Collins campaigns in Savannah, touts port funding and legislative record

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Collins visited Savannah on Tuesday, meeting with members of the Local 1414 Union of the International Longshoremen’s Association and outlining his legislative priorities while criticizing incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.

“I learned at an early age that a dog won’t bark in his own backyard, you better get yourself another dog.”

That it’s more than just who is U.S. Senator in Washington, D.C., come November.

“This is common sense versus communism crazy.”

Ports and infrastructure

Collins, who serves as chairman of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, said he secured funding to dredge the Port of Brunswick — which he said had not been fully dredged since 2015 — and to widen and deepen the Port of Savannah to accommodate larger vessels.

“I think everybody knows the impact on the economy in Georgia of these ports, not just Savannah but Brunswick as well,” Collins said. “We need to be able to make sure that they can continue with these mega-ships that are coming in that they have the depth and the width that they need to get these ships in and out.”

Collins said the Port of Brunswick received $35 million in dredging funds after he intervened.

U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Ossoff announced in March delivering $17.95 million for ongoing dredging of the Brunswick Harbor project as well.

Collins highlighted two pieces of legislation he said were signed into law during his first term: the TRANQ Research Act of 2023, which he said targets synthetic opioids, and the Laken Riley Act, the first bill signed by President Trump upon returning to office. He said the Laken Riley Act has resulted in the removal of more than 20,000 people he described as illegal criminals from the country in one year.

He also cited the Save America Act, which he said is aimed at ensuring only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections.

Attacks on Ossoff

Collins described the race as a contrast between two candidates with opposing backgrounds.

“I’m just a small businessman. Someone that’s been in the trucking company all their life and then over here, we’ve got our current U.S. Senator – this guy’s a trust fund kid.”

He said Ossoff voted in favor of policies that increased inflation, opposed the working families tax cuts plan, and voted three times on legislation related to transgender athletes in women’s sports.

He also said Ossoff voted to stall the Laken Riley Act and supported open border policies.

“We got to make sure we continue to root out this waste, fraud, and abuse that’s been rampant in our country and hold people accountable. We got to make sure that we tackle this healthcare issue, and I’m not talking about for the illegals, I’m talking about the Americans.”

Collins said Ossoff votes with Sen. Bernie Sanders 92% of the time and that only 18% of his campaign money comes from Georgia.

He also urged voters who supported Derek Dooley in the Republican primary to remain with the party in November.

“I think the pitch is easy, they didn’t want Ossoff either, and they understand that republicans, we do unite,” Collins said.

White nationalism allegations

Ossoff’s campaign released a statement Tuesday morning saying more than 50 Black Georgia legislators, including Sen. Derek Mallow (D-Savannah), are calling on Collins to answer for what they described as extensive ties to white nationalism.

Collins rejected the allegation.

“My response is he can’t talk about his record, so he comes up with smear attacks,” Collins said. “Everyone knows that I am not hateful, I do not have any hate in me, and I don’t condone it.”

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Charlie Bailey also called on Collins to answer questions about the allegations, saying it is “completely unacceptable for Collins to continue dodging accountability.”

An Ossoff campaign spokesperson said in a statement, “Mike Collins continues to fuel the worsening cost-of-living crisis and refuses to answer questions about his close ties to white nationalism. Meanwhile, Senator Ossoff has helped bring thousands of good-paying jobs to Georgia, capped the cost of insulin and out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, and delivered unprecedented investments in the state’s infrastructure.”

Data centers

On the topic of data centers, Collins said local governments should have local control over where they are placed, and that facilities should not be located where they damage local infrastructure.

“We’re in a race with China, and we got to kick their butts,” Collins said. “When you go to small towns, to me local people ought to have local control, period.”

Upcoming debate

WTOC’s sister-station, Atlanta News First, has announced that both general election candidates for the United States Senate — incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) and challenger Rep. Mike Collins (R) — have accepted invitations to participate in a live debate on Thursday, October 8, 2026.

“Mike Collins continues to fuel the worsening cost-of-living crisis and refuses to answer questions about his close ties to white nationalism. Meanwhile, Senator Ossoff has helped bring thousands of good-paying jobs to Georgia, capped the cost of insulin and out of pocket drug costs for seniors, and delivered unprecedented investments in the state’s infrastructure. When Senator Ossoff is resoundingly re-elected in November he will continue to deliver for Georgians.”

Ossoff Campaign Spokesperson

“Mike Collins is campaigning in Savannah while he continues to run away from questions about his close ties to white nationalism. Georgians demand answers, and it is completely unacceptable for Collins to continue dodging accountability. Anybody who campaigns with him, including Rick Jackson, needs to answer whether they stand by Collins and his scandals.”

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Charlie Bailey