Donald Chase, the chair of the Georgia Peanut Commission, announced on Monday, September 28, 2026, his endorsement of incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) for reelection. Chase, a peanut farmer from Oglethorpe, stated that he is speaking for himself and not the commission, which represents more than 4,000 peanut farm families across the state. Chase noted that while he has voted Republican for nearly his entire adult life and continues to support other GOP candidates on the November ballot, he plans to cross party lines in the U.S. Senate race.
Chase attributed his decision to Ossoff’s work on agricultural issues, specifically citing the senator's efforts to preserve U.S. funding for UNICEF. The program distributes peanut-based food products to malnourished children in other countries. Chase told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he prefers to support individuals he believes in regardless of party affiliation, stating that Ossoff "stood up" for Georgia interests when federal funding for those programs was at risk.
Ossoff is seeking a second term against Republican challenger Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA). During his first term, Ossoff introduced the Farm Disaster Tax Cut Act and helped secure $531 million in federal disaster relief for Georgia farmers following Hurricane Helene. While Collins has received the endorsement of President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Ossoff has gained support from other Republicans, including former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Tifton Mayor Julie Smith, and Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson.
The scale of the agricultural impact in Georgia is significant, with the state producing more than half of all peanuts in the United States last year. For individual farmers, the $531 million in disaster relief cited by the campaign represents federal capital intended to mitigate losses from natural disasters like Hurricane Helene. Farmers would notice these effects through federal grant distributions or tax relief measures, such as those proposed in the Farm Disaster Tax Cut Act, which aims to reduce the tax burden on those facing revenue losses or pest outbreaks.
The endorsement demonstrates how incumbents in swing states may leverage specific policy wins, like UNICEF funding for peanut exports, to appeal to opposition-party voters. The effects could influence how national parties allocate resources, as GOP-aligned groups like the Senate Leadership Fund have recently adjusted their airtime reservations in the state. The general election on November 3, 2026, will determine if this crossover support translates into a second term for Ossoff.