ATLANTA — Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff criticized Republican Senate runoff candidates Mike Collins and Derek Dooley as "Trump puppets" during a joint campaign rally with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms in Atlanta on or shortly before June 16, 2026. The event took place at The Tabernacle, a downtown Atlanta concert venue, where a lectern displayed a placard reading "United for Georgia."

"It doesn’t matter which one wins," Ossoff told an exuberant crowd. "They’re both Trump puppets." He accused both candidates of being "corrupt political insiders, and they’re both pro-war, pro-tariff, and pro-cutting your health care."

Ossoff, the only Senate Democrat running for reelection in a state that Donald Trump carried in 2024, targeted the two Republicans ahead of their June 16, 2026, runoff. Collins and Dooley participated in a debate on May 31, 2026, but Trump has not endorsed either candidate.

During the campaign, Collins described himself as "a conservative workhorse" and blamed gridlock on "a broken Senate." He also referred to an ethics matter involving him—a referral from the Office of Congressional Conduct to the House Ethics Committee—as a "complaint" with no merit, calling it a "nothing burger." Collins sponsored the 2025 Laken Riley Act, which requires immigrants accused of certain crimes to be held without bond, and has co-sponsored legislation that would effectively ban abortion nationwide.

Dooley, a former football coach endorsed by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, said states should determine abortion access. He described Congress as "out of control," criticizing "careerism" and "corruption," and added, "nothing’s getting done." Ossoff accused Dooley of benefiting from his brother Daniel Dooley’s business dealings with government. Daniel Dooley founded CENTEGIX, a firm that manufactures school security hardware, including "panic buttons," and has secured contracts with school systems throughout Georgia. Governor Kemp had previously authorized grants for school security and signed a law requiring Georgia classrooms to have direct police contact.