Democrat Jon Ossoff rails against 'lame duck' Trump after winning Georgia Senate race

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff has held his Georgia seat, beating Republican Rep. Mike Collins, The Independent and CBS News report. The outcome matters for Democrats, since Ossoff was their only senator up for reelection in a state Donald Trump carried in 2024, and Republicans had hoped to use the contest to keep control of the chamber. CBS News says it projected the result.

The Independent describes a combative Ossoff campaign that raised over $100 million and centered on attacking the president, prompting talk of a 2028 White House bid. It says Ossoff, 39, repeatedly branded Collins a bigot, citing his past posts and associates linked to white supremacists. Collins said he had always rejected racism and antisemitism, and told supporters the night's result was acceptable, calling Trump the best president of his lifetime. He also faulted Ossoff's voting record. The Independent adds that an unresolved House ethics inquiry hurt Collins.

CBS News adds that Collins, 59, a trucking business owner, won the Republican nomination in a June runoff after a messy primary. It notes that a former staffer reportedly shared Nazi and KKK images, and that Collins' closeness to Trump helped Ossoff, who led in polls beforehand.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent and CBS News’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent → Also at CBS News →