Inside Georgia's Senate race and Collins's uphill battle against Ossoff

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff holds a comfortable advantage in Georgia's Senate race, and President Trump is scheduled to visit Dalton on Friday to campaign for Ossoff's Republican challenger, Rep. Mike Collins. Ossoff, 39, is the chamber's youngest member and the only Democrat seeking reelection in a state Trump carried in 2024. PBS NewsHour reports that his lead rests largely on a steady message about the cost of living, along with attention to local problems and federal money for Georgia.

That approach has won over some unlikely voters. Gary Paulk, a fifth-generation muscadine grape grower in Ray, says fuel costs, tariffs and the immigration crackdown have squeezed his farm, and he credits Ossoff with helping secure $531 million in hurricane relief for farmers. He plans to vote for a Democrat for the first time. Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson also praised Ossoff, though Trump won his county by 18 points.

Collins has struggled with a misspelled kickoff ad, weak fundraising, and reports that two former aides and his son-in-law promoted antisemitism and white nationalism. He says he rejects hatred. He campaigns on crime and immigration, citing the Laken Riley Act.

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →