Ossoff and Collins Clash in Georgia Senate Debate

Sen. Jon Ossoff and Rep. Mike Collins debated policy and exchanged personal attacks Thursday evening in a televised contest for Georgia’s U.S. Senate seat, with disagreements spanning affordability, immigration, health care, data centers and foreign policy. The candidates offered sharply different approaches to economic concerns. Ossoff called for repealing tariffs imposed under the Trump administration, arguing they were raising costs for consumers and businesses. Collins defended tax cuts and energy independence as ways to ease pressure on household budgets, and blamed inflation on earlier Democratic policies. On data centers, Collins said communities should decide whether to host the facilities. Ossoff argued that Georgia families and small businesses should not have to subsidize their energy use. The exchange also became a flashpoint for personal attacks: Ossoff accused Collins of promoting neo-Nazi material and maintaining ties to white nationalists, while Collins criticized Ossoff’s donors and rejected the accusations. The allegations were campaign claims made during the debate, not findings established by the exchange.