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Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., on Monday became the latest Republican to enter the high-stakes 2026 Senate race in Georgia, pledging to defeat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and advance former President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda.
“It’s time to send a trucker to the U.S. Senate to steamroll the radical left,” Collins says in his launch video, referring to his background as the founder of a trucking company.
Collins, who represents Georgia’s conservative 10th District, enters a crowded and contentious GOP primary field already featuring Rep. Buddy Carter. Former college football coach Derek Dooley is also expected to run with support from Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.
A Trucker, a Trump Ally, and a Rising MAGA Figure
The son of former Rep. Mac Collins, Mike Collins has built his political brand around blunt messaging, unwavering support for Trump, and a no-frills approach to politics. In Congress, he gained national attention for sponsoring the Laken Riley Act, named after a University of Georgia nursing student allegedly killed by an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant in his district.
“When Biden’s open border got Laken Riley tragically murdered … I took matters into my own hands,” Collins says in his video. Trump signed the legislation in January after returning to the White House and praised Collins as a “fantastic” man.
GOP Primary Dynamics: Trumpism vs. Kemp’s Coalition
The Republican primary is shaping up to be a test of Trump’s influence versus that of Georgia’s GOP establishment. Gov. Kemp recently informed both Collins and Carter that he would back Derek Dooley, son of legendary Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, for the Senate seat.
State Insurance Commissioner John King dropped out of the race last week after a private meeting with Kemp, saying he would refocus on reelection to his current post.
But Collins and Carter show no signs of backing down. Carter’s campaign issued a statement Monday: “There’s only one candidate in this race who is a MAGA Warrior and only one who will take the fight to radical liberal Jon Ossoff.”
A Crucial Target for the GOP
Sen. Ossoff is considered the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent of the 2026 cycle. Trump won Georgia by 2 points last fall, and Republicans are eager to reclaim the seat. The nonpartisan Inside Elections currently rates the race a Toss-up.
Democrats, meanwhile, were quick to criticize Collins’ entrance. Maeve Coyle, spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said Collins would emerge from a “messy and divisive primary” as “a deeply flawed nominee.”
Still, Ossoff’s campaign remains well-funded:
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$11 million raised in Q1 of 2025
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$10 million in Q2
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$15 million+ cash on hand as of July
By comparison, Collins ended June with $1 million in his House campaign account, while Carter raised a total of $3 million, including a $2 million personal loan to his Senate effort.
The Trump Factor
Collins has been one of Trump’s most visible allies in the House and is betting that his proximity to the former president will energize the MAGA base in a state where Trump remains popular among Republicans.
The campaign launch video features Collins driving a semi-truck and leaning heavily on his outsider status: “Washington’s full of career politicians. I’m a conservative workhorse, not a show horse.”
His frequent use of social media—sometimes controversial—has also boosted his profile. He hinted at his campaign weeks ago with a post saying, “Sometimes you don’t do what you want to do, but what you need to do.”
What’s Next
The GOP primary is still months away, but early polling and donor support could shape the race quickly. Collins’ entry intensifies the pressure on Dooley to formally announce, and on Kemp to rally party leaders behind his preferred candidate.
Trump, for his part, has not yet endorsed in the race—but his praise of Collins’ immigration legislation may signal his leanings.
With Trump atop the GOP ticket again and Georgia’s demographics continuing to shift, the Ossoff-Collins (or Carter or Dooley) matchup is likely to become one of the most expensive and closely watched races in the country.
