Scoop: Mike Collins hires top Trump advisers ahead of Georgia runoff

Several of President Trump's top political advisers are joining Rep. Mike Collins' campaign in the Georgia Senate race, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The hires provide the clearest indication yet that Trump may be leaning towards endorsing Collins ahead of his June 16 primary runoff against former University of Tennessee head football coach Derek Dooley.

• The winner will challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.

Zoom in: Trump 2024 adviser Tony Fabrizio has been tapped to serve as Collins' pollster and senior strategist.

• Trump campaign chief data strategist Tim Saler will serve in the same capacity for Collins.
• Chip Englander, who was Trump's battleground states' strategist, will be general consultant.

Between the lines: Trump is not always predictable in who he supports.

• Even though Several of Trump's top strategists worked for Texas Sen. John Cornyn, Trump ended up endorsing Cornyn's primary opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

By the numbers: Collins received 41% in last week's primary, but fell short of the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff against Dooley, who finished second with 30%.

The intrigue: Should Trump endorse Collins, it could create a proxy fight against Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who is supporting Dooley.

• Trump endorsed Kemp in 2018, but then turned on the governor after he refused to help overturn Trump's 2020 election defeat in the state.
• The president supported a 2022 primary challenge to Kemp, which the governor beat back easily.
• Trump attacked Kemp during the 2024 campaign, alarming Republicans who argued that the president needed the support of the popular governor to win the state.

Trump and Kemp's relationship has since warmed.

• Shortly after his 2025 inauguration, Trump praised Kemp at a Republican Governors Association meeting.