Full Breakdown
Mike Collins Campaign Fires Adviser After Rape Joke Posted on Official X Account
5/23/2026, 8:47:50 PM
The Campaign’s Crude X Post and Immediate Action
An official X account for Rep. Mike Collins’s Senate campaign posted a reference to a woman who had accused former NBC host Matt Lauer of rape. The message, later deleted, was traced to senior adviser Brandon Phillips, who was dismissed the same day.
Background and Recent Controversies
Earlier in the year, the Daily Mail reported that Collins’s chief of staff hired a girlfriend as an intern and paid her over $10,000 despite limited attendance. The campaign dismissed those allegations as the work of “disgruntled” former staffers, adding to a pattern of scrutiny.
Poll Impact and Campaign Status
Derek Dooley’s adviser Luke Thompson shared internal polling that showed Collins’s lead in the Georgia GOP primary had “cut in half” within 48 hours of the incident. Despite the dip, Collins advanced to a runoff against Dooley, preserving his chance to face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
Official Response
Collins said the comment was unauthorized and did not reflect his personal values or those of the campaign. He announced staffing changes to prevent similar behavior in the future.
Criticism and Public Reaction
Georgia political reporter Greg Bluestein noted that Thompson’s wife had previously accused Lauer of rape and later attempted suicide, highlighting the personal dimension of the reference. The exchange quickly went viral, and screenshots of the deleted post circulated widely.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The original X post was deleted, leaving its exact wording uncertain. Poll figures cited by Thompson originate from an internal source rather than an independent pollster, limiting verification of the reported shift.
Verbatim Quotes
- “48 hours later, and the Collins lead has cut in half,” Luke Thompson wrote on X. “Dooley beats [Democratic Sen. Jon] Ossoff. Collins can’t. Not hard to understand.” — Luke Thompson, Adviser to Derek Dooley’s campaign
- “Matt Laurer’s [sic] sloppy seconds chiming in to take an L.” — Mike Collins War Room campaign account
- “Earlier today, a campaign advisor sent out a despicable and unauthorized Twitter comment using a Team Collins campaign account,” Rep. Mike Collins said. “The statement was made without my knowledge or approval and in no way represents or reflects my values or the values of this campaign.” — Rep. Mike Collins
- “to ensure this type of behavior never happens again.” — Rep. Mike Collins (staffing-change announcement)
Outlook
The runoff between Collins and Dooley will determine the Republican nominee for the Georgia Senate seat. The campaign proceeds to the runoff following the incident and the dismissal of the adviser.
