Democrats hold Georgia Senate seat as Ossoff defeats Collins: AP
ATLANTA - Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff won reelection to the U.S. Senate in Georgia Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Rep. Mike Collins and protecting a critical battleground seat as Democrats attempt to take back Congress.
Georgia Senate race results
What we know:
Ossoff fended off Collins, a two-term congressman backed by President Donald Trump, after outraising his opponent in an aggressive statewide campaign. The win denied Republicans a seat party strategists had targeted as one of their premier pickup opportunities this cycle.
In other early contests, Democratic Sen. Mark Warner cruised to reelection in Virginia, while Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz won a Florida seat following state redistricting. More than 59 million Americans cast ballots before Tuesday, surpassing early-voting totals from 2022.
Balance of power
What we don't know:
Control of both congressional chambers remains unsettled with tight margins where a couple of seats could shift power. Final outcomes remain unknown in key Senate battlegrounds including Ohio, Texas, North Carolina and Alaska.
Officials have not yet determined whether Democrats will secure the net gain of four Senate seats or three House seats needed to claim majorities. In New York's Westchester County, local officials placed ballots into emergency bins for later tabulation after machine paper-handling glitches.
What they're saying:
Sen. Jon Ossoff's campaign issued the following statement:
"Congratulations to Senator Ossoff on his hard-fought re-election victory. Together we will continue the important work of rooting out corruption and abuses of power and lowering costs for the American people. A workhorse for the people of Georgia, Senator Ossoff has spent the last six years in the U.S. Senate providing outstanding constituent services, standing up for children, and fighting to make life better. Georgians sent him back to the Senate because they know he will always show up for them – and now he’ll continue putting Georgia families first."
US Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) speaks during a midterm election rally at the Cobb County Convention Center in Atlanta, on October 17, 2026. (Photo by ERIK S. LESSER / AFP via Getty Images)
Shifting congressional majorities
The backstory:
Ossoff entered the election cycle viewed as one of the Senate's most vulnerable incumbents before mounting an aggressive defense. His campaign fundraising advantage helped blunt Republican spending efforts across the state.
Historical trends heavily disfavor the president's party in midterm elections, prompting an aggressive Republican redistricting drive earlier this year. Republicans funneled 88.1% of their general election TV advertising cash into districts and states won by Trump two years ago.
Candidates and voters react
Local perspective:
"The American people are angry. They want change," said Rep. Suzan DelBene, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
"I think the results are going to be better than you think," Trump said Tuesday on Fox News Channel, while asserting that "inflation is solved."
In Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, voter Mark Barker backed Republicans, pointing to Trump's economic pledges. "I really think he's doing an awesome job," Barker said.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, librarian James Moore cast his vote for Democrats in response to federal fiscal policies. "I'm paying more taxes. I'm paying more for my healthcare. I'm paying more for everything," Moore said.
What's next:
A divided Congress or full Democratic takeover would drastically alter the remaining two years of Trump's administration. Democratic committee leaders could launch investigations and initiate potential impeachments against administration figures such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries stands in position to become the nation's first Black speaker of the House if Democrats flip the lower chamber. Gubernatorial outcomes across 36 states will also shape political landscapes and elevate potential future presidential contenders.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from The Associated Press, which declared the race and provided campaign background details, as well as official candidate campaign records. Additional details and comments come from the Jon Ossoff campaign.