U.S. Senate, Georgia · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Georgia U.S. Senate race?
Mike Collins has the strongest record in the Georgia U.S. Senate race. Mike Collins scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Jon Ossoff at 65, as of October 9, 2026. Mike Collins's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Jon Ossoff's highest marks are command of the job and integrity. Elbert "Al" Bartell (3 of 15 criteria), Christina Loren Clement (1 of 15 criteria) and Cassandra Easton (1 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Write-in
Elbert "Al" Bartell
On the ballot as Elbert Arthur Bartell
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Christina Loren Clement
On the ballot as Christina Clement
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Strongest record
Mike Collins
67 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 44
- Qualifications
- 90
- Performance
- 63
Write-in
Cassandra Easton
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Jon Ossoff
65 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 55
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 67
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Elbert "Al" Bartell
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Christina Loren Clement
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Mike Collins
- Mark against2026-09
Said in September 2026 that Jon Ossoff "never supported" the Laken Riley Act; the Senate record shows Ossoff voted Yea on its passage on Jan. 20, 2025.
Sources: FOX 5 Atlanta via Yahoo News, Sept. 14, 2026, GovTrack, Senate Vote 7 of 2025
- Mark against2023-12-22
Filed a periodic transaction report on Dec. 22, 2023 disclosing Ethereum purchases of Oct. 9 and Nov. 5, 2023 after the 45-day STOCK Act deadline; his campaign said the late fee was paid.
Sources: House Clerk, PTR Filing ID 20024042, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Aug. 2026
- Unresolved2025-10-07
The Office of Congressional Conduct referred allegations that he used congressional funds to pay his then chief of staff's girlfriend; the House Ethics Committee is reviewing the referral.
Where it stands: Under House Ethics Committee review since Oct. 7, 2025; no finding and no public update as of July 2026 per USA Today. Collins denies wrongdoing.
Sources: House Committee on Ethics, Jan. 5, 2026, USA Today, July 28, 2026
- On the record2026-10-08
Debated Sen. Jon Ossoff on Oct. 8, 2026 in the first general election debate, hosted by Atlanta News First.
- Credit2025-01-29
Sponsored the Laken Riley Act (H.R. 29); its text was enacted as S. 5, signed Jan. 29, 2025.
Source: GovTrack, H.R. 29
Cassandra Easton
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Jon Ossoff
- Mark against2026-09
His campaign ran TV ads saying Mike Collins wants to push older Americans off Social Security; PolitiFact rated the claim Mostly False and FactCheck.org said the ads took a Collins quote out of context.
Sources: PolitiFact, Sept. 15, 2026, FactCheck.org, Sept. 4, 2026
- On the record2026-10-08
Debated Rep. Mike Collins on Oct. 8, 2026 in the first general election debate, hosted by Atlanta News First.
- On the record2025-01-20
Voted Yea on final passage of the Laken Riley Act on Jan. 20, 2025, one of 12 Democrats in favor, while Democratic Leader Schumer voted Nay.
Source: GovTrack, Senate Vote 7 of 2025
- Credit2024-07-25
Sponsored S. 1401, the Federal Prison Oversight Act; its provisions were enacted in H.R. 3019, signed July 25, 2024.
- Credit2021-06-09
Moved his stock portfolio into a blind trust in June 2021, fulfilling a campaign pledge.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. No public record found.
Christina Loren Clement. No public record found.
Mike Collins. A periodic transaction report filed Dec. 22, 2023 disclosed Ethereum purchases of Oct. 9 and Nov. 5, 2023 past the 45-day deadline; his campaign acknowledged both were late. A House Ethics review of an OCC referral is open.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10081384, FEC candidate page, House Committee on Ethics, Jan. 5, 2026, House Clerk, PTR Filing ID 20024042, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Aug. 2026
Cassandra Easton. No public record found.
Jon Ossoff. Moved his stock portfolio into a blind trust in 2021, a campaign pledge. FEC reports are on file through June 30, 2026, with no administrative fine found. No Senate Ethics finding found.
Sources: Capitol Beat News Service, June 9, 2021, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. No public record found.
Christina Loren Clement. No public record found.
Mike Collins. No public record found.
Cassandra Easton. No public record found.
Jon Ossoff. Voted Yea on final passage of the Laken Riley Act on Jan. 20, 2025, when Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Whip Dick Durbin voted Nay.
Source: GovTrack, Senate Vote 7 of 2025
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. No public record found.
Christina Loren Clement. No public record found.
Mike Collins. Took part in the Oct. 8, 2026 general election debate with Sen. Jon Ossoff hosted by Atlanta News First.
Cassandra Easton. No public record found.
Jon Ossoff. Took part in the Oct. 8, 2026 general election debate with Rep. Mike Collins and held an August 2026 town hall with voters.
Sources: Georgia Public Broadcasting, Oct. 9, 2026, The Hill via Yahoo News, Aug. 18, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. No public record found.
Christina Loren Clement. No public record found.
Mike Collins. Business owner, credit union board chairman and member of Congress since January 2023. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics finding; an open committee review does not itself indicate a violation.
Sources: Office site, home page, House Committee on Ethics, Nov. 21, 2025
Cassandra Easton. No public record found.
Jon Ossoff. U.S. senator since January 2021 and earlier CEO of a documentary production company. No censure, reprimand or Senate Ethics finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jon Ossoff
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. Served in the U.S. Air Force from 1973 to 1980. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Elbert Bartell
Christina Loren Clement. No public record found.
Mike Collins. Has held sworn office in the U.S. House since January 2023, after the January 2021 electoral count. No recorded vote or filing to reject certified results and no misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Mike Collins
Cassandra Easton. No public record found.
Jon Ossoff. Has held sworn office as a U.S. senator since Jan. 20, 2021, after the January 2021 electoral count. No recorded action to reject certified results and no misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jon Ossoff
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. Air Force veteran with a career as a policy analyst. Has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Elbert Bartell
Christina Loren Clement. No public record found.
Mike Collins. In the U.S. House since January 2023, now in his second term; earlier co-founded a trucking company and chaired a credit union board.
Cassandra Easton. No public record found.
Jon Ossoff. U.S. senator since January 2021, seeking a second term; earlier a congressional staff member for Rep. Hank Johnson and CEO of a documentary company.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jon Ossoff
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. No public record found.
Christina Loren Clement. No public record found.
Mike Collins. Chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment and sponsored the Laken Riley Act, enacted in January 2025; publishes issue positions.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, GovTrack, H.R. 29, Campaign site, Issues
Cassandra Easton. No public record found.
Jon Ossoff. Ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; sits on Intelligence and Rules. Sponsored the Federal Prison Oversight Act, enacted in 2024.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, GovTrack, S. 1401 (118th Congress)
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024 and runs a campaign site describing his approach.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Elbert Bartell, Campaign site
Christina Loren Clement. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026.
Mike Collins. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021, offers an office newsletter, publishes issue pages and debated in October 2026.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Mike Collins, Office site, home page, Campaign site, Issues, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Oct. 9, 2026
Cassandra Easton. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026.
Source: Ballotpedia, Cassandra Easton
Jon Ossoff. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026, debated in October 2026 and held a town hall with voters in August 2026.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jon Ossoff, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Oct. 9, 2026, The Hill via Yahoo News, Aug. 18, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. No public record found.
Christina Loren Clement. No public record found.
Mike Collins. Born and lives in Jackson, Georgia. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 61 percent of itemized individual contributions from Georgia.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Mike Collins, FEC contribution totals by state
Cassandra Easton. No public record found.
Jon Ossoff. Born in Atlanta. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 18 percent of itemized individual contributions from Georgia.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jon Ossoff, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. No public record found.
Christina Loren Clement. No public record found.
Mike Collins. Co-founded a trucking company that his office says employs more than 100 people. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no administrative fine found.
Sources: Office site, home page, FEC administrative fines search, FEC administrative fines search
Cassandra Easton. No public record found.
Jon Ossoff. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. No public record found.
Christina Loren Clement. No public record found.
Mike Collins. Legislative Effectiveness Score 1.031 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 1.456, meets expectations. Primary sponsor of two enacted bills, the Laken Riley Act and the TRANQ Research Act of 2023.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation, GovTrack, H.R. 29
Cassandra Easton. No public record found.
Jon Ossoff. Legislative Effectiveness Score 0.909 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 0.912, meets expectations. Primary sponsor of 10 enacted bills, including the Federal Prison Oversight Act in 2024.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking Senate dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation, GovTrack, S. 1401 (118th Congress)
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. No public record found.
Christina Loren Clement. No public record found.
Mike Collins. Missed 23 of 1,917 roll call votes, 1.2 percent, from January 2023 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Cassandra Easton. No public record found.
Jon Ossoff. Missed 100 of 2,542 roll call votes, 3.9 percent, from January 2021 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. No public record found.
Christina Loren Clement. No public record found.
Mike Collins. Lists a district office in Monroe and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
Cassandra Easton. No public record found.
Jon Ossoff. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. No public record found.
Christina Loren Clement. No public record found.
Mike Collins. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -0.62494 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), a negative score near the middle of the chamber.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Cassandra Easton. No public record found.
Jon Ossoff. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of 0.22705 in the latest posted Senate scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 33rd, a positive score.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, Senate Scores
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Elbert "Al" Bartell. No public record found.
Christina Loren Clement. No public record found.
Mike Collins. No public record found.
Cassandra Easton. No public record found.
Jon Ossoff. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Georgia U.S. Senate race?
Mike Collins has the strongest record in the Georgia U.S. Senate race. Mike Collins scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Jon Ossoff at 65, as of October 9, 2026. Mike Collins's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Jon Ossoff's highest marks are command of the job and integrity. Elbert "Al" Bartell (3 of 15 criteria), Christina Loren Clement (1 of 15 criteria) and Cassandra Easton (1 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Georgia U.S. Senate race in 2026?
Elbert "Al" Bartell (Write-in), Christina Loren Clement (Write-in), Mike Collins (Republican), Cassandra Easton (Write-in), Jon Ossoff (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Elbert "Al" Bartell a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Elbert "Al" Bartell has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Christina Loren Clement a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Christina Loren Clement has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Mike Collins a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Mike Collins scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 44 of 100, qualifications 90 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Cassandra Easton a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Cassandra Easton has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Jon Ossoff a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Jon Ossoff scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 55 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 67 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Georgia race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Georgia 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.