The dueling Athens events captured two competing views of Georgia’s Senate race one month before early voting begins.
U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff speaks during the combined rally between himself and Democratic gubernational nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms in the Georgia Theatre in Athens on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Felix Scheyer for the AJC)
ATHENS — A month before Georgians begin casting ballots, the state’s U.S. Senate race played out Sunday in an unusual split screen.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff joined gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms for a fiery rally before more than 1,400 supporters in Athens and urged them to harness “whole ballot energy” unity.
At the same time, Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins held a low-key tour of a nearby hospital, where he joined a top Trump administration official to tout new federal healthcare spending.
The dueling events captured two very different arguments about the state of the race a month before the Oct. 13 early voting period begins.
Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz (left) and U.S. Rep. Mike Collins laugh together during a tour of the Piedmont University Nursing Facility in Athens on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)
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The GOP case
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U.S. Rep. Mike Collins addresses the media following a tour of the Piedmont University Nursing Facility with Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Athens. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)
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Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks during the combined rally between herself and U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff in the Georgia Theatre in Athens on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Felix Scheyer for the AJC)
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Trouble spot?
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Democratic gubernational nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms and U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff raise their hands together to conclude their combined rally in the Georgia Theatre in Athens on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Felix Scheyer for the AJC)
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eht eht eht tsekrats ecar lacitilop eno fo .noitan ni sih tneve stsartnoc tsac sa ,yadnuS snilloC tA
kooL“ I“ drow ohw ew ew ew gnitov ,pu ekat os .dias ”,sdrocer ruo ruo ym ,naem kool ni woh woh werg rof t’nod tnereffid ”.sdnuorgkcab ta ta ta era era .gnihtyna dna dna kooL snilloC
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Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
Sophia Eppley is the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s 2026 summer politics intern.
