Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) announced on July 28, 2025, that he will run for the U.S. Senate in Georgia in 2026 rather than another term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
As of July 22, 2025, independent race forecasters The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball have rated the general election for the seat as Toss-up. Inside Elections rated it Battleground Democratic. According to The Hill’s Jared Gans, since President Donald Trump (R) won the state in the 2024 presidential election, incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) “will be a top target for the GOP in next year’s midterms.”
In a video announcing his campaign, Collins said, “It’s time to send a trucker to the U.S. Senate to steamroll the radical left, deliver on President Trump’s America first agenda, and put the people of Georgia back in the driver’s seat.”
In 2014, Collins ran to represent Georgia’s 10th Congressional District after then-Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) announced he was running for the U.S. Senate in Georgia rather than another term in the House. In the Republican primary, Jody Hice (R) defeated Collins 33% to 33.5% in a field of seven candidates. Since Hice did not win 50% of the vote, the two candidates with the most votes—Hice and Collins—advanced to a runoff election. Hice defeated Collins 54% to 46% in the runoff election.
In 2022, Collins ran again to represent Georgia’s 10th Congressional District in the House, after Hice announced he was running for Georgia Secretary of State rather than another term in the House. Collins defeated Tabitha Johnson-Green (D) 64.5% to 35.5% in the general election. Collins won re-election in 2024, defeating Lexy Doherty (D) 63% to 37%.
As of July 28, 2025, The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections have rated the 2026 general election for the district as Solid Republican. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Safe Republican.
As of July 28, 2025, 25 members of the U.S. Congress—seven senators and 18 representatives—have announced they will not seek re-election to their current seats in 2026.
Of the 18 representatives not seeking re-election:
- Three—two Democrats and one Republican—are retiring from public office.
- Eight—five Democrats and three Republicans—are running for the U.S. Senate.
- Seven—all Republicans—are running for governor.
Compared to the last four election cycles, there were 12 retirement announcements at this point in 2024, 14 in 2022, 11 in 2020, and 13 in 2018.
Between January 2011 and July 28, 2025, Ballotpedia followed 372 announcements from Senate and House members who announced they would not seek re-election. January had seen the highest number of announcements of any month at 69. The fewest announcements took place in August at 15.
