JUST IN: Key Democrat Senator ‘Vulnerable’ According To New Poll

Soft approval numbers for U.S. Senate Democrats’ most vulnerable incumbent are provoking a new round of handwringing about whether the party’s lurch to the left will cost it a key pickup from the 2020 cycle.

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), elected in the wake of President Donald Trump’s loss, now appears headed for a loss of his own if the election were held today. Georgia voters sit on the opposite side of Ossoff’s party, which suffers from historically low approval among the general public.

Even before Monday’s poll was released showing Ossoff neck-and-neck with his leading challenger, Republicans were clamoring to take on the 38-year-old senior senator. GOP Reps. Mike Collins (R-GA) and Buddy Carter (R-GA) are both vying for the party’s nod, as is former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley.

Head to head, Ossoff is tied with Collins at 38% while 23% of likely voters remain undecided about the 2026 contest. Carter, meanwhile, trails Ossoff by 3 points, 40% to 37%.

Dooley, who is running with Gov. Brian Kemp’s endorsement, fares worse, trailing 42% to 35%.

Most Peach State Republicans agree that Collins has the best chance at defeating Ossoff. One in four Republicans polled selected Collins, while one in five opted for Carter. Just 7% thought Dooley would be the party’s strongest nominee.

Illegal immigration may prove to be a pivotal issue in the race. More than three in four voters support the Laken Riley Act, passed in memory of a University of Georgia student who was killed by an illegal immigrant who entered the country under the Biden administration. The new law lowers the threshold for illegal immigrants convicted of misdemeanor crimes to be deported.

Despite voting to pass the legislation, Ossoff has only 31% support from voters asked whether he has done enough to combat illegal immigration while in office.

The largest flashing warning for Ossoff is a broader question about whether he deserves reelection: Just 37% think so, compared to 48% who believe it’s time for a change.

The schism among Republicans has thrown open the door to a possibility that Ossoff will survive his reelection if the eventual GOP nominee emerges hobbled by a bruising primary. He raised $10 million in the second quarter of 2025 and $11 million in the first, bringing his total cash on hand to $15.5 million, The Hill reported.

Carter, meanwhile, leads the GOP side with just over $4 million while Collins carries just over $1 million in cash on hand, according to campaign finance records.

However, national Republicans are expected to invest heavily to pick up the seat. Thanks to President Trump’s aggressive fundraising efforts, his political committee and subsidiaries have already reported reaching their $1.5 billion goal for 2026, affording the president the opportunity to shower Georgia’s Senate nominee with millions of dollars in outside spending.