The places to watch in Alabama and Georgia tonight: From the Politics Desk

From the Politics DeskThe places to watch in Alabama and Georgia tonight: From the Politics DeskPlus, Trump starts shifting his focus back to Ukraine. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleKornacki: Voters in Georgia and Alabama set to weigh in on Trump-backed candidates07:00Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 16, 2026, 5:00 PM EDTBy The Politics DeskWelcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Ahead of tonight’s primary runoffs in Alabama and Georgia, Steve Kornacki spotlights the key areas that could swing the outcomes. Plus, Yuliya Talmazan explores how President Donald Trump is starting to turn his attention back to the Russia-Ukraine war. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.— Adam WollnerThe places to watch in Alabama and Georgia tonightAnalysis by Steve KornackiThe power of President Donald Trump’s endorsement will be put to the test in three high-profile Republican primary runoffs today.In the Georgia Senate race, the president threw his support behind Rep. Mike Collins, who finished first in the May 19 primary with 41%, over the weekend. He is facing off against former football coach Derek Dooley, who came in second with 30%.Collins is the clear favorite. In the initial primary, he demonstrated a geographic breadth of support that Dooley didn’t match, winning a majority of the states’ 159 counties and finishing second everywhere else.Critically, this includes the Savannah-based 1st Congressional District, where a third candidate — Rep. Buddy Carter, the local congressman — posted blowout margins. Collins finished second in the district, while Dooley struggled to break single digits there. This should position Collins to make inroads with t...