Full Breakdown
Mike Collins Senate Campaign Faces Scrutiny Over Extremist Affiliates
8/28/2026, 12:27:06 AM
Core Event: Allegations of Extremist Ties Among Staff and Family
Republican Rep. Mike Collins, the Trump-endorsed nominee for Georgia’s 2026 U.S. Senate race, is confronting a series of revelations that individuals in his inner circle have expressed or supported white-supremacist, neo-Nazi or antisemitic views. The disclosures include a former intern who posted Klan-style imagery, a former chief of staff who aided a jailed Holocaust denier, and a son-in-law who has publicly praised white nationalism.
Background & Context
Collins secured the Republican Senate nomination in 2024 and will face incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in the November general election. The race is viewed as pivotal because the Senate currently sits with a narrow Republican majority (53-47). Throughout the campaign, Collins has positioned himself as a cultural-warrior candidate, opposing transgender rights and criticizing “radical woke ideology.”
Key Figures & Groups
- Mike Collins — U.S. Representative from Georgia and Republican Senate candidate.
- Preston Parra — 24-year-old former congressional intern (2024) and later contractor for Collins’s leadership PAC; self-described “twink fascist.”
- Kip Talley – Former chief of staff (replaced July 2024) who, while employed in Collins’s office, communicated with known white supremacists.
- David Alan Scheer II – Son-in-law; neo-Nazi influencer who posted comments defending white nationalism and attacking Jews.
- Brandon Phillips – Former chief of staff-turned-campaign advisor with a history of violent and abusive allegations.
- William Paul – Former digital staffer, son of Sen. Rand Paul, who hurled antisemitic insults at a fellow Republican lawmaker.
Data & Statistics
- Overhaul PAC paid Parra $7,700 for fundraising consulting in May 2025, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
- Multiple polls cited in campaign coverage show Sen. Ossoff holding a “healthy lead” over Collins, though no specific percentages are provided.
Official Statements & Responses
- Collins’s campaign has publicly condemned antisemitism and highlighted his legislative votes supporting Israel.
- A spokesperson for Collins described antisemitism as “abhorrent” and shifted criticism toward Ossoff, accusing the Democratic candidate of insufficiently condemning left-wing antisemitism.
- Georgia Republican leaders have expressed concern that the pattern of extremist affiliates could jeopardize the party’s chances in the Senate race.
Criticism & Opposition
- Advocacy groups and local journalists have highlighted the repeated nature of these associations, arguing that they reflect a broader issue of extremist rhetoric infiltrating mainstream campaigns.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Swastikas and the Klan. Another week, another scandal for the bigot Congressman Mike Collins and his collapsing Senate campaign,” — Sen. Jon Ossoff, an AJC reporter
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Parra’s own statements describe his extremist-themed posts as “satire,” yet the report documents explicit Klan-style imagery and white-power slogans posted in June and July.
- The extent of Talley’s assistance to Charles Johnson, a jailed Holocaust denier, is detailed in a May article, but Collins’s campaign has not confirmed whether Talley’s actions were sanctioned or known internally.
What’s Next
Collins and Ossoff will contest the November 2026 Senate election, a contest that could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. The ongoing scrutiny of Collins’s staff and family may influence voter perceptions and campaign strategies as the election approaches.
