Conservatives Fearful Red State Becoming Less Republican?
Matt Schlapp Sees GOP Momentum Growing in Crucial Georgia Senate Race
A top conservative leader believes Georgia may be moving back into Republican territory as one of the nation’s most important Senate races begins to take shape.
Speaking Wednesday on Newsmax’s “The Record with Greta Van Susteren,” Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Chairman Matt Schlapp said recent political trends suggest Georgia is once again leaning Republican after several election cycles that saw Democrats make major gains.
His comments come as Republican Congressman Mike Collins prepares to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched Senate races of 2026.
Schlapp: Collins Has a Strong Opportunity to Defeat Ossoff
According to Schlapp, Collins can win if he successfully highlights Ossoff’s voting record and ties the first-term senator to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
Schlapp argued that many voters still view Ossoff as a moderate Democrat, despite consistently voting alongside Democratic leadership in Washington.
“If Mike Collins can show voters that Jon Ossoff votes the same way the far left votes in the Senate, he has a very real chance to win,” Schlapp said during the interview.
For Republicans hoping to expand their Senate majority, Georgia remains one of the most important battlegrounds in the country.
Is Georgia Becoming a Republican State Again?
While Georgia remains highly competitive, Schlapp believes the state’s political landscape is beginning to favor Republicans once again.
“I think Georgia has kind of sprung back to be lean Republican,” he said.
That assessment will likely encourage GOP strategists who have spent years trying to regain momentum after Democrats captured key statewide victories in recent election cycles.
Georgia’s growing population, shifting suburbs, and strong rural Republican base continue to make the state one of the nation’s most unpredictable political battlegrounds.
Ossoff Launches First Major Attack Ad Against Collins
Democrats are already moving aggressively to define Collins before the general election campaign fully begins.
On Wednesday, Ossoff’s campaign released a new television advertisement portraying Collins as a wealthy political insider who puts corporate interests and President Donald Trump ahead of working-class Georgians.
The ad was launched just one day after Collins secured the Republican nomination by defeating former college football coach Derek Dooley in a runoff election.
Political observers expect millions of dollars to pour into the race over the coming months as national Democrats and Republicans battle for every possible Senate seat.
Why the Georgia Senate Race Matters
The outcome of the Georgia Senate race could have major consequences for the balance of power in Washington.
Republicans view the seat as one of their best pickup opportunities in 2026, while Democrats see Ossoff as a critical part of their effort to maintain influence in the Senate.
With both parties expected to invest heavily in advertising, voter outreach, and grassroots organizing, Georgia voters are once again likely to find themselves at the center of a national political fight.
As the campaign season ramps up, the battle between Mike Collins and Jon Ossoff is shaping up to be one of the most expensive, competitive, and consequential Senate contests in America.
