Jon Ossoff defeats Mike Collins to retain Georgia Senate seat
Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff was projected to win re-election in Georgia, keeping both of the state's Senate seats in Democratic hands.
The Fox News Decision Desk projected that Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia defeated Republican challenger Rep. Mike Collins in the 2026 midterm election. Ossoff, who was considered by some analysts to be a vulnerable incumbent, took an early lead as polls closed on Tuesday night and expanded his margin as counting continued.
The victory ensures that Georgia will continue to be represented by two Democrats in the U.S. Senate. The Senate Democrats' campaign arm praised Ossoff, saying, "> A workhorse for the people of Georgia, Senator Ossoff has spent the last six years in the U.S. Senate providing outstanding constituent services, standing up for children, and fighting to make life better."
Ossoff and fellow Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock were first elected in runoff elections after the 2020 cycle, ending a period of all-Republican representation from the state. The article notes that Georgia shifted toward the Republican ticket in 2024, with President Donald Trump winning the state.
During the campaign, Collins highlighted the Laken Riley Act, a measure he authored that would require detention of certain illegal immigrants charged with specified offenses. Ossoff voted for the bill but criticized the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics. The candidates also exchanged attacks on economic policies, with Collins accusing Ossoff of supporting measures that raised inflation and taxes, while Ossoff criticized Collins for backing tariffs and the war in Iran.
Collins faced scrutiny over a House ethics investigation concerning the hiring of a staff member linked to his former chief of staff, which he described as a "complaint" without merit. He also dealt with controversy surrounding social-media posts by his son-in-law that featured extremist imagery.
Ossoff’s campaign received contributions from venture capitalist Reid Hoffman, a detail noted in the reporting. Outside groups initially invested heavily in Collins’s race, but funding tapered in the final weeks, suggesting reduced confidence in flipping the seat.
Ossoff, who has been mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential contender, has stated he has "zero interest" in running for the White House and pledged to serve his full six-year term if re-elected.