Republican Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, defeating first-time candidate Derek Dooley and setting up a general election fight against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia in one of the country’s most closely watched races.
Collins advanced after the Tuesday runoff, The Associated Press reported, giving Republicans their nominee in a state President Donald Trump carried in 2024. Trump endorsed Collins late in the runoff, boosting a congressman who has styled himself as a “MAGA warrior” and tied his campaign closely to the president’s agenda.
The matchup will test whether Republicans can flip a seat they have not won in Georgia since 2016. Ossoff, first elected in 2020, is the lone Senate Democrat seeking reelection in a Trump-won state, making his race a top target as Democrats try to gain four seats needed to take back the Senate majority.
Collins is expected to lean heavily into immigration. In the House, he sponsored the Laken Riley Act, a 2025 law requiring the detention of immigrants accused of certain crimes. Ossoff voted against an earlier version before supporting the final bill after Trump returned to office.
The Republican enters the general election with political momentum but a major fundraising gap. Collins raised about $4.9 million through the end of May and had less than $1.2 million on hand, compared with Ossoff’s $60.4 million raised and $32.5 million remaining through late April.
Collins faces scrutiny from a House ethics complaint alleging he retained an employee who did not perform duties matching her taxpayer-funded compensation. The Office of Congressional Conduct recommended further review, while Collins has pressed ahead with his Senate bid.
The Georgia contest is expected to draw national money and attention through the fall.
