Jon Ossoff Accuses Mike Collins of Selling Out Georgia to Donald Trump

Georgia Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff said Thursday that Republican Representative Mike Collins has "sold out Georgia," tying his challenger to President Donald Trump through three votes: on tariffs, health care and a war.

Ossoff made the remarks in his opening statement at the two men's first debate, an hour-long Atlanta News First broadcast on Thursday night. He called the evening "the trial of Mike Collins."

"Mike Collins has brought dishonor to our state through his personal bigotry and his widely documented ties to white nationalists," Ossoff said. "And he's sold out Georgia in his pathetic childlike devotion to Donald Trump, voting for the tariffs that have sent groceries soaring, voting for the healthcare cuts that have doubled your insurance premiums, and voting for the war that sent diesel to its record high."

He closed with a dare: "We'll hear tonight if the congressman can defend those votes. I doubt he'll have the courage to do so."

The clip contains Ossoff's opening only; Collins answered the charges as the debate went on.

Mike Collins's Record on Tariffs, Health Care and Iran

Each of the three charges points to something on Collins's record, though not always to a direct vote for the thing named.

On tariffs, the House voted 219-211 on February 11 to end the national emergency Trump used to justify his tariffs on Canadian goods. Six Republicans joined Democrats. Collins was not among them.

On health care, Collins voted yes when the House gave final passage to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the law that cut Medicaid. The roll call on July 3, 2025, was 218-214. The doubling Ossoff described is closer to a separate change. KFF estimated that what Affordable Care Act enrollees pay in premiums would rise 114 percent on average if Congress let the enhanced premium tax credits expire.

Ossoff did not name the war, but it is the war with Iran. Collins's record on it comes from votes to limit it. On July 23, the House passed a war powers resolution from Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal by 214-208, and four Republicans voted for it. Collins was not one of them. During the war, diesel hit a record high heading into Labor Day weekend, with a national average of $5.73 a gallon.

What Collins Said at the Debate

On the debate stage, Collins did not back away from the president. "The president had every right to go in there and make sure that Iran does not get a nuclear weapon," he said of the war, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

On insurance costs, he blamed the 2010 health care law. "The Affordable Care Act is what has caused your insurance to go sky high," Collins said, CBS Atlanta reported. Ossoff answered by blaming Republican Medicaid cuts for rural hospital closures. On the economy, Collins attacked former President Joe Biden's economic policies over inflation. He also said that if elected he would "work with whoever I need to to get results."

Ossoff's bigotry charge centers on neo-Nazi posts by Collins's son-in-law, which Ossoff accused the congressman of amplifying. "I've condemned racism, anti-Semitism, hate. I don't care where the source is," Collins said. He called Ossoff an out-of-touch "trust fund kid" and a "radical."

Georgia Senate Polls Favor Ossoff

Ossoff starts the final four weeks of the race ahead. He leads Collins 52.7 percent to 42.8 percent in PolitiKool's polling average, a lead of nearly 10 points.

Individual polls have put the lead in a wider range. A Fox News poll of registered voters, conducted June 23-27, had Ossoff up 56 percent to 43 percent. A Quantus Insights survey of likely voters, taken September 14-16, had him up 49 percent to 45 percent, with independents still 26 percent undecided.

The forecasters have moved the same way. In April, the Cook Political Report moved the race from Toss-up to Lean Democrat.

Ossoff's strategy is to make the race a vote on Trump, and national numbers give him room to do it. Trump's approval stands at 37.4 percent in PolitiKool's polling average, and approval of his handling of the economy is 29.7 percent in PolitiKool's tracker.

What Comes Next

The two meet again Tuesday at an Atlanta Press Club debate. Election Day is November 3.

Collins needs to cut into Ossoff's lead with independents and suburban voters. Ossoff needs to keep the race about prices and about Trump.