The competition continues to heat up over who will represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate. Jon Ossoff has been protecting his seat from multiple contenders, and now has to add U.S. Rep. Mike Collins to the list.
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King was also running, but announced on X last week he was suspending his senatorial race.
So here’s what we know about Ossoff’s current list of opponents:
Who is Mike Collins?
Republican: Mike Collins has represented Georgia’s 10th congressional district. The Jackson native is the founder of Collins Trucking, and is one of the biggest figures behind the Laken Riley Act.
FILE – Congressman Mike Collins speaks to the crowd during Team Trump’s Agenda 47 Policy Tour at Charles H Morris Center on September 14, 2024. He has announced his campaign against Jon Ossoff for U.S. Senate.
“Jon Ossoff does not represent Georgia’s values and has attacked our states’ best interests at every opportunity,” Collins said in a news release. “This is Georgia’s moment. This is the people’s time to take back control of this Senate seat, deliver on President Trump’s America First agenda, and kick Jon Ossoff to the curb—and together, that’s exactly what we will do next November.”
Who is Buddy Carter?
Republican: Buddy Carter is a U.S. Representative for the Savannah area and has been since 2015. He has also been Mayor of Pooler and owner of Carter’s Pharmacy, Inc. He is not related to former President Jimmy Carter.
Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., speaks as TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday, March 23, 2023 in Washington.
“Georgians will have a very simple choice in 2026: Do you want a MAGA warrior for you or do you want a trans warrior for they/them?” Carter wrote on X. “I’m with you. You can guess where Jon Ossoff is. Game on.”
Who is Vinson Watkins?
Republican: Vinson Watkins studied at Mercer University and has worked as a writer, editor, and author. He lives in Atlanta and is also running for U.S. House of Representatives against Austin Scott.
“I always do my homework,” Watkins wrote in his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection. “I believe in facts and logic. I believe in listening to and understanding all sides of an issue. And I believe in admitting when I’m wrong.”
Who is Reagan Box?
Republican: Reagan Box is a self-employed horse trainer with an eclectic background including art studies in Paris, sharks and sea turtle research in the Florida Keys, and missionary work in Costa Rica.
“As Senator for the great state of Georgia, I will stand strong in the fight for the people and tackle the tough issues head-on,” Box said on her website. “I will fight to protect the unborn, defend our God-given and Constitutional rights, and ensure our military is strong and free from the radical-left ideology that has damaged its effectiveness.”
Who is Elbert Arthur “AL” Bartell?
Independent: Al Bartell is a policy analyst, a U.S. Air Force veteran, and chairman of the World Human Rights Network. He previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2020 and Georgia governor in 2022.
“My campaign and the honor of being elected as a United States Senator will fulfill on an unprecedented commitment to leadership,” he said on his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection. “Neighborhood, community, faith, and small business leaders deserve the same access to public policy as lobbyists, special interest groups, and corporations.”
Who is DeVelle Jackson?
Independent: DeVelle Jackson lives in the Atlanta area but is a student at the University of Minnesota. He is also the owner of “Black XX Ltd Co” but little else is known.
Other candidates
The following are candidates who have filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, but detailed information on their backgrounds and platforms was not immediately available:
Democrat: Chris Capparell of Atlanta
Republican: Christoph La’Flare Chapman of Columbus
Republican: Rick Temple of Americus
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X and Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia U.S. Senate seat: Who has entered race to face Jon Ossoff?