Ossoff rejects 2028 buzz amid bruising night of Senate debates
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Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.), the Republican Senate challenger, debate in Atlanta last night. Photo: Brian Cahn/Zuma via Reuters
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) delivered another debate performance tailor-made for social media Tuesday night, feeding the presidential speculation he insists is entirely misplaced.
Why it matters: A darling of the Democratic internet and a favorite to win the party's nomination in 2028, Ossoff emphatically ruled out a White House bid and pledged to serve a full six-year Senate term if re-elected.
- "He is running. He's going to be your DSA candidate," Republican challenger Rep. Mike Collins countered, seeking to paint Ossoff as a socialist with ambitions beyond Georgia.
The big picture: Georgia was one of three battleground states hosting Senate debates Tuesday night, with candidates in Iowa and Maine also clashing over President Trump's foreign policy, the cost of living and their records in Washington.
In Georgia, Ossoff and Collins traded vicious personal attacks throughout their second and final debate, reprising a feud that has become a viral spectacle online.
- "Will you commit tonight that for the remainder of this campaign — it's just three weeks, Mike — you won't allow any more neo-Nazi propaganda to be produced from your house?" Ossoff demanded, referring to Collins' son-in-law, an alleged white nationalist influencer.
- Collins accused Ossoff of inciting threats against his family, then attacked him over campaign support from billionaire Reid Hoffman, who had ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
- "Mike, you really want to bring up the Epstein files?" Ossoff shot back, pointing to Collins' initial vote against releasing the documents — a position he reversed after Trump changed course.
In Maine, Republican Sen. Susan Collins cast her independence from Trump as a political asset, arguing that her willingness to challenge the president — and work with him when necessary — has delivered for her state.
- Collins cited her nine votes to end the Iran war, opposition to Trump's Big Beautiful Bill and roughly $1.5 billion in federal funding secured for Maine projects.
- Democratic challenger Troy Jackson argued that Collins has spent years helping Trump advance policies that hurt Maine, only to express "concern" and claim credit for mitigating the damage.
- In his closing statement, Jackson invoked a fatal ICE shooting in Maine to accuse Collins of enabling Trump's immigration crackdown: "Sen. Collins paid for the bullets at Donald Trump's command. Now she wants credit for not pulling the trigger."
In Iowa, GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson and Democratic challenger Josh Turek squared off in a race that has Republicans on edge, as Trump's tariffs and soaring farm costs threaten their grip on a state he carried by 13 points.
- Hinson broke with Trump over his deal to ease sanctions on Russian diesel, saying she believed there were ways to lower fuel prices without empowering Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine.
- Turek accused Hinson of helping drive Iowa toward a "second farm crisis" through her support for Trump's tariffs and votes against congressional efforts to end the Iran war.
- Hinson said the war should end "as quickly as possible" but rejected another congressional resolution, arguing Trump and the military could bring the conflict to a close themselves.
