Who is Mike Collins and what is Collins running on in the 2026 Georgia Senate race?

Mike Collins is the Republican candidate for Georgia U.S. Senate. U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 10th district since 2023; trucking-company owner and son of a former congressman; Trump-endorsed; beat Derek Dooley 55.5 to 44.5 in the June 16 runoff. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff seeking a second term.
• Rating: Lean D (Cook, RCP).
• Polling: Ossoff 50.7, Collins 42.9 (polling average as of Aug 18, 2026, per Wikipedia); latest: InsiderAdvantage Aug 16 to 17, Ossoff 50, Collins 43.

Why Collins is behind

• Ossoff has led every listed poll (by 4 to 13 points), with an average lead of about 8.
• Overwhelming money edge: $97.9M raised vs Collins’s $7.4M through June 30.
• Collins came out of a bruising primary and runoff against Kemp-backed Derek Dooley, is closely tied to Trump amid weak Trump approval, and faces a House ethics complaint.
• Crossover support: former GOP Sen. Jeff Flake endorsed Ossoff in August 2026, citing character.

What Collins is running on

• Immigration. Author of the Laken Riley Act on detaining immigrants accused of certain crimes; makes border security his main contrast with Ossoff.
• Trump. Self-described ‘MAGA warrior’ running on ‘America First’ policies.
• Ideology. Frames the race as results-driven leadership against what he calls the ‘socialist movement’.

The other candidates

• Jon Ossoff (D)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.