Political campaigns are messy, but Georgia's high-stakes Senate race just hit a whole new level of complication. Mike Collins, the Trump-backed Republican nominee vying to unseat Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, is facing intense scrutiny over his close relationship with a prominent white nationalist influencer.
This isn't a case of a distant campaign staffer or a loose connection. The influencer in question is Collins’s own son-in-law, David Alan Scheer II. Meanwhile, you can read other developments here: Under the Shaky Ground of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
As Collins gears up for a tough November battle against Ossoff, this connection is no longer just a family matter—it has become a central issue in the race, raising tough questions about who Collins surrounds himself with and what he stands for.
A Million Followers and a Radical Message
David Alan Scheer II, who is married to Collins’s daughter Summer, has built a massive digital footprint. He commands more than 1.5 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram. While his mainstream platforms like Instagram focus on fitness and Christianity, his Telegram channel reveals a much darker ideology. To understand the complete picture, we recommend the excellent report by The Washington Post.
On Telegram, Scheer has shared outright white supremacist, neofascist, and antisemitic content. He has posted imagery associated with Patriot Front, a notorious white supremacist group, and has openly called to "retake America for Christian White men". In other posts, he has advocated for the mass deportation of Muslims and made hostile remarks about Jewish people.
What makes this a campaign crisis for Collins is how close Scheer is to his political operation. This isn't an estranged relative. Scheer is registered to vote at a property owned by Collins in Georgia. He has been pictured in promotional campaign photos and celebrated right alongside Collins at his primary victory party.
Jon Ossoff Pulls No Punches
Unsurprisingly, Jon Ossoff has seized on the revelations. Ossoff, who is Jewish, did not hold back in his response, calling Collins a "bigot and antisemite" who enables "neo-Nazi propaganda". Ossoff's campaign is actively pressing Collins on the details, demanding to know if Scheer is still living on Collins’s property and whether any campaign funds have flowed to him.
Collins has previously denied accusations of antisemitism and racism, but this situation is harder to brush off as media bias. It adds to a growing list of controversies surrounding his inner circle. In recent months, Collins had to replace several top congressional aides. One of those departures followed scrutiny over a chief of staff’s efforts to help secure the release of a convicted Holocaust denier.
Why This Race Matters So Much
Georgia remains one of the ultimate swing states. Donald Trump won the state, but Collins is widely viewed as an underdog against Ossoff, who has built a massive $20 million campaign war chest.
Collins's brand is built on being a hardline, anti-abortion "Freedom Caucus" conservative with Trump's full backing. He has consistently defended January 6 rioters and denied the legitimacy of the 2020 election. But while provocative firebrand tactics might work in a red congressional district, winning a statewide Senate seat in Georgia requires appealing to moderate suburban voters who are easily turned off by overt extremism.
For voters in Georgia, the next steps are clear. Watch how Collins handles the fallout. If he tries to ignore the connection or double down, it will likely alienate the moderate swing voters he desperately needs. Keep a close eye on upcoming debates and campaign finance disclosures to see if Ossoff can successfully turn this family connection into a defining campaign issue.
