A prominent Republican figure in Georgia’s powerful agriculture industry is breaking with President Donald Trump’s preferred Senate candidate just weeks before voters head to the polls.
Donald Chase, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission and a longtime Republican voter, says he plans to support Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff over Republican Rep. Mike Collins in Georgia’s closely watched U.S. Senate race.
The move stands out because Trump backed Collins during the Republican primary battle earlier this year. Collins ultimately won the GOP nomination and will face Ossoff in the November general election.
Chase, however, says his decision comes down to the candidate rather than the political party.
“We don’t necessarily elect a party,” Chase told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I like to support people that I can get behind and believe in.”
Longtime Republican Breaks With GOP Senate Nominee
Chase’s support for Ossoff does not represent a complete break with the Republican Party.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Chase has voted Republican for nearly his entire adult life and continues to support and financially contribute to GOP candidates elsewhere on Georgia’s November ballot.
But when it comes to the high-profile Senate contest between Ossoff and Collins, Chase is crossing party lines.
That makes his endorsement particularly notable as both campaigns attempt to attract voters outside their traditional political bases.
Chase also stressed that he was speaking for himself and not on behalf of the Georgia Peanut Commission.
Who Is Donald Chase?
Donald Chase is an Oglethorpe, Georgia, peanut farmer who currently serves as chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission.
The commission represents thousands of peanut farming families across the state and supports research, education and promotional efforts connected to Georgia’s peanut industry.
Georgia remains the dominant peanut-producing state in America.
According to the Georgia Peanut Commission, Georgia farmers accounted for 51 percent of the total U.S. peanut crop in 2025.
That gives agricultural leaders such as Chase a visible role in one of Georgia’s most important industries.
Why Chase Is Supporting Jon Ossoff
Chase said his decision was influenced in part by Ossoff’s attention to Georgia agricultural issues during his time in the Senate.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Chase cited instances in which he believed Ossoff was willing to speak up on matters important to Georgia farmers.
That does not mean Chase has abandoned conservative politics.
Instead, his endorsement illustrates how some Republican voters are separating their choices in individual races from their broader party loyalty.
Chase is continuing to back Republican candidates elsewhere on the ballot while choosing the Democratic incumbent in the Senate contest.
Trump Backed Mike Collins
President Trump threw his support behind Mike Collins during Georgia’s Republican Senate primary.
Collins defeated former football coach Derek Dooley in the June runoff, securing the Republican nomination and setting up the November showdown with Ossoff.
Collins has positioned himself as a strong Trump ally and is seeking to return Georgia’s Senate seat to Republican control.
Ossoff, meanwhile, is campaigning for another term after first winning the seat in the 2020 election cycle.
The opposing candidates now offer Georgia voters two sharply different political paths.
Chase Isn’t The Only Republican Backing Ossoff
Chase is also not alone among Republicans who have chosen to support Ossoff.
Republican mayors Julie Smith of Tifton and Scott James Matheson of Valdosta have also crossed party lines to back the Democratic senator, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Both have continued supporting Republican candidates in other races.
Former Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona has also endorsed Ossoff.
The endorsements represent an effort by Ossoff’s campaign to attract some Republican and independent voters while maintaining support from Georgia Democrats.
Georgia Senate Race Draws National Attention
Georgia has become one of America’s most closely watched political battlegrounds over the past several election cycles.
The state has produced razor-thin presidential and Senate contests, making even relatively small shifts among independent and crossover voters politically significant.
That history is one reason the Ossoff-Collins Senate battle is attracting attention well beyond Georgia.
Republicans are trying to strengthen their position in the Senate, while Democrats are fighting to protect one of their most important seats.
Georgia voters will ultimately decide whether Ossoff receives another term or Collins takes the seat for Republicans.
Agricultural Vote Could Matter
Chase’s endorsement could also draw attention because agriculture remains a major part of Georgia’s economy and culture.
The Georgia Peanut Commission says it represents more than 4,000 peanut farming families in the state.
For many rural voters, issues involving farming costs, trade, government regulations and agricultural policy can play an important role in political decisions.
Both parties therefore have an incentive to compete aggressively for Georgia’s agricultural communities.
Chase’s decision offers Ossoff a Republican endorsement from inside one of those communities.
At the same time, it does not necessarily indicate a broader shift among Georgia Republicans. Chase has described the endorsement as an individual choice and remains supportive of Republican candidates in other contests.
Ossoff Addresses 2028 Presidential Speculation
Ossoff has also faced questions about whether he could seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
He has repeatedly dismissed that possibility.
In a September 21 interview with Atlanta’s WSB-TV, Ossoff said he had “zero interest” in running for president in 2028 and said his focus remained on Georgia.
He made a similar statement in June, saying he was not planning a 2028 presidential campaign.
That puts the immediate focus squarely on his Senate reelection battle.
A Significant Split Ahead of November
Donald Chase’s decision adds another unusual twist to Georgia’s increasingly competitive Senate race.
He remains a Republican, continues supporting other GOP candidates and leads an organization representing one of Georgia’s signature agricultural industries.
But in the Senate contest, he has chosen Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff instead of Trump-backed Republican Mike Collins.
That makes Chase part of a small but visible group of Republicans crossing party lines in this particular race.
For Collins, the challenge will be keeping Republican voters unified behind the GOP ticket while expanding support beyond the party’s most loyal base.
For Ossoff, endorsements from Republican figures provide an opportunity to argue that his support extends beyond traditional Democratic voters.
Ultimately, neither endorsements nor national attention will decide the contest.
Georgia voters will make that decision when they cast their ballots in November.