National Republicans are moving quickly to unify around Republican Rep. Mike Collins after his runoff victory made him the party’s nominee against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.
Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), congratulated Collins, saying “Georgia is now uniting behind Mike Collins” in a statement released Tuesday. The statement previewed the GOP case against Ossoff, accusing the incumbent of backing Democratic policies on taxes, immigration and public safety.
Collins defeated former football coach Derek Dooley in the Republican Senate runoff, The Associated Press reported. The result set up one of the cycle’s most consequential Senate races because Ossoff is the only Senate Democrat seeking reelection in a state President Donald Trump carried in 2024. Republicans hold a narrow Senate majority and have made Georgia a top pickup target.
The GOP message is expected to lean heavily on immigration and crime. Collins was the House sponsor of H.R. 29, the Laken Riley Act. The law requires federal immigration authorities to detain certain noncitizens accused of theft-related crimes and gives states more power to challenge federal enforcement decisions.
Still, Collins enters the general election facing a major financial gap. Ossoff has raised $60 million and had nearly $33 million on hand entering May, while Collins had raised $4.9 million through late May and had $1.2 million remaining, Reuters reported.
The Democratic Senate Majority PAC and Republican Senate Leadership Fund have reserved or pledged tens of millions in Georgia ad spending, another sign the race will draw national attention.
The NRSC’s statement signals Republicans intend to nationalize the race around Trump, border security and Senate control.
