What this office is
Each state elects two U.S. senators. A senator’s term is six years. Class 2 seats are on the regular 2026 cycle. The Senate writes and votes on federal legislation, confirms many presidential nominees, and tries impeachments. The winner of a November general election takes office only after the state’s official canvass and the new Congress is seated.
Why it matters in 2026
Georgia is one of a small set of 2026 Senate contests that nonpartisan analysts treat as competitive. Democrats are defending the seat in a state Donald Trump carried in 2024. Control of the 100-seat Senate in 2027 depends on several such states, not this race alone. Official candidate lists and any runoff calendar are set by Georgia election law, not by this site.
Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, first elected in the January 2021 runoff, is seeking a second term. Georgia’s Class 2 seat is on the regular 2026 cycle.
Candidate names below are major-party general-election figures reported by Ballotpedia and contemporaneous news as of mid-September 2026. Party labels identify tickets only. Ratings are quotations of named outlets. Poll rows are individual published surveys — not a Map the Midterms average.
Candidates
Names below are declared or nominated figures reported as of mid-September 2026. Party labels identify tickets only. This is not an endorsement and not a certified list.
Jon Ossoff
Democratic · Incumbent
Ossoff is Georgia’s junior U.S. senator. He won a January 2021 runoff and took office that month. Before the Senate he worked as a documentary producer and congressional aide. His public biography emphasizes oversight, economic development, and constituent casework.
Read more:Senate officeWikipediaBallotpedia
- Source: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, Jon Ossoff · accessed September 17, 2026
- Source: Ballotpedia, United States Senate election in Georgia, 2026 · accessed September 17, 2026
Photo: U.S. Senate Photographic Studio. Public domain (U.S. government work). Source
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Mike Collins
Republican
Collins represents Georgia’s 10th Congressional District in the U.S. House and is the Republican Senate nominee. He is a small-business owner from Jackson County. House records list him as serving since January 2023.
Read more:House officeWikipediaBallotpedia
- Source: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, Mike Collins · accessed September 17, 2026
- Source: Ballotpedia, United States Senate election in Georgia, 2026 · accessed September 17, 2026
Photo: U.S. House / public domain. Public domain (U.S. government work). Source
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