GA-10: Mike Collins (R)

REPLACING:

Jody Hice (R)[i]

WORK HISTORY:

Quality Tire Recycling (Partner); Collins Freight Brokers (President); Collins Trucking Company, Inc. (President)[ii]

EDUCATION:

BBA, Georgia State University[iii]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

America First & Pro-Trump; Conservative Outsider; Job Creator; Defend Our Second Amendment; 100% Pro-Life; Stand Up to Cancel Culture; Ally of Israel; Overhaul DC[iv]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

A self-proclaimed “100% pro-life” conservative, Collins has pledged to “never back down in my fight to ensure no taxpayer dollars are ever used to fund abortions.”[v] In a 2022 Georgia Life Alliance Pro-Life Certification Application, Collins responded that he believed abortions should be illegal, and he did not express support for making exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother.[vi] In a September 2021 tweet, he expressed support for a Texas law that banned abortions in the state after a child’s heartbeat could be detected.[vii] [viii]

ECONOMY, JOBS & TAXES:

According to his campaign website, to rein in “out-of-control spending,” Collins supports passing a balanced budget amendment and limiting “the size and scope of government.” Regarding taxes, he has said that he is in favor of cutting corporate tax rates, simplifying the tax code, and preserving the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He has also advocated for removing government regulations to help small businesses. [ix]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

Collins is in favor of “reform[ing]” Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security by “allowing people choices, increasing flexibility and including private sector solutions.”[x] He previously advocated for repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act with “common sense market based solutions.”[xi]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

Collins has said that he backs several moves to secure the southern border, including finishing construction of the border wall, opposing amnesty, and ending chain migration and birthright citizenship. He has also called for enforcing current immigration laws, reinstating “Remain in Mexico” policies, and ending “welfare incentives for illegal immigrant[s].”[xii]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

During the campaign, Collins pledged to “stand up for law and order” against “defund the police” proposals.[xiii] He has suggested that he supports defunding the FBI and called for an investigation of the Department of Justice and FBI to figure out “what the hell is going on.”[xiv] [xv]

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS & ELECTION SECURITY:

According to his campaign website, Collins believes that there were “voting irregularities in Georgia and around the country” during the 2020 election. He supports voter ID laws to secure elections. He has also expressed support for “securing” absentee ballots, improving access for poll watchers, and ending “private funding for county elections offices.”[xvi] In June 2021, he expressed support for a new Georgia election law that further regulated absentee ballots and Election Day in the state.[xvii]

EDUCATION:

Collins has argued in favor of school choice, contending that children should not “be forced to attend a failing school based on his or her zip code or languish at home because a student’s school refuses to reopen.” He believes that parents should have “the ultimate authority to determine what type of education is best for their children” and supports banning “Critical Race Theory” instruction in classrooms.[xviii]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

A supporter of American energy independence, Collins has said that he is in favor of completing the Keystone pipeline and against a Biden administration decision to prevent oil and gas leasing on federal lands. [xix] [xx] [xxi] In an August 2021 tweet criticizing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Collins condemned the bill as “a tax and spend down payment on the Green New Deal.”[xxii]

BIG TECH & DATA PRIVACY:

Collins has warned, “Remember: Big Tech says truth is hate” and criticized a Facebook decision to limit political content on its platform.[xxiii] [xxiv]  He and called for “trust busting” and “break[ing] up” big tech companies.[xxv] [xxvi] He also supports reforming Section 230 to further regulate these companies.[xxvii]

GUN SAFETY:

Collins, who has accused Democrats and special interest groups of “working to ram through gun-grabbing measures at every level of government in every corner of the United States,” supports “Constitutional carry” and said he will oppose “any legislation or bureaucratic effort that undermines our Constitutional right to keep and bear firearms.”[xxviii] He has said that he is against instituting red flag laws and background checks on all guns sales.[xxix] [xxx]

FOREIGN POLICY:

Against sending American funds to Ukraine, Collins tweeted in May 2022, “Can we please stop sending money to Ukraine. Please.”[xxxi] A few months prior to Russia’s invasion of the country, in December 2021, Collins said he would be “for sending troops to Australia to help free their people from an oppressive regime before sending to Ukraine.[xxxii]