Ossoff Holds Georgia Seat Despite Fierce Attacks on Israel Record

Senator Jon Ossoff is projected to win re-election in Georgia by a wide margin, according to the Associated Press. He is the only Democratic incumbent seeking re-election in a state that President Donald Trump won in 2024. His victory solidifies his position as a leading Democratic voice while he faces criticism from both his party’s left flank and pro-Israel advocacy groups.

Ossoff’s voting record on Israel has become a central point of contention. While he supported measures to boost Israeli defense systems, he voted in 2024 to block certain offensive weapons sales. He continued this approach in 2025 and 2026, voting to halt sales of rifles, bulldozers, and 1,000-pound bombs. Republican challenger Mike Collins attacked these votes, claiming Ossoff caved to radicals pushing an anti-Israel agenda.

Collins, a self-described born again Christian, pledged continued military support for Israel. He described the country as a frontline partner against Iran and its partners in terror. Collins stated that his faith and American policy interests drive his support for Israel. He contrasted this with what he called Ossoff’s capitulation to the left.

The race was marked by scrutiny of Collins’ ties to white nationalists. One of his former staffers posted images of a swastika and a Ku Klux Klan robe online. Another staffer participated in a group chat with prominent white nationalists that supported an accused Holocaust denier. Collins’ son-in-law, a social media influencer, promoted conspiracy theories that Jews control the government and called for the deportation of all Muslims. Collins said he condemns antisemitism and does not support his son-in-law’s views.

Ossoff, who is Jewish, targeted these associations during two debates. He accused Collins of hiring half the Third Reich to staff his congressional office. Ossoff also noted that Collins was unable to stop neo-Nazi propaganda from being disseminated by someone under his roof. Collins had previously called Ossoff a notorious bigot, antisemite, and extremist.

The election divided Georgia’s Jewish community. A coalition including local synagogues, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, the Anti-Defamation League, and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) sent an open letter to Ossoff. They expressed deep disappointment, stating his vote showed his commitment to Israel’s security was not ironclad. AIPAC also ran an advertising blitz attacking Ossoff and other senators who supported the block on weapons sales.

In response, over 100 Atlanta Jewish leaders, including rabbis and heads of liberal organizations, sent a letter thanking Ossoff for his vote. They argued his position represented a growing portion of the American Jewish community that believes the US-Israel relationship should be grounded in laws, national security interests, and shared values. The liberal advocacy group J Street spent $3 million on ads attacking Collins and other AIPAC-backed Republicans.

Ossoff has tried to balance his criticism of Israel with a distance from the party’s most progressive members. During a debate on October 8, he addressed the question of whether Israel committed genocide in Gaza. He cited Israeli war crimes but deferred to international courts for a final determination. Ossoff said there is no doubt in his mind that Israeli forces violated the law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law in Gaza.

The senator also criticized President Trump’s decision to join Israel in a war with Iran. Ossoff accused Trump of lying a nation into war and sending prices soaring with his warmongering in the Middle East. His rising popularity has led to speculation about a 2028 presidential run, though Ossoff has claimed he has zero interest in running for president.