Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff has defeated Republican challenger Representative Mike Collins in Georgia's 2026 midterm Senate race, ensuring Democrats maintain their hold on both of the state's Senate seats. The Fox News Decision Desk projected Ossoff's victory after he held an early lead that widened as vote counts progressed.
Ossoff's win means Georgia, a state that has increasingly leaned Democratic in recent election cycles, will continue to be represented by two senators from the Democratic party. This outcome was particularly significant as Republicans had targeted this seat, aiming to flip it back to their party in the 2026 midterms. Georgia was a key focus for the GOP, seeking to bolster their Senate majority.
Collins, who advanced to the general election after a competitive three-way Republican primary, centered his campaign on immigration, particularly advocating for the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of certain undocumented immigrants arrested for specific offenses. Ossoff supported the measure but also criticized the Trump administration's immigration enforcement strategies.
The campaign also featured economic debates, with Collins accusing Ossoff of supporting policies that increased inflation and taxes. Ossoff, in turn, criticized Collins' support for Trump's tariffs and military actions in Iran, which he argued contributed to rising living costs.
Collins faced scrutiny during debates regarding a House ethics investigation into allegations of misusing taxpayer funds and controversial social media posts by his son-in-law. Ossoff also encountered questions concerning campaign donations from venture capitalist Reid Hoffman.
Despite initial significant spending by outside GOP groups to support Collins, their financial backing decreased in the weeks leading up to Election Day, signaling a potential shift in Republican confidence about flipping the seat. Ossoff, who previously won his Senate seat in a runoff election at the close of the 2020 cycle, had built a substantial campaign war chest and ran unopposed for renomination. Collins secured his party's nomination after winning a runoff against another contender, boosted by an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
Ossoff, a Georgia native, has served in the Senate since 2021. Collins, also from Georgia, is a businessman and a freshman member of the House of Representatives, first elected in 2022.