Ossoff doubles down on anti-corruption message in reelection bid

Jon Ossoff won a Senate seat six years ago by making corruption the defining issue. His first general election TV ad released Tuesday morning suggests he’s sticking with a similar playbook.

The Democrat’s spot doesn’t mention Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mike Collins. Instead, it highlights Ossoff’s bipartisan investigation into abuse in Georgia’s foster care system and legislation combating child sex trafficking.

“Every child should be safe,” Ossoff says in the ad, which closes with an image of him and his wife, Alisha, playing with their two daughters.

It’s familiar terrain for Ossoff. His first general election ad in 2020 against David Perdue centered on his work as an investigative journalist exposing corruption. This time, he’s making a broader argument that he’s a watchdog who has challenged powerful institutions.

The new six-figure buy will air on broadcast television, streaming and digital platforms. And it’s a sign that Ossoff is ready to dip into an account topping $31 million to spend aggressively against Collins, who only had roughly $1.3 million in ad support throughout the entire primary and runoff campaign.

Things to know

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Good morning! Here are two things to know for today:

Collins on 2020: ‘Trump won’

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

No state seems as stuck in 2020 politics as Georgia. And Collins just offered the latest reminder.

Pressed by CNN’s Manu Raju on Capitol Hill on the outcome, the Trump-backed Collins didn’t distance himself an iota from the president’s false claims about widespread election fraud.

“Trump won that race, yes,” he said. “And we’re going to make sure in 2026 that we send Jon Ossoff home.”

The comments themselves weren’t a surprise. Collins aired a 2022 campaign ad calling the 2020 election a “federal hijacking.”

But as he pivots to a statewide race against Ossoff, he’s sometimes been more careful about how he talks about it.

Just two days before the Republican runoff, we asked Collins about the 2020 election.

“2020 was legitimately rigged,” Collins said. “And the reason I say that is because you don’t change the rules halfway through the game. … We’ve moved on to 2026.”

We then asked how he planned to counter Democrats’ efforts to label him an election denier.

“I’m not worried about that,” Collins replied. “I’m going to defeat Jon Ossoff comparing resume to resume, what he’s done for the people of this state versus what I’ve been able to do, what he stands for versus what I stand for.”

Ossoff, meanwhile, previewed in a social media post how he’ll deploy that argument in the November race:

“Mike Collins, currently under federal investigation for illegal misuse of tax dollars, opens 2026 General Election campaign in Georgia by insisting Trump won 2020 election.”

Trained up

Credit: AJC file photo

Credit: AJC file photo

Georgia Democrats are trying to turn a burst of statewide momentum into down-ballot gains.

The National Democratic Training Committee held a campaign training in Atlanta on Saturday with the Democratic Party of Georgia, drawing 50 candidates for a full-day session focused on legislative and local races.

Among the attendees were state Senate candidate Darcy Castro and state House candidates Teresa Lin and Michelle Kang, who are all running in competitive districts.

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Charlie Bailey told the candidates that winning in November will require “strong, organized, prepared campaigns at every level of the ballot.”

Jackson action

Credit: Jason Getz/AJC

Credit: Jason Getz/AJC

Most Georgia Senate Republicans are following Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’ lead and withholding their endorsements from Republican nominee for governor Rick Jackson so far.

Not state Sen. Jason Dickerson.

The Republican, who won his Cherokee County-based seat last year, posted a video Monday endorsing Jackson and urging donors to give $26 to Jackson’s campaign.

That puts Dickerson apart from most of his caucus in the Senate, whose members were among Jones’ strongest supporters and have largely held back from formally backing Jackson after a brutal primary that many took personally.

Lisa Cook spared — for now

Credit: Bita Honarvar for the AJC

Credit: Bita Honarvar for the AJC

Georgia native Lisa Cook, the first Black woman to serve on the Federal Reserve Board, can keep her job for now.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Trump’s efforts to fire Cook had not given her due process or met the standard of “for cause” necessary for the independent monetary policy board. The ruling was 5-4 with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joining the three liberal justices.

The justices in their ruling made clear that nothing prevents Trump from continuing his attempts to fire Cook, but that she cannot be removed while legal challenges are pending.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that he will indeed keep trying to have her removed.

Saying goodbye

Credit: WDUN

Credit: WDUN

Family and friends of Martha Zoller gathered in Gainesville on Monday to say goodbye to the longtime conservative radio host, who died last week.

Mourners included Jackson, former Gov. Nathan Deal, former state Sen. Butch Miller, Zoller’s fellow panelists from the “Georgia Gang” and plenty of the VIPs Zoller used to grill on her daily WDUN radio program then often share a meal with afterward.

The common theme among the eulogies was Zoller’s unique talent for making and keeping friends across any political divide, as evidenced by the hundreds of people who came to pay their respects.

Listen up

Credit: Nathan Posner for the AJC

Credit: Nathan Posner for the AJC

Today on the “Politically Georgia” podcast, former Atlanta Journal-Constitution Publisher Andrew Morse joins the show to talk about his time at the AJC, the always-changing media landscape and the advice he’d give to anyone who cares about local journalism.

You can listen and subscribe to “Politically Georgia” for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

Have a question or comment for the show? Email us at politicallygeorgia@ajc.com or give us a call at 770-810-5297 and you could be featured on a future episode.

Today in Washington

Winner

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Congratulations to Bill Tanks, Mableton’s first city manager, who has been named 2026 national city manager of the year by GOV Business Review.

The magazine called Tanks integral to helping to build Mableton “from the ground up” after Cobb County voters approved a referendum incorporating the city in 2022.

Mableton Mayor Michael Owens praised Tanks for “leading with service, stability and a commitment to our residents.” At a recent city council meeting, Tanks recounted sleepless nights and sacrifices by city staff and even false attacks against elected city leaders. “But I know how to get up, smile, take a punch and keep rolling.”

Shoutouts

Credit: Miguel Martinez /AJC

Credit: Miguel Martinez /AJC

Today’s birthday:

Want a birthday shoutout in the Politically Georgia newsletter? There’s a form for that. It’s not just birthdays. We’re also interested in new jobs, engagements, birth announcements, etc.

Before you go

Credit: Sarah Peacock

Credit: Sarah Peacock

Ossoff is the fifth-most popular politician in America right now, according to independent pollster G. Elliott Morris, coming in behind former President Barack Obama, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The least popular are Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

That’ll do it for us today. As always, you can send your best scoops, gossip and insider information to greg.bluestein@ajc.com, tia.mitchell@ajc.com, patricia.murphy@ajc.com and adam.beam@ajc.com.