targeted approach that addresses these concerns while protecting access to medically necessary, high-quality care,” Sitcovsky said in a statement. “Efforts to prevent fraud or improper billing should not create new barriers or disrupt services for autistic power and families who rely on qualified providers.”
North Carolina

NC lawmakers report progress on state budget talks

NC last passed a comprehensive budget in 2023. House and Senate Republican leaders did not reach agreement last year on a full spending plan.

Full story +

Republican leaders in the North Carolina House and Senate said this week they are making progress toward a state budget agreement.

House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, and Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, met Wednesday to discuss the budget. Talks between the chamber leaders are typically among the final steps before an agreement is reached.

“I feel like we are moving in the right direction,” Berger told reporters Wednesday. “We’ve got a ways to go. We’re nowhere close to being finished, but we’re making progress.”

Hall told reporters Tuesday that lawmakers were on track to pass a budget by the end of the month. Berger said a budget by the end of June was “something that is achievable.”

In May, Berger and Hall said they had resolved an impasse by agreeing on state employee and teacher raises, future tax cuts, and a plan to put constitutional amendments on tax limits before voters in November. Budget writers have been developing a proposal based on that framework, though the work has taken place behind closed doors.

Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, a senior House budget chairman, told reporters Wednesday that the budget includes additional Hurricane Helene relief.

Lambeth said state agencies would not receive everything they requested. “But overall, we’ve done a really reasonable and fair job of listening — we’ve been listening to people now for weeks — and making those decisions jointly with the Senate,” he said.
South Carolina

Beaufort adopts $70.2M budget after TIF review

To help close gaps, the city delayed the third police hire, left a deputy police chief and a building inspector position vacant, reduced consulting for the comprehensive plan update, renegotiated part of a GIS contract, and deferred smaller purchases and programs.

Full story +

Beaufort City Council approved a $70.17 million budget Tuesday, June 9, keeping the city’s tax rate at 73.9 mills while revising project funding after officials said a tax increment financing district should have been dissolved nearly a decade ago.

The fiscal year 2027 budget includes about $24.4 million in capital projects. City Manager Scott Marshall said it balanced city services, employee support, public safety, and long-term infrastructure work without a tax increase.

“The FY27 consolidated budget totals $70.17 million, including $24.4 million in capital projects,” Marshall told council. “This budget reflects a deliberate balance between addressing today’s needs and preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities.”

Marshall said that after consulting bond counsel, staff learned the city’s TIF II district should have been dissolved about 10 years ago and could no longer be used as a budget revenue source.

“Following that meeting and through discussions with legal counsel about whether we could use our TIF II funds on projects that were outside the TIF district, we were advised that the TIF should have been dissolved nearly 10 years ago,” Marshall said. “This means we cannot use these funds.”

According to Marshall, the city notified Beaufort County and the Beaufort County School District that they could be entitled to the remaining TIF II funds. He said about $1.8 million could go to the school district and about $800,000 to the county. The city also asked both entities to let Beaufort retain the funds for future Waterfront Park work.

The budget continues planning and design for the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park relieving platform and advances the next phase of the Duke Street streetscape project. Marshall said the city assembled replacement funding for Duke Street from American Rescue Plan Act money, redevelopment reserves, utility participation, and other capital sources.

The spending plan funds two additional Beaufort Police Department patrol officers through a federal Community Oriented Policing Services grant. A third grant-funded position was delayed until fiscal year 2028. The budget also funds replacement police vehicles, updated weapons, a drug spectrometer, and firefighter breathing apparatus.

Employees will receive a 2% cost-of-living adjustment and up to an additional 2% merit increase. The city will absorb a 3% increase in health insurance costs. Funding for the Housing Repair Assistance Program will rise from $100,000 to $150,000.

The budget also creates a dedicated debt service fund. During public comment, residents questioned outside agency funding and called for more transparency on the city manager’s evaluation and compensation. The budget takes effect July 1.
quantico lead

Virginia Senate keeps data center tax break, adds fee

Virginia Senate proposed keeping a data center tax break while adding a generator tax expected to raise $1.8 billion over two years.
Full story +
Virginia Senate leaders on Tuesday released a revised budget proposal that kept a sales and use tax exemption for data centers and added a new tax on backup generators used by the industry.

The proposal marked a shift for Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, who had pushed for months to end the exemption. With budget negotiations stalled and the state facing a June 30 deadline, the plan signaled a compromise while seeking new revenue from the industry.

“We know technology is not bad. You know, we all can benefit from technology, but we, as a government, have not done a good job in managing the regulations and the impact on our communities and that’s what we’ve got to rein in,” Lucas said Tuesday night at a middle school in Chesterfield during a stop on her data center listening tour.

Under the Senate plan, data centers would pay a quarterly tax based on the permitted electrical kilowatts of their backup generators. According to Senate Finance Committee officials, the tax would raise an estimated $1.8 billion over the biennium, about half of what the state could collect if the sales and use tax exemption were repealed.

The proposed rates were:

$45 per permitted kilowatt electric on Tier 1 and Tier 2 generators;

$37 per permitted kilowatt electric on Tier 2 generators retrofitted to Tier 4-equivalent status, Tier 3 generators, and natural gas-powered generators;

$35 per permitted kilowatt electric on Tier 4 generators and other generators.

The revenue would go to the state general fund. The proposal used permitted capacity, not actual generator use. Data centers typically run backup generators only during outages or monthly testing, but permits allow for much greater capacity.

Older Tier 1 and Tier 2 diesel generators produce more pollution. State law now requires new data centers seeking air permits to use Tier 4 models, which, along with Tier 3 generators, are cleaner.

Like the House plan, the Senate proposal also called for a work group to recommend how to phase out the data center sales tax exemption and report to the General Assembly in the fall.