Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) poured $3.6 million from his campaign war chest into the Democratic Party of Georgia as he seeks to build a broader political operation ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The spending, disclosed Wednesday, represents contributions made over the past two years and is part of Ossoff’s effort to bolster Democratic candidates further down the ballot.
But Ossoff’s contribution to the Peach State’s Democratic operation is more than just monetary. Ossoff has placed two political operatives who have worked on his campaign in the state party. Former Ossoff political director Kyle Tromley was tapped in December to lead the party’s coordinated campaign. Caroline Saudek, a six-year veteran of Ossoff’s fundraising operation, joined the state party in January in a fundraising role.
The investment comes as Ossoff, the Democratic incumbent, faces Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) in a closely watched Senate race. Collins, who has embraced the “MAGA Mike” label, has made his alliance with President Donald Trump central to his campaign messaging.
The Democratic Party of Georgia on Tuesday launched “Project Downballot,” a communications effort targeting Republican candidates for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general. The initiative will use rapid response, social media, and messaging to draw attention to races farther down the ballot.
“Georgia Democrats are committed to flipping seats and electing fighters for the hardworking people of this state, not only at the top of the ticket, but all the way down,” Georgia Democratic Party Chairman Charlie Bailey said.
Ossoff enters the general election with a substantial fundraising advantage. Federal Election Commission data show his campaign raised nearly $98 million from 2021 through June 2026 and had $42.6 million in cash on hand as of June 30. Collins had raised about $7.4 million and had roughly $2.1 million in cash on hand at the same point.
Polling also shows a competitive race. A recent survey conducted Sept. 10-12 found Ossoff leading Collins 49.4% to 42.8% among likely voters, with 6.5% undecided. Ossoff led among women, 53.9% to 38.6%, while Collins held a narrower advantage among men, 47.7% to 44.2%.
Meanwhile, nonpartisan election tracker Cook Political Report currently rates the Georgia Senate race as “Lean Democrat.”
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Despite the fundraising gap, Collins has projected confidence heading into November.
“I’ll make a pledge to you. I’m going to be your next U.S. senator,” Collins told conservatives Monday at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s annual gala. “You’re going to see a U.S. senator that’s going to stand up for the people of Georgia, stand up and represent our values.”