How Jon Ossoff and Susan Collins are turning a mundane part of their jobs into a reelection pitch

Senators in Georgia and Maine Emphasize Local Service in 2026 Senate Races

As the 2026 midterm cycle nears, Georgia’s Democratic senator Jon Ossoff and Maine’s Republican senator Susan Collins are sharpening their campaign messages around the same theme: direct help for the people they represent. In a year that has seen former President Donald Trump’s second term, the two incumbents are leaning on their record of securing federal funds and providing constituent services to win back voters’ trust.

Ossoff’s “hands‑on” recovery after Hurricane Helene

In late 2024, Hurricane Helene tore through southern Georgia, leaving Valdosta and its surrounding counties with extensive damage. Ossoff was the first high‑ranking federal official to arrive, touring block after block and promising the community that his office would work to secure the federal recovery assistance it needed. “Just about every week, I dial up Georgia mayors and pastors and farmers to find out how I can help,” he said at a recent rally, while campaigning for reelection against Republican Representative Mike Collins.

The senator’s outreach has earned him endorsements from local Republican leaders, a notable shift for a Democratic incumbent in a state that has long been a political battleground. Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson, who calls himself a lifelong conservative, praised Ossoff for the post‑storm relief: “He’s been very good for south Georgia.” The mayor described how Ossoff personally helped distribute hot meals to residents who had lost their homes.

In Tifton, Ossoff’s office secured funding for a new dialysis center, a development highlighted by Tifton’s mayor, Julie Smith, another Republican who echoed Matheson’s sentiment: “He’s been very good for south Georgia.” Veterans’ advocates have also taken notice. Courtney Eskew, whose husband was injured in Afghanistan, told the Press Herald that “Senator Ossoff has been passionately vocal about VA funding, and any time we’ve needed to call to advocate or to ask a question about benefits, his office has done everything we needed.”

Even Republicans who disagree with Ossoff on policy have acknowledged his effectiveness at getting federal money for constituents. “Ossoff doesn’t vote the way I want him to vote on contentious issues… but as far as the office and the way they’ve carried themselves and handled other aspects of the job, I can’t knock that,” said Chan Jones, chair of the Georgia Republican Party’s 8th Congressional District committee.

Collins’ long‑standing appropriations record

Senator Susan Collins, who has served in the Senate since 2015 and chaired the Appropriations Committee, has spent the past year turning up in towns across Maine to highlight projects she helped fund. In late August, she cut ribbons at the rehabilitation of the St. Croix Apartments in Calais—a 26‑unit, low‑income senior housing project financed with $3 million of federal appropriations. “The renovated St. Croix Apartments will provide seniors with safe and affordable homes close to the family, friends and community they love,” Collins said.

Collins also spotlighted a spruce‑budworm mitigation program and funding for community colleges and hospitals, stressing how seniority matters for securing money. “That will go away with a freshman senator,” she told a manufacturing conference in Maine. “It took me years to climb the ladder of seniority.”

In other appearances, Collins visited a child‑development center in Bangor to explain Head Start funding, raised money for a local fire association during the Casco Days Grand Parade, and celebrated the dedication of a new fire station in the small town of Sweden. She has maintained a 10,000‑vote streak in Washington, a record she links to her “record of service” back home.

Political context

Both Ossoff and Collins face challenging races. Ossoff, now considered a Democratic “favorite” after a shift from a top GOP target, must defend a seat Democrats view as critical to regaining a Senate majority. In contrast, Collins is up against former state legislative leader Troy Jackson, who has criticized her for failing to shield Maine from Trump‑era tariffs and for supporting the Iran war, a conflict that has pushed fuel prices higher.

Despite the criticisms, supporters of Jackson acknowledge that Collins’ ability to deliver federal money has been a key factor in her five‑term durability. Warsame Dualeh, a Jackson supporter, reflected on the difficulty of unseating Collins: “The federal money pipeline… could be the reason for Collins’ durability.”

Political strategists note that local service can outweigh national headlines. “We in the political world tend to think about the strength of incumbency through the lens of fundraising and national media attention, and those do matter,” said former Senate Republican adviser Chris Hartline. “But the ability to help the local communities you actually represent still matters.”

Looking ahead

As the November election approaches