Rep. Mike Collins Leads in Georgia Senate Primary Polls
Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) is ahead of his competitors in the race for Georgia’s Senate seat, as indicated by recent polling data.
Collins, who operates a trucking company, is positioned as a strong candidate. He’s competing against Governor Brian Kemp in Georgia’s 10th Congressional District. Other contenders include Derek Dooley, a former University of Tennessee football coach and first-time candidate, and Congressman Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), a pharmacist with a long history in the Republican party representing the state’s 1st Congressional District. Republicans are eager to take the seat currently held by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, who was elected in 2021 and has been marked as particularly vulnerable for re-election.
A survey from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reveals that Collins has garnered 21.6% support, surpassing Carter’s 12.5% and Dooley’s 11%.
Josh Siegel, Collins’ campaign manager, expressed confidence in a statement. He compared Collins’ consistency to that of a reliable truck engine, emphasizing his commitment and efficiency.
According to the RealClear polling average, if the general election were held today, Collins would lead Carter by 13 points, though Ossoff would narrowly edge out Collins by 2.8 points.
Siegel also added some pointed remarks regarding the potential dynamics in Congress and expressed uncertainty about Dooley’s position following a recent firing.
Interestingly, the proportion of undecided voters has risen significantly since the last poll taken in November, going from 38% to 54%. Responses indicated 30% supported Collins, 20% favored Carter, and 12% chose Dooley.
Kerwin Swint, a political science professor at Kennesaw State University, mentioned that undecided voters usually start making choices as Election Day nears.
“Trump hasn’t endorsed anyone yet, so that might play a role,” Swint noted.
While President Trump hasn’t backed any specific candidate, he acknowledged on October 15 that there are many strong individuals vying for office. He has shown early support for Lieutenant Governor Bert Jones in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
Trump stated that he was closely monitoring the Senate race, emphasizing the importance of electing a competent senator for Georgia, criticizing the current Senator Ossoff as weak and ineffective.
The Georgia Republican Senate primary is slated for May 19, 2026. If no candidate secures over 50% of the vote, the top two will face off in a runoff with the winner competing against Ossoff in November.
This poll was conducted by the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs, surveying 1,000 likely primary voters from April 18 to April 26, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points.
