By Frank Ulom
GEORGIA (CONVERSEER) – Republican Georgia Representative Mike Collins has reported a strong fundraising performance in his bid for the U.S. Senate, raising roughly $1.9 million in the third quarter, less than two months after entering the crowded primary race.
According to figures obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF), Collins’s campaign secured contributions from donors in all 159 Georgia counties, every U.S. state, and multiple territories. The campaign described the haul as evidence of growing momentum, consolidating support from both the pro-Kemp business community and America First conservatives.
“There is no denying this is a movement growing stronger every day, and people are voting with their wallets,” Collins said in a statement. “These fundraising numbers make clear what we have said from the beginning: we will not be outworked, we will not be outhustled, and we will win this race and put the people of Georgia back in the driver’s seat in the United States Senate.”
Competitive Primary Race
The Republican primary, featuring Collins, Representative Buddy Carter, and former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley, is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests of the 2026 election cycle. Republicans view Georgia as one of their top opportunities to unseat Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and reclaim the seat in the upcoming midterm elections.
Collins faced high expectations to deliver a strong fundraising total, particularly given Dooley’s access to Governor Brian Kemp’s donor network and Carter’s ability to self-fund his campaign. Collins’s nearly $2 million third-quarter total includes approximately 40,000 contributions averaging $47.31, as well as a $1 million transfer from his congressional campaign. By the end of September, he had roughly $2.4 million cash on hand.
Although Collins’s figures represent an early boost, all three Republican candidates are significantly behind Ossoff’s financial position. The incumbent ended the first half of the year with nearly $15.5 million on hand and remains a formidable fundraising presence.
Polling and Endorsements Boost
Collins’s campaign has pointed to its statewide voter mobilisation efforts, growing list of endorsements, and favourable polling to argue he is best positioned to win the Republican nomination and challenge Ossoff. He has secured endorsements from more than 50 members of the Georgia legislature, several congressional figures, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Two recent surveys have also placed Collins ahead of his primary rivals. An August TechnoMetrica Institute of Policy and Politics (TIPP) poll found Collins leading with 27% support, followed by Carter at 20% and Dooley at 8%. A September Quantis Insights survey showed Collins at 25%, Carter at 20%, and Dooley at 7%, although nearly half of Republican respondents remained undecided.
Collins, the owner of a trucking company, is the author of the Laken Riley Act — legislation signed by President Donald Trump in January aimed at cracking down on criminal illegal migration. He is also seen as the leading candidate among Republican voters to challenge Ossoff in a general election matchup.
Rivals’ Strategies
Dooley has received backing from Governor Kemp, who declined to run himself earlier this year but moved to support his longtime friend. However, the former football coach has faced scrutiny over his voting history and party registration record, raising questions about his political credentials.
Carter, meanwhile, is expected to rely on personal wealth to finance his campaign. He previously indicated plans to invest up to $10 million of his own money, though he has not yet fully deployed those resources.
President Trump has not endorsed any candidate in the race, leaving the primary field open as Collins, Carter, and Dooley vie for Republican support ahead of the 2026 elections.
Dooley, Carter, and Ossoff have not yet released their official third-quarter fundraising figures.
