Sen. Jon Ossoff’s (D-GA) reelection campaign is gaining momentum after posting a stunning fundraising haul, leading a prominent election forecaster to shift the race further in favor of the Democrats.
The University of Virginia Center for Politics’ Sabato’s Crystal Ball moved Georgia’s Senate race from “Leans Democratic” to “Likely Democratic,” citing Ossoff’s financial dominance, aggressive campaign spending, and overall campaign strength.
One of the clearest signs of the race’s trajectory has been fundraising. During the second quarter of this year, Ossoff raised just over $20 million, trailing only the Texas Democratic Senate nominee, state Rep. James Talarico, nationwide. He also finished the quarter with roughly $42 million in cash on hand, giving him one of the largest campaign war chests of any Senate candidate this cycle.
His Republican challenger, Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), raised $2.1 million over the same period and ended the quarter with a similar amount in cash. While outside GOP groups are expected to invest heavily in the race, the fundraising gap underscores Ossoff’s significant financial advantage heading into the November general election.
Collins, a close ally of President Donald Trump, secured the Republican nomination after defeating former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley in the GOP primary. The Georgia contest remains one of the most closely watched Senate races of the midterm elections.
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Recent polling has also pointed to an advantage for Ossoff. An AARP survey conducted by bipartisan pollsters Fabrizio Ward and Impact Research found the incumbent leading Collins 52% to 43%.
Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, including the two independents who caucus with Democrats. With 35 Senate seats up this year and nine retirements creating multiple open-seat contests, Democrats face a challenging path back to the majority. They must defend all of their own seats while flipping four Republican-held seats to regain control of the chamber.