ATLANTA: Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff has won re-election in Georgia, defeating Republican challenger Mike Collins and retaining a crucial Senate seat for his party, CBS News projects.
Ossoff, increasingly prominent within the Democratic Party, made the cost of living a central theme of his campaign, accusing Collins of standing firmly behind what he described as a “failed president” — Donald Trump.
The result carries significance in Georgia, a closely contested battleground state that backed Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Collins, meanwhile, blamed rising living costs on former President Joe Biden and defended his support for Trump’s war in Iran.
Republican Setback
Republicans had shifted campaign resources away from Georgia to other contests, with polling suggesting Ossoff held a comfortable lead.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, whose term in office is limited, had been viewed as a potential Republican challenger. He ultimately declined to enter the race.
Some political commentators speculated that Kemp was reluctant to take on Ossoff, whose growing national profile has fuelled speculation about a possible presidential campaign in 2028.
Ossoff has repeatedly dismissed the prospect, saying he has “zero interest” in running for president.
In the United States, national elections are held every two years, while presidential elections take place every four years.
Mid-term elections are held halfway through a president’s term and provide voters with an opportunity to elect members of Congress and decide which party will control the legislative branch of government.
