Mike Collins, a sitting U.S. Representative from Georgia, officially declared his bid for the U.S. Senate on July 28, 2025, seeking to unseat incumbent Democrat Senator Jon Ossoff in the November 2026 election. Collins’ entry into the crowded GOP primary race arrived draped in a conspicuous pro-Trump identity, frequently deploying MAGA credentials as central to his campaign platform. However, his political launch was almost immediately juxtaposed with renewed scrutiny over his past public remarks.
The Democratic Party of Georgia has leveled pointed words against Collins' Senate pursuit, specifically referencing his history of inflammatory social media comments. One such post, which led to a temporary account suspension, appeared to suggest advocating for "killing immigrants who commit crimes after entering the country illegally" inflammatory social media comments. Collins, for his part, has pushed back on these criticisms, although precise details of his defense remain diffuse. Separately, the Ethics Committee is reportedly examining unrelated claims against him.
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Collins has positioned himself as a staunch proponent of the "America First agenda," frequently aligning himself with Donald Trump through campaign visuals and messaging that includes a clip of Trump praising the congressman. His declared focus areas include a "no-nonsense approach to border security," a demand for fiscal discipline, and a firm stance against what he terms "radical left-wing policies." He has articulated a desire to see a reduction in regulations for builders and opposition to expensive environmental requirements impacting construction projects reduce regulations on builders. Collins has indicated no plans to alter his core message should he advance to the general election no plans to change his message.
The landscape of the Republican primary for Ossoff’s seat already includes Buddy Carter, with former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley also widely anticipated to enter the fray. State Insurance Commissioner John King previously exited the contest. Behind the scenes, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is reportedly marshalling support for Dooley’s prospective campaign. Early polls suggested that Georgia GOP voters exhibited high favorability towards both Collins and Trump. National Republican factions have already deployed advertising efforts targeting Ossoff advertising against Ossoff.
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Collins, in his second term as the U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District—a region encompassing central Georgia east of Atlanta, including areas near the University of Georgia—is the son of former Representative Mac Collins. His background includes work as a trucking company CEO, a detail he often highlights to reinforce an "outsider, business-minded" image trucking company CEO. The primary election where Republican voters will select their nominee is upcoming upcoming primary election.
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