ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — A Georgia race is now one of the most highly anticipated contests of the 2026 midterms. As it will help determine the control of the senate.

Incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and Republican Representative Mike Collins are set to face off in November. After Rep. Collins defeated Derek Dooley in a GOP runoff Tuesday.

“Y’all know what the mission is, is to put a Republican in that seat and get rid of that Jon Ossoff in November,” Rep. Collins said. “Return this seat to the people of Georgia. And I look forward to helping and getting the help and working to do just that. But y’all, most importantly now, I wanna thank the people of Georgia for putting your trust in me.

Right now the U.S. Senate has 53 Republicans, and 47 Democrats, including two independents. With 35 seats up for grabs this year, Democrats can retake control with a net gain of four seats.

Following the results, Senator Ossoff, whose heading into November unified with Gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, released a statement.

“Donald Trump’s handpicked candidate Mike Collins is a notorious bigot, antisemite, and extremist currently under federal investigation for the illegal misuse of tax dollars. Collins, who is only a congressman because his daddy was a congressman, voted to double health insurance premiums for more than a million Georgians, for the Iran War, and for the Trump tariffs.”

According to political reports Georgia, is a crucial U.S. Senate swing seat.

Democrats say holding on to Ossoff’s seat is key to winning back control of the Senate. While Republicans say flipping it is one their biggest opportunities to expand.

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