Donald Trump used a rally in Dalton, Georgia, to campaign for Republican Senate candidate Mike Collins and gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson as early voting gathered pace ahead of the 3 November midterm elections.
The appearance at Dalton Municipal Airport on Friday marked the first time the two candidates had shared a platform this autumn. Trump urged supporters to treat the contest as a test of his presidency, telling the crowd: “You have to pretend I’m on the ballot.”
Georgia’s early-voting period began on 13 October and runs until 30 October. About 700,000 people had already cast ballots by Friday, according to the Georgia Recorder, underlining the importance of the Republican effort to mobilise voters before election day.
Trump attacks Ossoff and revisits 2020 claims
Trump devoted much of his speech to attacks on Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, who is seeking re-election, and repeated his unsubstantiated claim that the 2020 presidential election in Georgia was rigged.
“Ossoff lost that election, but they gave it to him because it was a rigged election,” Trump said. Multiple recounts, audits and court proceedings found no evidence of widespread fraud in Georgia’s 2020 vote.
He also criticised Ossoff over immigration, spending and border security, while promoting his administration’s record on manufacturing and jobs. Trump claimed every adult American would receive a $5,000 payment if Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress, funded by tariff revenue, but offered no details on how the proposal would be implemented.
The president also argued that Republican policies had helped attract major investment to Georgia, citing planned pharmaceutical, tyre-manufacturing and automotive projects across the state.
At one point, demonstrators holding signs protesting immigration enforcement interrupted the rally. They were booed by the crowd and escorted from the venue by security.
Collins seeks to make Senate race a referendum on Trump
Collins, a two-term congressman, presented his campaign against Ossoff as a choice between a conservative candidate with a business background and an incumbent he portrayed as aligned with the Democratic leadership in Washington.
He promised to support Trump’s agenda in the Senate and urged voters to cast their ballots for Republicans. Collins also attacked Ossoff’s background and accused him of being out of touch with working Georgians, using a series of personal insults during his address.
“This state is red; we just gotta make sure people understand that it’s time to go vote,” Collins told reporters before the event, arguing that midterm elections lacked the constant attention generated by a presidential contest.
The Senate race is viewed as particularly important for Republicans. Democratic candidates have sought to tie Collins closely to Trump, while the Republican campaign hopes the president’s appearance will increase turnout in conservative parts of the state.
Jackson attacks Bottoms over Atlanta record
Jackson, a healthcare executive and political newcomer, focused his remarks on former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, the Democratic nominee for governor.
He accused Bottoms of failing to address crime and economic pressures during her time in city government, and argued that her record made her unfit to lead Georgia. Bottoms has rejected the Republican characterisation of her tenure.
Jackson promised to reduce property taxes, suspend the fuel tax when prices rise and lower healthcare costs. He also pledged higher pay for teachers, term limits for state politicians and strong support for law enforcement.
His brief appearance alongside Trump also allowed him to return to a central theme of his campaign: his childhood in foster care and his claim that personal hardship had shaped his approach to public service.
Trump’s rally came days after Vice-President JD Vance campaigned in Atlanta. The president is scheduled to return to Georgia for another Republican event in Macon on 24 October, as both parties intensify their efforts before voting closes.
