# Georgia Senate Debate Focuses on Trump and Biden Policies

> Georgia Senate candidates clash over Trump and Biden-era economic and foreign policies during debate.
- Title: Georgia Senate Debate Focuses on Trump and Biden Policies
- Summary: Georgia Senate candidates clash over Trump and Biden-era economic and foreign policies during debate. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and Republican Rep. Mike…
- Keywords: georgia, senate, jon ossoff, mike collins, trump, biden, tariffs, inflation, iran war, election, politics, news
- Source: NBC News — https://nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/georgia-senate-debate-ossoff-collins-fight-trump-biden-era-policies-rcna602279
- Author: Matt Dixon
- Published: 2026-10-09T00:59:40.453+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: georgia, senate, jon ossoff, mike collins, trump, biden, tariffs, inflation, iran war, election, politics, news
## First Georgia Senate Debate
Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and Republican Rep. Mike Collins met for their first debate in the Georgia Senate race on Thursday.
## Ossoff Questions Tariffs
Ossoff repeatedly asked why Collins supported tariffs that have raised consumer goods costs and kept Trump’s approval ratings low.
## Collins Avoids Iran War Questions
Collins spent the debate not directly answering questions about the Iran war or Trump’s economy but trying to link Ossoff to Biden’s inflation policies.
## Collins Supports Trump Tariffs
Collins said Trump’s tariffs make trade with China fair and help Georgia’s ports, which are key to the state’s economy.
## Collins Defends Iran War
Collins defended Trump’s decision to bomb Iran with Israel, saying the president had every right to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
## Ossoff Attacks 2020 Election Claims
Ossoff accused Collins of continuing to support Trump’s claim that the 2020 election was stolen without proof.
## Collins on SAVE Act
Collins said voters need confidence in elections and that the SAVE Act, which requires proof of citizenship to register, is important for secure elections.
## Social Media Posts
Ossoff criticized Collins for promoting white nationalist posts on social media through his son-in-law.
## Reid Hoffman Connection
Collins claimed billionaire Reid Hoffman, linked to Epstein, donated to Ossoff’s campaign.
## Ossoff’s Fundraising
Ossoff raised $50 million from small-dollar donors, indicating strong national support among his party’s base.
## Collins’ Fundraising
Collins raised over $7 million, with $25 million from the Senate Leadership Fund, a national GOP group.
## Polling Trend
Most polling shows Ossoff leading Collins by 10 percentage points, with a YouGov poll conducted Sept. 15-18.
## Final Remarks
Ossoff accused Collins of misleading about his professional record, saying he inherited his congressional seat from his father.
## Last Word
Collins concluded by saying Ossoff’s voting record on Biden policies remains unexplained.
## Key takeaway

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and Republican Rep. Mike Collins debated Trump and Biden policies, with Ossoff criticizing Collins' support for Trump tariffs and Iran war.