{"id":2632984,"date":"2026-07-21T08:04:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T12:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-collinss-controversies-worry-republicans\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T08:07:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T12:07:17","slug":"mike-collinss-controversies-worry-republicans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-collinss-controversies-worry-republicans\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Collins&#8217;s controversies worry Republicans"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">10<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmike-collinss-controversies-worry-republicans%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2632984&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Georgia\u2019s upcoming Senate race faces significant challenges for Republican candidate Mike Collins. Early in the campaign,Collins has been plagued by a series of controversies,including a House ethics examination into misuse of taxpayer funds,staffing upheavals,and recent allegations involving his son-in-law sharing white nationalist and antisemitic content. These issues have raised concerns among republicans that his distractions may overshadow his campaign efforts against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff, who holds a fundraising advantage and is leading in polling.<\/p>\n<p>Collins has cycled through multiple chiefs of staff amid scandals, including allegations of improper campaign-related activities and inappropriate comments about helping a Holocaust denier. The latest controversy involves his son-in-law, David Scheer II, posting extremist and antisemitic messages online. Despite attempts to distance himself from these allegations, critics and some GOP insiders view Collins as a flawed candidate, with fears that these issues could impact the Republican chances in Georgia.<\/p>\n<p>National Republicans remain committed to the race,with considerable funding aimed at defeating Ossoff and President Trump scheduled to campaign with Collins.The race has also become a battleground over Israel,as Collins is a strong supporter,whereas Ossoff has taken more nuanced positions. Democrats leverage Collins\u2019s controversies to question his judgment and integrity, intensifying the political battle in a key state for control of the Senate.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just weeks into <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgia\/\">Georgia<\/a>\u2018s general election, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republicans\/\">Republicans<\/a> are confronting mounting concerns that Senate nominee Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-collins\/\">Mike Collins<\/a>\u2018s (R-GA) steady stream of controversies is jeopardizing one of the party\u2019s best opportunities to flip a Senate seat and unseat Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jon-ossoff\/\">Jon Ossoff<\/a> (D-GA).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-from-a-house-ethics-investigation-involving-a-former-chief-of-staff-to-repeated-staffing-upheaval-and-now-a-fresh-controversy-involving-his-son-in-law-collins-has-entered-the-general-election-confronting-a-steady-stream-of-distractions-that-some-republicans-fear-are-overshadowing-the-campaign-against-ossoff\">From a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4407306\/mike-collins-house-ethics-committee-investigation\/\">House ethics investigation<\/a> involving a former chief of staff to repeated staffing upheaval and now <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4651171\/mike-collins-son-in-law-posted-white-nationalist-antisemitic-statements\/\">a fresh controversy involving his son-in-law<\/a>, Collins has entered the general election confronting a litany of distractions that some Republicans fear are overshadowing the campaign against Ossoff.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4656178\/mike-collins-controversies-georgia-senate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mike Collins\u2019s controversies cloud Georgia Senate bid<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4655868\/james-talarico-black-voters-town-hall-houston-texas-senate-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>James Talarico accused of not doing enough for black voters during heated town hall<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4656118\/nancy-mace-south-carolina-senate-withdrawal\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Nancy Mace drops out of Senate race in South Carolina<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collins has cycled through three chiefs of staff in roughly the past year, with two departures tied to separate controversies. His first chief of staff, Brandon Phillips, became the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations that Collins\u2019s office improperly used taxpayer funds by performing campaign work while on the congressional payroll and arranging a paid internship for his girlfriend despite little or no work being performed. Collins has dismissed the allegations as a \u201cnothing burger.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Phillips later departed after the campaign\u2019s social media account published a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4580476\/mike-collins-staffer-fired-unauthorized-x-post\/%5C\">vulgar post targeting the wife <\/a>of a strategist for Republican rival Derek Dooley. His successor, Kip Talley, also drew scrutiny after <em>Slate<\/em> reported he told friends he intended to use \u201cthe levers of the legislative branch\u201d to help secure the release of a Holocaust denier from prison.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most recently, CNN <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/07\/17\/us\/video\/mike-collins-kfile-digvid-vrtc\">reported <\/a>that Collins\u2019s son-in-law, David Alan Scheer II, shared posts supporting the white nationalist group Patriot Front, circulated Nazi imagery, called for the deportation of Muslims, and posted antisemitic messages targeting Jews.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Together, the controversies have fueled concern among some Republicans that Collins has spent more time answering questions about his campaign than defining himself against Ossoff.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s another in a series,\u201d said a GOP political strategist familiar with Georgia races who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. \u201cI don\u2019t know how bad this one thing is, but the series of missteps is piling up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The strategist said Collins was already facing an uphill battle against an incumbent with a formidable fundraising advantage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt was always going to be an uphill battle. I mean, look at what Jon Ossoff is raising,\u201d the strategist said. \u201cBut I do think putting forth a walking scandal machine was probably a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another Georgia Republican operative said concern has been building for months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think many of us have been concerned about the drip-drip-drip associated with Mike Collins and his campaign,\u201d the operative said. \u201cIs any of this disqualifying on its own? No. But he\u2019s clearly a flawed candidate and facing a strong Democratic incumbent in a midterm election and I think that\u2019s what makes us worried.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The anxiety has increasingly spilled into public view. Veteran Republican activist Jay Wells <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ajc.com\/politics\/2026\/07\/mike-collins-won-the-gop-base-can-he-convince-the-rest-of-the-party\/\">recently told<\/a> the <em>Atlanta Journal-Constitution<\/em> that Collins\u2019s candidacy was \u201ceven worse than I could have imagined\u201d and predicted he would lose by a wider margin than Republican Herschel Walker\u2019s defeat to Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) in 2022. Even Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA), who finished third in the Republican primary, acknowledged on SiriusXM that Collins was \u201cway behind\u201d and warned his struggles could become \u201ca drag at the top of the ticket\u201d for Republicans.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The concerns come as Collins begins the general election facing significant headwinds. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/270towin.com\/2026-senate-polls\/georgia\">Ear<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/270towin.com\/2026-senate-polls\/georgia\">l<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/270towin.com\/2026-senate-polls\/georgia\">y polling <\/a>shows him trailing Ossoff, while the Democratic incumbent has amassed a substantial fundraising advantage, fueling doubts among some Republicans about the party\u2019s ability to flip one of their top Senate targets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even so, national Republicans are signaling they have no intention of writing off Georgia. The Senate Leadership Fund has already <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ajc.com\/politics\/2026\/04\/gop-super-pac-commits-record-44m-to-oust-ossoff-in-georgia\/\">reserved<\/a> $44 million for the race, underscoring the party\u2019s commitment to defeating Ossoff. President Donald Trump is set to campaign with Collins at Wheeler High School in Cobb County this week, marking their first public appearance together since Collins won the Republican nomination.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cJon Ossoff is the most vulnerable Democrat Senator on the map,\u201d National Republican Senatorial Committee regional press secretary Nick Puglia said in a statement. \u201cWhile Ossoff uses Georgia as a stage for his personal ambitions, Mike Collins is delivering for hardworking Georgians and running to win.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked about the mounting controversies surrounding Collins, a campaign spokesman did not offer any additional comment but pointed to a previous statement responding to the CNN report.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRep. Collins has always condemned all forms of antisemitism and always will regardless of the source,\u201d the spokesman said. \u201cCollins\u2019 lifelong support for Israel and the Jewish people is guided by his personal beliefs and backed by his consistent voting record.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Israel has also become one of the defining issues in the race. Collins has been one of Congress\u2019s strongest supporters of Israel, while Ossoff has drawn criticism from some pro-Israel groups after voting to block some offensive weapons sales over concerns about the war in Gaza, even as he has continued to support defensive military aid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe United States must continue to support the Israeli people, who face the persistent threat of rocket and missile attack and have been subjected to intense aerial bombardment from Iran, Lebanon, and Yemen,\u201d Ossoff <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ossoff.senate.gov\/press-releases\/sen-ossoff-statement-on-jrd-votes\/\">wrote<\/a> in July 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ossoff\u2019s first vote to block a weapons sale in November 2024 prompted an open letter signed by Georgia synagogues, Jewish schools, the local Anti-Defamation League chapter, and other Jewish organizations criticizing the move. The vote also made him the target of AIPAC television ads attacking senators who opposed the weapons transfers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats have sought to capitalize on the latest controversy involving Collins. The Democratic Party of Georgia hosted a press call featuring Jewish voters who argued the revelations raised serious questions about Collins\u2019s judgment. Larry Auerbach, an Atlanta retiree, said Collins\u2019s record of supporting Israel did little to ease his concerns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt does nothing to make my granddaughters safer when they go to religious school,\u201d Auerbach said, calling the rhetoric described in the report a \u201creal danger.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ossoff has also sought to keep attention on the latest controversy. Asked about the CNN report by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, the senator questioned whether Collins, his businesses, or his congressional office had employed Scheer and whether Scheer remained on Collins\u2019s property.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4651171\/mike-collins-son-in-law-posted-white-nationalist-antisemitic-statements\/\"><strong>MIKE COLLINS\u2019S SON-IN-LAW POSTED WHITE NATIONALIST AND ANTISEMITIC STATEMENTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHas Mike Collins, or his companies, or his office been paying this neo-Nazi?\u201d Ossoff asked. \u201cIs the neo-Nazi still based on Mike Collins\u2019s property? And will Mike Collins apologize for his and his office\u2019s ties to neo-Nazi ideology and notorious white supremacists?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked whether Collins should step aside, Ossoff instead turned the question toward Senate Republicans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDo Republican senators endorse a man like this?\u201d he said. \u201cThey should all be asked.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Georgia GOP fears Collins controversies threaten Senate bid<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2632985,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26188598292823-e1784585284477.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4402,5894,3756,4633,4086],"class_list":["post-2632984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-congress","tag-politics","tag-republicans","tag-scandal","tag-washington"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26188598292823-e1784585284477.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2632984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2632984"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2632984\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2632987,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2632984\/revisions\/2632987"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2632985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2632984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2632984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2632984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}