Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Endorses Representative Mike Collins in U.S. Senate Race

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) endorsed Representative Mike Collins (R-GA) on Monday in the race to unseat Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA). Kemp stated, "Mike Collins and I share a commitment to making Georgia an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. Mike has delivered results as a businessman and commonsense leader in Washington, and that’s what we need in our next Senator. Jon Ossoff’s far-left agenda doesn’t represent Georgia values, and the future of our state and country demands a different direction." Collins, who owns a trucking company and represents Georgia’s 10th congressional district, is also endorsed by former President Donald Trump. He expressed gratitude for Kemp’s support, stating, "Governor Kemp has never been afraid of a tough fight, and Georgia is stronger today because he’s been willing to take them on. I’m grateful to have him standing with me to take back Georgia’s Senate seat, stand up to the far-left agenda, and defeat Jon Ossoff this November." Kemp had previously endorsed Derek Dooley ahead of the primary election but did not run for the position himself due to term limits. Dooley lost to Collins in the primary with 55.5 percent to 44.5 percent. Kemp has also shifted his support in the gubernatorial race from Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) to billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson, who won a last-minute campaign against Jones. A spokesperson for the Ossoff campaign commented that Kemp's endorsement would not significantly improve Collins’s position, stating, "There’s a reason Brian Kemp worked so hard to defeat bigot Mike Collins in the GOP primary and waited to endorse the congressman until less than two months from Election Day, and it’s that Collins, who’s only a congressman because his daddy was a congressman, is surrounded at work and at home by neo-Nazis and white nationalists." The Georgia Senate race is anticipated to be competitive, potentially influencing the majority in the Senate during the latter part of President Trump's second term. Ossoff has been labeled as the "most vulnerable" Democrat up for reelection, with speculation about his presidential ambitions in 2028. RealClear Polling rates the race as a "toss-up," with Ossoff holding an average projected lead of 7.8 points according to polling averages.