Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) and Rep. Mike Collins (R) faced off Tuesday night in their final scheduled debate, trading sharp attacks over the Jeffrey Epstein files, the 2020 election, and economic policy. The Atlanta Press Club event came as early voting is already underway in Georgia, a state where Ossoff, the only Senate Democrat running in a state won by President Trump in 2024, holds a double-digit lead in recent polls.
Collins, who has Trump's endorsement, repeatedly sought to paint Ossoff as a Washington insider out of touch with Georgia voters. He accused the senator of using his seat as a stepping stone for higher office, a charge Ossoff firmly rejected.
Ossoff Commits to Full Term, Dismisses Presidential Speculation
When asked directly whether he would serve a full six-year term if reelected, Ossoff answered without hesitation: "Yes, I will." He also dismissed any interest in a 2028 presidential bid, saying, "I have zero interest in running for president. I'm not running for president. I'm running for re-election to the Senate."
Collins was skeptical, saying, "He is running for president. He's going to be your DSA candidate," a reference to the Democratic Socialists of America, though Ossoff is not a member. Political observers have long compared Ossoff's rhetoric to that of former President Obama, who in 2006 also said he would not run for president—only to do so two years later.
Collins Again Dodges 2020 Election Question
Collins repeatedly refused to say whether he believes Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden. When pressed by moderator Greg Bluestein of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Collins pivoted to criticism of the Biden administration's record. Later, Ossoff gave Collins a "third chance" to answer directly, but Collins only replied, "I have said numerous times that Joe Biden was the president in 2021."
Trump has continued to claim the 2020 election was stolen, even as Georgia officials, including Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, have affirmed the results.
Clash Over Epstein Files
The candidates also sparred over the Epstein case. Collins attacked Ossoff for accepting campaign donations from tech billionaire Reid Hoffman, who has been linked to Epstein in some circles, though Hoffman has denied any wrongdoing. Collins said, "The Epstein class that you're talking about? I'm looking at him right now."
Ossoff fired back, pointing to Collins's vote against releasing Epstein-related files. "Mike, who on your team advised you to raise the Epstein files? You voted to cover up the evidence," Ossoff said, adding that Trump is named multiple times in those files. "You should explain that vote to Jeffrey Epstein's victims right now."
Ossoff Open to Supreme Court Changes
On judicial reform, Ossoff signaled he would not rule out expanding the Supreme Court, though he stressed that a binding ethics code should be the first priority. "I don't rule out any judicial reform, but I think we have to take the long view whenever we consider anything like that," he said. His comments come as Democrats have increasingly called for ethics reforms after a series of controversies involving conservative justices.
The debate underscored the high stakes in a race that could help determine control of the Senate. Ossoff leads Collins by nearly 10 points in the latest Decision Desk HQ polling average, and the Cook Political Report recently shifted the race toward Democrats. Still, Trump is set to campaign for Collins in Georgia on Friday, signaling Republicans are not giving up on flipping the seat.
