Rep. Mike Collins Announces Senate Candidacy in Georgia

Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia has officially declared his intention to run for a Senate seat as part of a critical Republican campaign aimed at increasing their majority in the upcoming midterm elections next year.

Collins is set to take on incumbent Democratic Sen. John Ossoff, who is seeking reelection in a key battleground state, a position the GOP considers contested after a narrow win in the last election. Republicans see Ossoff as one of the more vulnerable Senate Democrats ahead of the 2026 elections.

“John Ossoff has been out of touch with Georgia’s values and has repeatedly acted against the best interests of the state. He has voted for tax increases that hurt Georgia families, supported inflationary policies, and allowed for policies that many feel threaten women in sports,” Collins stated.

He added, “This is Georgia’s moment to reclaim this Senate seat and support President Trump’s agenda by voting Ossoff out.” Collins’ candidacy was anticipated, especially as reports circulated earlier in the week regarding his campaign plans.

Collins, who has a background in business and founded a trucking company, is serving his second term representing Georgia’s 10th Congressional District. As a conservative and the son of the late Rep. Mac Collins, he seems to have creditable backing.

In a light-hearted social media post, Collins remarked, “My tires got some wear; now it’s time to refuel.” The post also featured a video highlighting his connection with former President Donald Trump, who praised Collins in a clip: “Rep. Mike Collins is all in for this challenge.”

Having supported Trump since his initial presidential campaign in 2016, Collins has been actively involved in various states with early primary elections and has attended multiple rallies. He even established three Trump campaign offices within Georgia.

Interestingly, while Collins has easily secured his seat in Congress, he has been looking to aid Trump-aligned candidates in several other districts as Republicans navigate a precarious majority in the House.

This year, Collins reintroduced a bill aimed at detaining undocumented immigrants charged with crimes, named after a Georgia nursing student tragically killed by an illegal immigrant. This measure passed with relative speed in both houses controlled by Republicans and marked Trump’s first signed law during his upcoming second term.

Collins is considered to have a strong rapport with Trump and his political team. One Georgia Republican consultant remarked that Collins has the potential to resonate strongly with voters, particularly by aligning closely with Trump’s image.

While national Republican officials had hoped to recruit popular two-term Governor Brian Kemp for the run against Ossoff, Kemp recently announced he wouldn’t be pursuing the Senate seat. Instead, another Republican, Buddy Carter, who has served Georgia’s coastal districts, is now entering the race and also hopes to gain Trump’s endorsement.

Georgia’s politically moderate Insurance Secretary John King had expressed interest in running but withdrew his candidacy last Thursday. Meanwhile, Derek Dooley, a former University of Tennessee soccer coach and the son of a former Georgia coach, is contemplating running as well, having connections with Kemp.

Reports indicate there are ongoing discussions among Trump’s team and Kemp’s advisers to find a candidate that could unify efforts against Ossoff. However, it’s noted that there might have been some tension when Kemp’s team suggested Dooley for the race, which reportedly didn’t sit well with Trump’s advisors.

Despite the complexities of candidate positioning and relationships, both Trump and Kemp seem to be working toward a common goal, and a campaign announcement from Dooley could be imminent.