At Last Night’s Debate, Collins Doubled Down on Record Gas Prices and Refused to Repeal His Data Center Tax Giveaway

Atlanta, GA  — During last night’s debate, Mike Collins doubled down on his claim that gas prices are coming down — even as Senator Jon Ossoff reminded him that Georgians face some of the highest diesel prices on record. As Ossoff put it plainly on the debate stage: “It costs more than any time in American history to power your home, stock your fridge, fill up your truck — because of the tariffs Mike Collins voted for, because of the war Mike Collins continues to defend, because of the health care cuts he voted for.”

Last week, Collins was caught on video telling a Georgia voter gas prices were coming down “fast.” Last night, he said it again. When Ossoff pressed him directly — “Are gas prices coming down?” — Collins backpedaled to “diesel prices are high… They’re already coming down.” Georgians have paid an extra $2 billion for gas since Trump launched his war of choice in Iran, with the average household spending roughly $787 more at the pump than they otherwise would have.

Climate Power Georgia State Director Mark McLaurin issued the following statement:

“Mike Collins told a Georgia voter gas prices were coming down ‘fast.’ Then he walked into the debate and said it again. Then Jon Ossoff reminded him that—thanks to Trump’s war in Iran— diesel has reached near-record highs and squeezed Georgia truckers out of the industry and Collins had nothing to say. No answer on gas prices, no answer on the data center tax break he voted for, no answer on why he keeps voting for the war that’s sending Georgians to the pump to pay record prices. Georgia families deserve a senator who will fight to lower their costs, not one who rubber-stamps every part of Trump’s agenda that’s driving them up.”

Collins can’t run from his record:

• Collins was caught on video earlier this week claiming gas prices are coming down “fast” — then repeated the claim on the debate stage last night, even as Georgians have paid an extra $2 billion for gas since Trump launched his war of choice in Iran, with each household spending roughly $787 more than they otherwise would have.

• Collins has voted seven times in support of Trump’s war in Iran — the same war that created some of the highest diesel prices on record. When a Georgia voter asked him how he’d help farmers facing higher fertilizer and fuel costs from the war, Collins said: “What we need to do is finish that job over in Iran… I have full faith and confidence in him.” 

• During last night’s debate, Ossoff challenged Collins twice to commit to repealing the data center tax breaks he voted for in the 2025 budget bill — which hands billions to data center developers as the bill slashed Medicaid and doubled health insurance premiums for Georgia families. Collins refused to answer. Georgia families could see utility bill increases of up to 11% per month by 2028 to cover the cost of powering those same data centers — and Collins has no plan to stop it.
  
• Collins said that “President Trump’s tariff strategy works” and that he’s “not worried” about the tariffs crushing Georgia families — even as ground beef and coffee are up 30% since Trump took office. Last night, Ossoff pressed him again: “You said last week the tariffs were making things fair — explain that statement to voters across Georgia.” Collins had no answer.
  
• Trump and Congressional Republicans’ attacks on clean energy have jeopardized 3,492 jobs in Georgia and over $3.9 billion in investments. 

• Collins talks about “energy independence,” but he has taken more than $116,000 from the oil and gas industry over his career.
  
• Between higher gas prices, utility bills, and tariffs, Trump’s policies have already cost the average Georgia family an extra $2,017 through the first half of 2026 — and Collins has voted for the policies driving those costs higher.

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