Ethics Review Clouds Rep. Mike Collins’ 2026 Senate Ambitions

ATLANTA, GA. — U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, who is considering a run for the U.S. Senate in 2026, is now facing an Ethics Committee review that could complicate his political path. The House Ethics Committee confirmed it is reviewing a complaint against Collins and his chief of staff, Brandon Phillips, submitted on October 7 by the Office of Congressional Conduct.

Details of the complaint have not been released, and the committee stressed that a referral does not indicate wrongdoing. A course of action is expected by January 5, 2026.

Collins, a Republican representing Georgia’s 10th congressional district and son of the late eight-term Rep. Mac Collins, won his seat in 2022 and was re-elected in 2024. His campaign recently drew criticism for releasing a deepfake video portraying Sen. Jon Ossoff mocking farmers, heightening scrutiny as he positions himself for a Senate challenge.

A spokesperson for Collins dismissed the referral as politically motivated, calling it “a desperate and baseless attack by Rep. Collins’ political opponents.”

Political analysts note that while the Ethics Committee process is separate from electoral politics, the timing of the review comes at a critical moment for Collins’ Senate ambitions. “Even if no violations are found, the optics of an Ethics Committee investigation can influence donors, voters, and opponents,” said one Georgia political strategist.

The committee is expected to provide an update in early January, leaving Collins’ campaign navigating both legal scrutiny and the high-stakes preparation for a statewide race.