A new poll has revealed that Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) has pulled ahead of his competitors as the Republican primary in the state of Georgia for a U.S. Senate seat draws closer. Collins, who is the current frontrunner, represents the 10th District and is the owner of a trucking company. His rival, Derek Dooley, a former University of Tennessee football coach, lawyer, and first-time candidate, has been endorsed by Gov. Brian Kemp.
Collins’ other competitor, Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) is a pharmacist and longtime Republican lawmaker representing the state’s 1st congressional district. The GOP is hoping to flip the seat currently occupied by Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), who first took the seat in 2021. Ossoff is considered to be the “most vulnerable” Democrat currently up for re-election.
The latest poll from Quantus Insights shows Collins leading the pack with 32.6%. The new survey data also shows Dooley blowing past Carter with 22.5% to 13.7%. Another poll produced by the Atlantic Journal-Constitution revealed Collins had the most support at 21.6%, compared to 12.5% for Carter and 11% for Dooley. In all three, Collins is the clear leader.
According to a report from Breitbart News, RealClear Polling shows Collins ahead of Carter by 11.5 points and has Ossoff ahead of Collins by a measly 2.8 points in a general election showdown. The primary is set for May 19, 2026. In order to win and become the Republican Party nominee, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote.
If that doesn’t happen, the two top candidates will go head-to-head in a runoff race before the winner challenges Ossoff in November. The poll was conducted April 28-May 2 with 1,677 Georgia voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points. A report from Fox News 5 Atlanta featured comments from GOP strategist Martha Zoller who said she’s not surprised to see Dooley rising up in the polls.
“You could feel the momentum sort of shift to Derek Dooley,” Zoller told the outlet. Political commentator Tharon Johnson said the rise had a lot to do with Kemp’s endorsement and financial backing. He also revealed that the governor has been traveling across Georgia stumping for Dooley while also supporting an ad campaign tied to the race.
Zoller said that Collins continues to draw benefits from GOP voter support connected to his work on the Laken Riley Act. The panel also chatted about whether President Donald Trump would get involved in the race. Zoller stated she would be surprised if Trump offered an endorsement for a candidate prior to the primary, but that could change if it turns into a runoff.
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President Trump got deeply involved with the primary races in Indiana for state political offices after several Republicans voted against his request to redraw district lines to help the GOP gain additional seats in Congress in order to keep control of the House in the midterm elections later this year. Many of the candidates he endorsed defeated the incumbents in a major win for conservatives, proving the president still maintains a strong influence within the Republican Party.