Peach County, Georgia

Republican gubernatorial candidate Burt Jackson said he's worried rural Georgia voters may not turn out strongly for him, as early voting shows high turnout among Black voters, a key bloc for Democrats. Jackson faces former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) in a close contest; a recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution/University of Georgia poll gave Jackson a narrow one-point lead. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) leads his reelection race by a wider margin, and Democrats hope strong Ossoff turnout lifts Bottoms. Jackson, a billionaire healthcare executive, has self-funded over $100 million of his campaign, far outpacing Bottoms, though Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker donated $1 million to her effort. Decision Desk HQ gives Bottoms a 56 percent win probability.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has endorsed Rep. Mike Collins in the race to unseat Sen. Jon Ossoff, backing the Republican congressman he had opposed during the primary. Kemp praised Collins as a "commonsense leader" who has "delivered results as a businessman," while criticizing Ossoff's record as out of step with Georgia values. Collins, who owns a trucking company and represents Georgia's 10th congressional district, is also backed by President Trump and thanked Kemp for joining the effort to "take back Georgia's Senate seat."

Kemp had initially supported Derek Dooley, a first-time candidate, in the GOP primary, which Collins won decisively. The Ossoff campaign dismissed the endorsement's significance, pointing to Kemp's earlier opposition to Collins and leveling sharp criticism at the congressman.

The contest is considered one of the most competitive Senate races of the cycle and could help determine which party controls the chamber for the remainder of Trump's term. Polling currently shows Ossoff with a lead, though the race is widely rated a toss-up.