Few Ossoff Challengers Push Trump-Forward Agenda Ahead Of GA Primary

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democrat seeking a second term in Congress, is facing mounting pressure from top GOP challengers looking to unseat him.

Polls on Thursday showed the most likely opponent to face off against Ossoff could be U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, a Republican who wants to strip non-citizen truck drivers of their commercial driver's licenses.

"The Trump Administration isn’t messing around and neither am I," Collins tweeted Thursday. "These numbers are just the beginning. Make America’s roads safe again. Pass Dalilah’s Law."

If an Ossoff-Collins matchup comes to fruition, most tallies from Real Clear Polling showed Ossoff could defeat Collins but only by a thin margin.

Republicans currently control the Senate over the Democrats, 53-45. There are also two Independents seated in the Senate.

Ossoff is one of two senators representing Georgia in Congress. He runs on a platform supporting advanced health care for pregnant women and children, mental health care for veterans and funding for historically Black colleges and universities in the state.

"A wave is building, but nothing is guaranteed," Ossoff said in a May 6 X post published to his campaign page. "This is still the most competitive and crucial battleground state in the United States. And so I say again, the time for worry is over, and now it's time for work."

During his time as senator, Ossoff has called out corporate landlords he claimed were buying single-family homes and increasing prices for families. He was also vocal when it was announced in March 2025 that five Social Security Administration offices were set for closure; he cited difficulty to Social Security access.

This year, Ossoff has more than Collins to worry about if he is to retain his position. Other contenders are U.S. Rep. Earl "Buddy" Carter, real-estate CEO John Coyne, attorney Derek Dooley and Army veteran and Pastor Jonathan McColumn.

Though Carter and Collins have portrayed themselves as Trump supporters and supporters of the president's MAGA movement, WABE Atlanta reported Collins may not mind "crossing the aisle to get Democratic votes."

The Georgia primary for the midterm election will be held Tuesday, May 19. Polls will open at 7 a.m., and as long as voters are in line by 7 p.m., they can make their selections in some of Georgia's most important races.

The primary will determine who will either head into a run-off in June, or who will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

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Get to know the Republican candidates for U.S. Senate, as well as their take on some local issues. These viewpoints do not represent Patch but rather the candidates.

Earl "Buddy" Carter

The Issues

• Supports school choice and elimination of Common Core.
• Supports "banning all federal funding for abortions and have supported legislation to prevent this."
• Supports transportation infrastructure.

Before becoming a pharmacist over 30 years ago, Carter graduated from Young Harris College and the University of Georgia, according his biography.

The self-proclaimed MAGA warrior's political career began as mayor of Pooler.

He then went on to serve six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Budget Committee.

"I am running for the United States Senate so that I can go to the Senate and be a warrior for Donald Trump and his American first policies," Carter said during a recent debate. "My opponent, Jon Ossoff, does not represent Georgia values. ... We need to get rid of Jon Ossoff and we need to win this seat back. If I'm elected to the Senate, I promise I'll fight for you. I'll fight for you, and I'll make sure that we, along with President Trump, put more money in your pocket. That's we want to try to do."

Mike Collins

The Issues

• Supported the Laken Riley Act, which requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain specific non-U.S. nationals who have been arrested on charges of burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting.
• Supports the war in Iran.
• Seeks to repeal the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.

A longtime businessman, Collins partnered with his wife and founded a trucking company in the 1990s, according to his biography. He earned a business degree from Georgia State University.

Collins has served as president of his local Chamber of Commerce and as chairman of a credit union.

For the last three years, he has served the residents of Georgia's 10th congressional district.

"I'm running for the U.S. Senate because Georgia does not have a voice," Collins said in a recent debate. "Jon Ossoff doesn't represent us. ... Just like I've done in Congress, we're gonna move forward an agenda that takes Americans and puts them first. We're going to protect our people. We're going to get the government off the backs of the hardworking American men and women out there, and we're going to do it in a bipartisan way that does not compromise our conservative values."

Jonathan McColumn

The Issues

• Supports workers' rights to not join labor unions.
• Supports the 2nd Amendment, right to bear arms.
• Partner with organizations in the private and public sectors to address local concerns.

A retired brigadier general, McColumn has 35 years of Army experience that includes leading 6,000 people, according to his campaign site.

McColumn holds three master degrees and is a consultant, member of the clergy and educator.

He has two combat deployments under his belt, and he has been honored with the Army Distinguished Service, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star awards.

"Georgians, we have lost this election three consecutive times," McColumn said in a debate. "Republicans, we've lost three consecutive times, and we've lost that because we don't use the number one criteria for selection and that is executive level leadership."

Derek Dooley

The Issues

• Supports reliable and affordable energy.
• Supports investing in military readiness and innovation.
• Supports a balanced budget in Congress.

Dooley, the son of a former Georgia Bulldogs football coach, was a walk-on wide receiver at the University of Virginia during his college years. After graduating from Virginia, he earned a law degree from UGA.

Atlanta became home to the Athens native as he practiced law; but, he later followed his father's footsteps by coaching football a combined 28 years at UGA and in the NFL.

His platform hinges on his Georgia First agenda, which he deems his contract to the people of Georgia.

"I'm here for two reasons: number one is we gotta get the right candidate to beat Jon Ossoff and get this Senate seat back to the people of Georgia," Dooley said in a debate. "Secondly, it's time we start sending a different kind of leadership to Washington because Congress is not working for the people the way it used to."

John Coyne

The Issues

• Supports parental and teacher control as it pertains to education.
• Eradicate Medicare fraud.
• Supports extending the school year to 210 days and transitioning the schedule to make way for a summer session.

Unlike some others on the ballot, Coyne is originally from New Jersey, not Georgia.

However, in 1970, he graduated with a bachelor of science degree from UGA after transferring to the Athens-based university, according to his biography.

Coyne currently serves as the CEO of an agency that serves those within residential and commercial real estate.

"There's a lot of things going on in the world today, and the reason I'm running is I'm trying to protect the people of America," Coyne said in a debate.