Sep 17, 2026 · 12 min
Ossoff’s Georgia Advantage Raises 2028 Questions
Georgia’s 2026 Election Is Already About 2028
Georgia’s 2026 races may be quieter than recent contests, but they are testing Republican strength and Jon Ossoff’s national ambitions.
- 1Mike Collins’s ethics controversies have given Jon Ossoff a strong early advantage in Georgia’s Senate race.
- 2A chaotic Republican governor’s primary is emerging as another test of the party’s statewide direction.
- 3Ossoff’s fundraising, viral speeches, and national profile are prompting speculation about a 2028 presidential campaign.
Don't miss
The reporters connect Ossoff’s fundraising and viral anti-Trump speeches to speculation about a possible 2028 presidential bid.
The brief
Georgia’s 2026 elections are undercovered, but the state remains a crucial political test: a seemingly settled Senate race sits alongside a chaotic Republican governor’s primary.
Tia Mitchell and Greg Bluestein explain how Mike Collins’s ethics controversies, including alleged misuse of official resources, have weakened his challenge to incumbent Jon Ossoff.
Ossoff’s advantage reflects both Collins’s repeated controversies and the incumbent’s own strengths, including fundraising and a growing national profile built around viral speeches.
The quieter Senate contest contrasts with Georgia’s recent battleground status, raising a larger question about whether Ossoff is positioning himself for 2028.
The governor’s race adds uncertainty, from mysterious dark-money attacks involving Burt Jones to Rick Jackson’s use of an old endorsement video from an opponent.
What was said on this episode
4 statements · 1 positive · 3 negative
Collins’s campaign struggles largely stem from his own choices and associates.
“a lot of the reasons why Mike Collins' campaign has not taken off are self-inflicted by Mike Collins himself or the people that he chose to surround himself with.”
Listen at 3:51
Collins’s controversies have created a perception that he makes poor choices and associates with bad people.
“I think the continued drip of Mike Collins' controversies has kind of created this perception. that he himself doesn't make good choices and surrounds himself by bad people.”
Listen at 6:19
John Ossoff is currently a relatively popular politician in Georgia.
“And so I think he's a pretty popular politician.”
Listen at 7:25
Greg Bluestein believes John Ossoff will not run for president in 2028.
“I'm in the camp that firmly believes he will not run for president.”
Listen at 11:02
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.