Recent results from a poll conducted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution revealed a potential barnburner in a showdown between Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Sen. Jon Ossoff in a hypothetical 2026 Senate race. In a head-to-head matchup, Kemp and Ossoff are deadlocked within the poll’s margin of error of 3.1 percentage points, with Kemp at 49% and Ossoff at 46%.
Kemp, who hasn’t made a public decision on entering the race, enjoys a 60% approval rating among Georgia voters. Kemp is also the only Republican in the AJC poll who led against Ossoff. Other Republicans, including conservative firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene, trailed Ossoff by wide margins over double digits. Ossoff took 54% vs. Green’s 37%. Georgia Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger fared slightly better than Green, earning 39%. The least recognized name, John King, got 38%. King is Georgia’s Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.
“Kemp’s approval rating is bolstered by strong support from independents and even a third of Democrats,” the AJC noted. “That puts him nearly 20 points ahead of President Donald Trump and reinforces recent AJC polls showing the Republican is one of the most well-liked figures in Georgia politics…It’s unclear whether Trump’s plummeting approval numbers will rub off on Kemp, who has supported the president’s priorities. The AJC poll shows many parts of that agenda — including tariffs and his immigration policies — are opposed by the majority of Georgians.”
