Ossoff’s Opponent Sends Clear Message

Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., is predicting that Georgia voters will deliver a major political change in November, declaring that he intends to defeat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in one of the nation’s most closely watched U.S. Senate races.

Collins made the prediction Wednesday during an appearance on Newsmax’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight,” where he criticized Ossoff’s record in Washington and argued that Georgia voters are increasingly ready for new representation.

“We are going to get rid of this guy. I’m going to beat him in November,” Collins said.

The Republican congressman said he has encountered strong dissatisfaction with Ossoff while traveling around Georgia and believes that frustration will ultimately be reflected at the ballot box.

“The people of the state of Georgia have been out here screaming and yelling. They are rejecting him,” Collins said.

“They’re going to reject him in November. And I’m going to be your U.S. senator out of Georgia.”

The comments underscore the stakes surrounding a Senate contest that could have consequences well beyond the Peach State.

Collins Defends Trump Aide Natalie Harp

Collins also sharply criticized Ossoff over recent remarks involving Natalie Harp, an aide to President Donald Trump.

Harp has become the subject of increased political attention after Ossoff referenced her while criticizing Trump during a campaign appearance.

Collins argued that Harp, who is a cancer survivor, has no role in the Georgia Senate campaign and should not have been drawn into the political dispute.

“This is just another pattern in a long list of things that are just piling up,” Collins said.

He accused Ossoff of “disparaging, demeaning, dehumanizing women” and argued that Harp was being unfairly targeted simply for performing her duties in the Trump administration.

According to Collins, criticism of a White House employee who is not running for office crosses a line that should concern voters regardless of their political affiliation.

He praised Harp’s work and said she did not deserve to become part of the escalating political battle.

“To me, this is even beneath politics,” Collins said.

Laken Riley Act Becomes Part of Senate Fight

Collins also brought up the case of Laken Riley, the 22-year-old Georgia nursing student whose 2024 murder became a major national issue in the debate over illegal immigration and public safety.

The case eventually led Congress to pass the Laken Riley Act, which President Trump signed into law in January 2025.

Collins accused Ossoff of failing to do enough to support efforts surrounding the legislation and Riley’s family.

However, Ossoff ultimately voted in favor of the Laken Riley Act when it passed the Senate by a bipartisan 64-35 vote.

That distinction is important as the legislation becomes part of the increasingly heated campaign between the two candidates.

Collins also criticized Ossoff over his reaction when Riley’s mother was recognized during a presidential address, using the episode to question the senator’s approach to an issue that remains deeply significant to many Georgia voters.

Immigration, border security and violent crime involving people who entered the country illegally are likely to remain major campaign issues heading into November.

Is Georgia Still a Republican State?

Collins also challenged the idea that Georgia has permanently shifted toward Democrats.

While Ossoff and fellow Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock have demonstrated that Democrats can win major federal races in Georgia, Republicans have continued to perform strongly in state government.

Collins pointed to Republican control of statewide constitutional offices and the GOP’s strength in the Georgia Legislature as evidence that conservative voters remain a powerful force in the state.

He argued that Ossoff’s success has depended partly on presenting himself as a moderate to Georgia voters while supporting policies in Washington that Collins considers significantly more liberal.

“If you take a particular look at Jon Ossoff, he is nothing but a Trojan horse,” Collins said.

According to Collins, voters should pay closer attention to Ossoff’s actual Senate votes rather than the political image he presents while campaigning at home.

“This guy has been running around this state for 4 1/2, five years now, talking about how moderate and how he does this and that,” Collins said. “But when he gets back up to D.C. and he votes, his voting record is entirely different.”

That argument is likely to become a central theme of the Republican campaign as Collins attempts to persuade independents and conservative voters that Ossoff is further to the left than his public image suggests.

Collins Highlights His Private-Sector Background

Collins also sought to draw a sharp contrast between his background and Ossoff’s.

The congressman described himself as a small-business owner who spent most of his professional life in the private sector before entering Congress.

“I am nothing but a small business person who’s only been in Congress for one full term,” Collins said. “I’ve spent my entire career in the private sector.”

He then attacked Ossoff’s background, describing the Democratic senator as a “trust fund kid” and claiming he has never held what Collins considers a traditional private-sector job.

The criticism fits into a broader Republican argument centered on experience outside government and whether elected officials understand the economic pressures facing working Americans, retirees and small-business owners.

Those questions could prove especially important for older Georgia voters concerned about inflation, retirement security, taxes, healthcare costs and the overall direction of the economy.

Collins Predicts Ossoff Could Run for President

Collins also made a broader prediction about Ossoff’s political future, suggesting the Georgia Democrat could eventually seek the presidency.

“This guy is going to run for president,” Collins said.

Ossoff has attracted national attention within Democratic politics, but any future presidential campaign remains speculative.

Collins nevertheless argued that Georgia voters should consider the possibility when deciding whether to give Ossoff another term in the Senate.

He urged voters to examine the senator’s voting record carefully, saying it offers the clearest indication of the policies Ossoff could support if he eventually sought higher office.

For conservatives, the argument raises the stakes of the Georgia election beyond a single Senate seat.

Georgia Senate Race Could Help Shape Trump’s Agenda

The November contest is expected to draw significant national attention as Republicans and Democrats battle over the direction of Congress.

Georgia has emerged as one of America’s most competitive political states after years of closely contested presidential and Senate elections.

For Republicans, defeating Ossoff would provide an opportunity to strengthen their position in Washington and potentially give President Trump additional congressional support for priorities involving immigration, taxes, energy, government spending and federal regulation.

Democrats, meanwhile, will be determined to defend Ossoff’s seat and prevent Republicans from making gains in a state that has become essential to both parties’ national strategies.

That means Georgia voters could have an unusually influential role in determining the political direction of Washington.

Collins Makes His Case to Georgia Voters

Collins concluded his appearance by making a direct appeal to voters and supporters.

“Join the convoy,” Collins said. “Help us get rid of this guy, because if we don’t get rid of him in Georgia, he’s going to become a problem for the entire country.”

The rhetoric reflects how intense the Georgia Senate contest has already become with Election Day still approaching.

For voters, the choice is likely to center on two very different political visions.

Collins is attempting to present himself as the conservative, private-sector alternative who would support President Trump’s agenda and move Georgia’s Senate representation to the right.

Ossoff will be asking voters to give him another term and defend the record he has built since entering the Senate in 2021.

With immigration, inflation, taxes, public safety, federal spending and Trump’s agenda all likely to dominate the national conversation, Georgia’s Senate race could become one of the defining political battles of the 2026 midterm elections.

Ultimately, Georgia voters will decide in November whether Ossoff receives another term — or whether Collins succeeds in returning the seat to Republican hands.