Georgia Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff has won re-election, defeating Republican challenger Mike Collins in a closely watched race.
The Associated Press called the race just before 8 p.m. eastern time on Tuesday. Ossoff's victory came against Collins, a Republican congressman whose campaign was hampered by personal baggage, associations with individuals expressing white supremacist views, and significantly lower funding compared to the incumbent.
Ossoff, who raised nearly $125 million by the end of September, presented his campaign as a national platform, with his convincing win fueling speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run. He frequently contrasted himself with former President Trump during the campaign. Ossoff's fundraising was notable, with most donations reportedly coming in amounts under $100.
Collins, who received backing from Trump in the GOP primary, faced scrutiny over his social media activity and the circles he associated with. CNN and The Washington Post reported on content shared by Collins's son-in-law, David Alan Scheer II, that included Nazi imagery. Additionally, a former Collins staffer, Preston Parra, reportedly posted images of a swastika and himself in what appeared to be Ku Klux Klan robes. Collins's former chief of staff was also replaced following reports of participation in a group chat with far-right figures Nick Fuentes and Richard Spencer.
During a debate in October, Ossoff labeled Collins "the bigot congressman" and questioned his associations. Collins responded by stating he condemned racism and antisemitism.
The economic climate and rising prices were also cited as factors that did not benefit Collins's campaign. Trump had carried Georgia by just over two percentage points in 2024, but Ossoff maintained a significant polling lead throughout the fall, leading national Republicans to largely concede the seat.
