Support for Mike Collins in Senate Race
The family of Laken Riley, a nursing student from Georgia who was tragically murdered, has expressed their backing for Republican Representative Mike Collins in the upcoming Senate race.
“A lot of folks go to Washington, and it tends to change them. But in the short while we’ve known him, Mike Collins went to Washington and made a change himself,” remarked Laken’s mother and stepfather, Alison Riley and John Phillips. Laken was killed on February 22, 2024, by immigrant gang members.
“There’s no one more deserving of a Senate seat than Mike Collins. He says what he means, and he’s truly committed to delivering results,” they added.
“What Mike did for our family wasn’t about politics or seeking attention. He stood with us to help deliver justice for our sweet Laken, and we’re forever grateful to him, as well as to Senator Katie Britt and President Trump,” they continued.
Collins and Britt introduced the Laken Riley Act, which successfully passed through both the House and Senate with bipartisan support in January.
President Trump signed the bill into law on January 29, making it the first legislation he enacted after returning to the White House.
Laken Riley, just 22, was killed while jogging on the University of Georgia campus by Jose Ibarra, a member of the Tren de Aragua gang.
Riley’s family expressed frustration, saying, “The Biden administration and our current senators have voted for an open border that allowed Laken’s murderers to enter the United States.” They urged voters to support Collins next November, emphasizing the need for policies safeguarding all residents of Georgia.
Collins has entered the race against incumbent Democrat Senator John Ossoff, with Derek Dooley, son of the famed Bulldogs coach Vince Dooley, also challenging.
An early public poll from April indicated that Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) would lead Ossoff by double digits, followed by Collins, Buddy Carter, and Dooley from the Georgia GOP.
According to a recent online survey from the American Workers League conducted by the Technometrica Institute of Policy and Politics, Collins has garnered 27% support among GOP primary voters, while Carter has 20% and Dooley trails at 8%. Moreover, almost 39% of voters remain undecided.
In addition to support from Laken’s family, Collins has also earned the backing of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a notable figure in Georgia’s political landscape.
