GEORGIA — Sen. Jon Ossoff described President Donald Trump as a "national disgrace" leading a "Mar-a-Lago mafia" and "the most corrupt administration of all time" during his 2026 reelection campaign in Georgia on July 19. Ossoff, who is the only Democratic senator facing reelection in a state Trump won in 2024, is running against Rep. Mike Collins in a pivotal race for control of the chamber.

Ossoff mocks Trump’s social media posts on Truth Social and proposals to put his face on U.S. currency during his campaign appearances. "When he’s not posting, he’s been trying to rob us. Have you seen it?" Ossoff asks in his stump speech.

The senator refers to Trump's sons Don and Eric as "Prince Don and Prince Eric" while citing foreign business deals in his speeches. Ossoff also cited Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and his idea for a restitution fund that could compensate Jan. 6 rioters.

Ossoff stated he is focused on "providing Georgians with the best possible service, investigating and exposing corruption and abuse, and winning this pivotal Senate race." He regularly announces appropriations for infrastructure, hospitals, and other programs in Georgia, including in heavily Republican areas. The senator led a congressional investigation into problems in Georgia’s child services programs and is focused heavily on veterans’ care.

On July 15, 2026, Ossoff questioned Jay Clayton during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee at the Capitol in Washington. Clayton is Donald Trump's nominee to lead the nation's intelligence agencies. Rep. Mike Collins won a Republican primary runoff after Trump’s last-minute endorsement to become Ossoff's opponent. Collins argued that Ossoff is just another "out-of-touch, far-left liberal." Collins also criticized Jon Ossoff as "weak" and "woke."

Democrats are trying to gain at least four seats elsewhere to reclaim a Senate majority. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is seeking reelection and campaigned for Ossoff and Democratic nominee for governor Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia recently.

Lis Smith, a Democratic strategist who helped Pete Buttigieg go from being an unknown Indiana mayor to a presidential contender in 2020, commented on the senator's approach. Smith said Ossoff’s approach of tying Trump’s personal financial gain to his performance on the economy is "one that more Democrats should adopt." Ossoff is 39 years old and was a 30-year-old Democratic congressional candidate in 2017.

The 2017 special congressional election in Georgia was an open seat because Trump nominated Tom Price as health secretary. Ossoff had been a congressional aide and started a production company focused on investigative documentaries before running for Congress that year. Ossoff led an initial all-party primary in the 2017 special election and promised Georgia suburban voters that he would "cut wasteful spending" and make "both parties in Washington" be "accountable to you." His Republican opponent in 2017 complained that Ossoff "talks like a Republican." Ossoff lost to Karen Handel in the 2017 runoff election. Handel is a Republican who previously served as Georgia secretary of state.

Ossoff ran against Republican Sen. David Perdue in 2020 while Democrat Raphael Warnock ran in a special Senate election against Sen. Kelly Loeffler. Loeffler was appointed to replace Johnny Isakson, who retired due to health issues. Both Georgia Senate contests in 2020 went to runoffs, with control of the chamber hanging in the balance.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden carried Georgia in 2020. Trump tried to overturn Biden’s victory and began his yearslong effort to falsely claim U.S. elections are rigged, with Georgia as his prime example.

Throughout his 2020 campaign, Ossoff kept his focus on Perdue’s personal business dealings and the Republican response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ossoff did not mention Donald Trump at all in one 2020 debate. Ossoff won a U.S. Senate seat during a runoff in 2021 and is running for reelection in 2026.

Ossoff is the only Democratic senator facing reelection in a state Trump won in 2024, making this race critical for Democrats who are trying to gain at least four seats elsewhere to reclaim a Senate majority. The outcome in Georgia could determine which party controls the chamber for the remainder of Trump's term. The election features contrasting visions, with Ossoff focusing on investigations into corruption and abuse while Collins labels the incumbent as a "far-left liberal." The race also shows the ongoing political influence of Trump in Georgia, where he won the 2024 election and endorsed Collins in the primary.