Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) recently challenged his Republican opponent, Representative Mike Collins (R-GA), to three televised debates ahead of the General Election in November. Rep. Collins easily accepted.
Where will the debates take place? Both candidates have agreed to a debate hosted by the Atlanta Press Club, and Sen. Ossoff is pushing for the other two to be hosted by WSB and Atlanta News First.
What the candidates are saying:
- Sen. Ossoff in a statement to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution: “Collins is pro-cutting your health care, pro-tariffs, and pro-war, and I challenge him to three televised debates where he can try to defend his corruption while I present my vision for Georgia’s future.”
- Sen. Ossoff through press release: “Mike Collins is a notorious bigot, antisemite, and extremist currently under federal investigation for the illegal misuse of tax dollars who is only a congressman because his daddy was a congressman. Collins is pro-cutting your health care, pro-tariffs, and pro-war, and I challenge him to three televised debates where he can try to defend his corruption while I present my vision for Georgia’s future.”
- Rep. Collins responding through X: “I’m glad you’ll be joining me on the debate stage to answer for sending stimulus checks to illegal immigrants, forcing girls to compete against men in sports, and supporting massive inflationary spending that drove up costs for every Georgian. Who knows—maybe you can even use some of daddy’s trust fund cash to make a documentary about it after you’re out of a job in November!”
Context: Both candidates are eager to take the stage, but neither has hesitated to unleash scathing criticisms of each other.
Ossoff’s method of attack has been to frame Collins as a bigot and an extremist. Collins is doing something similar by framing Ossoff as a left-wing radical concerned with putting illegal immigrants first and forcing girls to compete against men in sports.
Ironically, the candidates are accusing each other of relying solely on their father’s success. According to Ossoff, Collins is only a congressman because his father was. According to Collins, Ossoff is only a congressman because his father had the money to make it happen.
