Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff is the only Democratic senator running for reelection in a state that President Trump won in 2024. His opponent is Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins. The race is one of the contests that will help decide control of the Senate.
Ossoff, who once looked like one of the most vulnerable Democrats on the ballot, went into Election Day with a lead in the polls and a large money advantage. FOX 5 Atlanta reported that Ossoff had about $26 million in the bank, while Collins had raised less than $1 million. The final InsiderAdvantage poll showed Ossoff ahead 53% to 46%.
On the final day of campaigning, Ossoff rallied supporters in DeKalb County and criticized tariffs, health care cuts and the war with Iran. "Let's win these races decisively," he said. Collins visited Republican offices from Buckhead to Savannah and Macon. "This race is close," he told supporters. "All the races are close. I need your help."
Georgians have already voted in record numbers. The Secretary of State's office certified 2,828,147 early ballots, breaking the state's midterm record set in 2022. Mark Rountree, president of Landmark Communications, told Atlanta News First he expects Democrats to show an early lead of 250,000 to 300,000 votes when early ballots are reported Tuesday night, before Election Day votes come in. Early leads can shift as more votes are counted.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern, which is 6 p.m. Central. Anyone in line by 7 p.m. can still vote.
Ballots are counted by state and local election officials. Raw 100.5 does not call races. Like NPR and PBS, we rely on the Associated Press, which declares a winner only when it determines a trailing candidate has no path left to win.
Sources: Associated Press, FOX 5 Atlanta, Atlanta News First, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, InsiderAdvantage