Democrats hold Georgia Senate seat as Ossoff defeats Collins: AP
Sen. Jon Ossoff wins reelection, defeats Mike Collins
Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff won reelection in Georgia, defeating Republican Rep. Mike Collins in a closely watched Senate race that helped Democrats regain control of the U.S. Senate. Ossoff campaigned on restoring Medicaid cuts and challenging President Donald Trump, while Collins emphasized his support for the president. Collins will remain in Congress until Jan. 3. FOX 5's Rob DiRienzo reports on the election results and reaction from both campaigns.
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.
Historic executive office victory
The backstory:
Bottoms built her political path as Atlanta mayor before stepping into national policy work as a senior adviser in the Biden White House. Her victory shatters a longstanding state pattern of voters turning away Atlanta leaders seeking the executive mansion, while also touching a political landscape where figures like Collins drew attention.
The win marks Georgia's first Democratic gubernatorial triumph since 1998, clearing the way for Bottoms to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Bottoms becomes just the fourth Black governor elected in American history, securing the seat after two prior statewide bids by Stacey Abrams and running in a cycle alongside Minnesota Republican Lisa Demuth.
Her path to the highest state office runs through deep family roots in Crawfordville. There, her ancestors endured enslavement, and her grandfather faced segregated building entrances she would later enter through the front doors as mayor.
Ambitious state policy agenda
What we know:
Day-one plans from Bottoms center on full Medicaid expansion, aiming to wipe out the state's narrower Georgia Pathways setup to widen healthcare coverage across all communities. Her legislative platform also calls for repealing state abortion limits to restore protections once guaranteed under Roe v. Wade.
Economic relief forms another pillar of her agenda, starting with a state minimum wage bump to $15 an hour. She also proposed setting up a statewide affordable housing trust fund and removing tuition costs for public community and technical colleges.
To ease household budgets, Bottoms designed cost-cutting steps targeting transportation and household bills. Her platform lowers the state gasoline tax to 28 cents per gallon, axes the 2.25% state tax on car insurance premiums and forbids car insurance companies from raising rates more than once a year.
Looming legislative budget fights
What we don't know:
State officials have not announced when lawmakers will formally debate Bottoms' healthcare overhaul and tax adjustments. Legislative leaders have also not indicated whether tax repeals and tuition waivers will face legal challenges or state revenue pushback during upcoming budget negotiations.
Georgia governor's race breakdown
Election Results:
Here is an interactive look at how the Peach State voted:
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.
Ossoff's campaign statement
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.
Collins vows to continue to serve
The other side:
Georgia Rep. Mike Collins reflected on his service and acknowledged disappointing election results Tuesday night while addressing supporters across the state. The Georgia 10th district representative thanked his family, staff, and voters as he promised to continue working in whatever capacity is offered moving forward.
Collins entered Congress following the footsteps of his father, former Rep. Mac Collins, who brought private sector business experience into public service. During his legislative tenure, Collins pointed to his work championing the Laken Riley Act and the TRANQ Act to remove dangerous drugs from local communities.
Collins concedes U.S. Senate race after fast AP call
Republican challenger and Georgia 10th Congressional District Rep. Mike Collins conceded that election night results were not what his campaign wanted.
He also highlighted key infrastructure priorities, including federal support for the Port of Savannah, Brunswick, and water projects in Augusta. Collins noted that his original platform focused on backing law enforcement against calls to defund the police, assisting military veterans, and lowering taxes and regulations.
Reflecting on his early path of building a home at 22 and launching a business at 24, Collins voiced concern that younger generations now struggle to reach the American dream. He stressed his efforts to curb illegal immigration and credited his time working under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump as an honor.
Who controls the U.S. House?
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.
Georgia election results
What you can do:
For full election results from the 2026 Midterm Election in Georgia, click here.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from live election night coverage and victory remarks delivered by Sen. Jon Ossoff, statements released by the Ossoff and Collins campaigns, official election updates, and on-the-ground voter interviews conducted Tuesday. The Associated Press contributed to this article.