Georgia GOP Senate Primary Heats Up as Mike Collins Enters Race

Second House Republican joins growing field of Republicans looking to challenge Ossoff

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 9: Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) speaks during a press conference discussing the Laken Riley Act at the US Capitol on January 9, 2025 in Washington, DC. The bill, the first of the new Congress that was sworn in last week, was named for the 22-year-old Georgia nursing school student who was murdered in 2024 by an immigrant in the United States illegally. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

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The GOP Senate primary in Georgia is heating up, with conservative GOP Rep. Mike Collins officially throwing his hat in the ring on Monday. The list of Republicans vying to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is expected to grow.

Collins — a staunch Trump ally who has made a name for himself as a lawmaker with a strong internet presence, frequently posting memes and comical content on X — launched his campaign by posting his first ad, touting his work on the Laken Riley Act, his support for the president's agenda, and declaring, "It's time to send a trucker to the U.S. Senate to steamroll the radical left."

Collins is the second House member to enter the race, following Rep. Buddy Carter, who announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the battleground state in May.

Former football coach Derek Dooley is also said to be considering a bid, and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has been floated as a potential contender.

Georgia GOP political consultants told 24sight News that Collins "shouldn't be underestimated," noting he is seen as the most conservative of the potential candidates, as he and Carter jockey for the Trump endorsement.

Operatives noted that Ossoff could be tough to beat, with any GOP candidate needing a strong campaign operation and fundraising prowess given the competitiveness of the state.

Trump has not yet endorsed anyone in the race, which the Cook Political Report rates as a "toss-up."

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