Georgia Senate race 2026: Collins vs. Ossoff

RThe Ledger's profile

Mike Collins

Georgia trucking-company founder, two-term congressman and sponsor of the Laken Riley Act; Republican nominee against Senator Jon Ossoff in 2026.

Read the documented profile of Mike Collins

Also on the ballot

Jon Ossoff

American politician; U.S. senator from Georgia since 2021; incumbent and 2026 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate from Georgia

The general-election field as the board records it: Ossoff (D) vs. Collins (R) vs. Allen Buckley (L)

The race at a glance

Board data as of Sep 15, 2026. Ratings are the raters' own current calls; polls are the newest public ones with their field dates; money is what the committees reported. Nothing here is a forecast.

Seat

Incumbent Jon Ossoff (D)

Primary

May 19: Collins 369,642 (40.5%), Dooley 275,534 (30.2%), Carter 229,223 (25.1%); runoff Jun 16: Collins 390,174 (55.5%) def. Dooley (Wikipedia/AP; GA SOS 403). Ossoff unopposed 1,042,331

Ratings

Cook Lean D (Aug 20); Sabato Likely D (Aug 26); IE Tilt D (Sep 3)

Newest public polling

Trafalgar (R) Sep 10–12 n=1,091: Ossoff 49.4 / Collins 42.8; InsiderAdvantage Aug 16–17 n=800 LV: Ossoff 50 / Collins 43; AARP Jul 13–16 n=1,060: Ossoff 52 / Collins 43

Reported money

FEC Jun 30: Ossoff $97,986,263 raised / $42,587,451 COH; Collins $7,409,350 / $2,079,981

Notable

Trump endorsed Collins two days before the runoff (Jun 14); Kemp backed Dooley. House ethics investigation into Collins's fund use referenced by CBS/AJC.

Key dates in Georgia

Read from the Georgia Secretary of State. The full guide, with the official tools, is on the Georgia page.

• Voter registration deadlineOctober 5, 2026 is the last day to register to vote, or to change the address on your registration, for the November 3, 2026 general election. The Secretary of State gives this single date, with no separate online, mail or in-person cutoffs and no time of day. Its FAQ says you must be registered ahead of an election to vote in that election. sos.ga.gov
• Early voting (advance voting) beginsOctober 13, 2026. Advance voting must begin the fourth Monday before the election; the Secretary of State's calendar notes that the date was moved to the next business day because of a state holiday. sos.ga.gov
• Deadline to request an absentee (mail) ballotOctober 23, 2026 is the last day to request an absentee-by-mail ballot. The application form says the application must be received by your election office 11 days before the election. The request period opened on August 17, 2026. sos.ga.gov
• Deadline to return an absentee ballot (received, not postmarked)November 3, 2026 (Election Day): your voted absentee ballot must be received by your county registrar no later than the close of polls; polls are open until 7:00 p.m. This is a received-by deadline: ballots received after the polls close cannot be counted. Military and overseas (UOCAVA) ballots postmarked by the election date are counted if received by 5:00 p.m. on November 6, 2026. sos.ga.gov
• Election DayNovember 3, 2026. A general election runoff, if one is needed, is set for December 1, 2026. sos.ga.gov
• Poll hoursPolls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Election Day, November 3, 2026, at your assigned polling place. If you are in line by 7 p.m., you will still be allowed to vote. sos.ga.gov

Voting in Georgia: dates, rules and official tools

Questions and answers