Rep. Mike Collins has won the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in Georgia, defeating first-time candidate Derek Dooley in a runoff. Collins will now face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November, a contest that will help determine control of the Senate for the final years of Donald Trump's second presidency.
Trump Factor Central to General Election
President Trump did not endorse in the primary runoff, but Collins has closely aligned himself with Trump since winning his House seat in north Georgia in 2022. A trucking company owner and son of a former congressman, Collins campaigns as a self-described "MAGA warrior."
Ossoff, first elected in 2020, has criticized Trump as a "national embarrassment" who uses the presidency for personal enrichment. The 39-year-old is the only Senate Democrat running in a state Trump won in 2024. Democrats need to hold his seat while aiming to gain four seats for a Senate majority.
Georgia's Senate History
Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate contest in Georgia since 2016, Trump's first election. Despite his ties to Trump, Collins argues he can build a broad coalition and plans to use immigration as a key contrast with Ossoff.
Immigration as a Wedge Issue
In the House, Collins sponsored the Laken Riley Act, a 2025 law requiring detention of immigrants accused of certain crimes. The law is named for a Georgia nursing student killed in 2021 by a Venezuelan man in the U.S. illegally. Ossoff initially voted against a version of the legislation but backed the final proposal after Trump's return to power.
Ethics Complaint and Financial Disadvantage
Collins won despite a House ethics complaint accusing him of misusing taxpayer funds to pay the girlfriend of his former top adviser for congressional duties she allegedly did not perform. A federal panel forwarded the matter to the House Ethics Committee after an initial investigation.
Collins begins the general election at a financial disadvantage. He raised about $4.9 million through May and had less than $1.2 million remaining. Ossoff, by late April, had raised $60.4 million and had $32.5 million on hand.
