Mike Collins Bio
Michael Allen Collins Jr. (born July 2, 1967) is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative for Georgia’s 10th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he previously built a career in business before entering public service.
Born and raised in Jackson, Georgia, Collins graduated from Georgia State University in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He and his wife, Leigh Ann, founded a trucking company in the early 1990s, and he later served on the board and as chairman of one of Georgia’s largest credit unions, as well as president of his local chamber of commerce. He is the son of former U.S. Representative Mac Collins.
Early Life and Background
Michael Allen Collins Jr. was born on July 2, 1967, in Jackson, Georgia, a small city in the central part of the state. He grew up in the Jackson community and attended Piedmont Academy in nearby Monticello, graduating from the school in 1985. His upbringing in rural Georgia shaped his early interest in business and public affairs.
Collins is the son of Mac Collins, who later represented Georgia’s 8th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2005. Growing up in a household with a father active in public service gave Collins early exposure to politics, although he initially pursued a career in business after college. His family roots in Georgia remain an important part of his personal identity.
After high school, Collins enrolled at Georgia State University in Atlanta, where he studied business administration. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1990, preparing him for a career in the private sector before his eventual move into politics.
Path to US Politics
After completing his education, Collins entered the business world. In the early 1990s, he and his wife, Leigh Ann, founded Collins Trucking, a transportation company based in Georgia. Over the following decades, he expanded his business activities and became involved in local civic organizations, eventually serving as chairman of one of Georgia’s largest credit unions and as president of his local chamber of commerce.
Collins first ran for federal office in 2014, seeking the Republican nomination for Georgia’s 10th congressional district. He finished second in the primary election behind Jody Hice and advanced to a runoff but was defeated. The experience marked his initial entry into electoral politics and laid the groundwork for a future campaign.
After Hice announced in 2022 that he would not seek reelection, Collins declared his candidacy for the seat once again. He secured the Republican nomination by winning a runoff against Vernon Jones on June 21, 2022. He then defeated Democratic nominee Tabitha Johnson-Green in the November 8 general election, earning his first term in Congress.
Mike Collins Career
Early Career (1990s–2022)
Collins spent more than three decades working in the private sector before winning elected office. He founded Collins Trucking with his wife in the early 1990s and built the company into a recognizable Georgia-based transportation business. His work in trucking and finance earned him appointments to civic leadership roles across his community.
He served as chairman of one of Georgia’s largest credit unions and as president of his local chamber of commerce, gaining experience in organizational management and public advocacy. In 2014, he made his first run for Congress, finishing second in the Republican primary for Georgia’s 10th congressional district and losing the subsequent runoff to Jody Hice. The campaign introduced him to a wider electorate and set the stage for his later success.
10th Congressional District Election (2022)
When Jody Hice announced he would not seek reelection in 2022, Collins entered the race for Georgia’s 10th congressional district. He faced Vernon Jones in a Republican runoff on June 21, 2022, and won the nomination. His campaign drew attention for an advertisement in which he shot a voting machine while claiming Donald Trump had won Georgia in 2020.
Collins went on to defeat Democratic nominee Tabitha Johnson-Green in the November 8, 2022, general election, securing his first term in the U.S. House of Representatives. After his election, he drew national attention for hiring Brandon Phillips as his chief of staff, a choice that became controversial due to Phillips’s prior criminal record.
U.S. House of Representatives Era (2023–Present)
Collins was sworn in as the U.S. representative for Georgia’s 10th congressional district in January 2023. During his first term, he became known for several legislative efforts and high-profile votes. In December 2023, his H.R. 1734, the Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality (TRANQ) Act, passed both chambers of Congress and was sent to the President to be signed into law, making him one of the first members of his freshman class to see a bill become law.
He voted to formalize the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden in December 2023 and supported Israel following the October 7 attacks. Collins also voted against the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and against additional military aid to Ukraine during the Russian invasion. In January 2024, he introduced the RAZOR Act, which sought to prevent federal authorities from removing razor wire placed along the U.S.–Mexico border by Texas authorities.
Following the February 2024 murder of Laken Riley, a Georgia resident, Collins introduced the Laken Riley Act, which required U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants charged with theft. The bill passed the House during the 118th Congress and was signed into law by President Trump in January 2025.
U.S. Senate Campaign (2025)
On July 27, 2025, Collins formally announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, challenging Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff in his bid for reelection. His campaign attracted attention in November 2025 after releasing an artificial-intelligence-generated video depicting Ossoff defending his vote related to the 2025 federal government shutdown.
The same campaign also shared an AI-generated video featuring Collins as a shirtless blue jeans model, referencing an American Eagle Outfitters advertisement. The 2025 Senate run marked Collins’s transition from House to statewide politics as he sought to represent Georgia at the federal level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Collins’s signature legislative achievements is the Laken Riley Act, which became law in January 2025 after passing both chambers of Congress. Earlier in his tenure, the TRANQ Act of 2023 established him as one of the most productive freshman members of his congressional class. His entry into the 2025 U.S. Senate race represented another major milestone, expanding his political ambitions beyond his Georgia district.
Mike Collins Career Wins
Mike Collins has compiled a record of electoral victories since entering politics, beginning with his successful 2022 congressional campaign. His wins include a Republican primary runoff and a general election victory in Georgia’s 10th congressional district.
10th Congressional District Highlights
Collins first won the Republican nomination for Georgia’s 10th congressional district through a runoff election on June 21, 2022, defeating Vernon Jones. He then won the November 8, 2022, general election against Democratic nominee Tabitha Johnson-Green, securing his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Other Wins and Achievements
Beyond electoral success, Collins achieved a notable legislative milestone in December 2023 when his TRANQ Act became law, marking him as one of the first members of his freshman class to see a bill signed by the President. He later saw the Laken Riley Act signed into law in January 2025, reinforcing his reputation as an active legislator during his early terms in Congress.
Mike Collins Family
Family Background and Political Lineage
Mike Collins is the son of Mac Collins, who represented Georgia’s 8th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2005. Growing up in a politically active household gave Collins direct exposure to federal policymaking and campaign operations from an early age.
Personal Life
Collins and his wife, Leigh Ann, have been married for several decades and have three children. Together they founded Collins Trucking in the early 1990s, building a family business that remains a sponsor of the Butts County, Georgia, Historical Society. Collins is a Methodist, and the family resides in Georgia, where he continues to operate his business interests alongside his political career.