As Georgia voters prepare to cast their ballots Tuesday in a closely watched U.S. Senate race, members of the Jewish community face a contest between incumbent Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Representative Mike Collins. The outcome of this race could help determine control of the Senate, while spotlighting sharp divisions on issues including support for Israel and alleged ties to extremist groups.

Ossoff, who is Jewish and considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has drawn criticism from some Jewish voters for his votes to halt certain arms sales to Israel during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. In November 2024, he voted to block a rifle sale to Israel, citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, though he supported other military aid measures. Ossoff has maintained his commitment to Israel’s security, but some in the Jewish community view his stance as insufficient. Several Georgia Jewish organizations and AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbying group, publicly criticized his voting record, with the latter running ads targeting senators who opposed arms sales, including Ossoff.

Collins, who is not Jewish, has faced scrutiny over reported connections to far-right individuals and white nationalist figures. His son-in-law, David Alan Scheer II, has been linked to antisemitic conspiracy theories and controversial comments minimizing Holocaust education. Scheer reportedly resides on property owned by Collins, though the campaign has disavowed Scheer’s views. Additionally, Collins replaced a chief of staff involved in a group chat with known white supremacists, including figures accused of Holocaust denial. Collins also attended a 2023 event criticized for hosting far-right participants.

The Collins campaign has condemned antisemitism and expressed support for Israel, emphasizing his personal faith and voting record in support of the Jewish state. Supporters within the Republican Jewish Coalition describe him as a friend to the Jewish community, citing his response following the October 7 attacks and his pro-Israel stance. Critics argue that Collins’s associations with extremist elements raise serious concerns. Jewish leaders and community members have voiced divergent opinions on the significance of these ties, with some accepting his denouncements and others expressing alarm.

Ossoff has challenged Collins’s background, labeling him a “notorious bigot, antisemite, and extremist,” a charge that has drawn criticism as overly harsh. Commentators have cautioned against invective and personal attacks in the campaign. Meanwhile, some Collins backers point to what they describe as rising antisemitism among some segments of the Democratic Party, highlighting Ossoff’s prior association with progressive figures known for anti-Israel rhetoric.

The Jewish Democratic Council of America, which endorsed Ossoff, praised his consistent support for Israel as a “Jewish and democratic state” and characterized Collins as “one of the most extreme candidates on the ballot.” Others in the community emphasize the gravity of antisemitism and the need for vigilance regardless of party affiliation.

With the Senate race pivotal to both local and national political landscapes, Georgia’s Jewish voters are weighing contrasting narratives about candidates’ ties, records, and views on Israel amid broader concerns about extremism and antisemitism in American politics.