A new poll signals trouble for Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) as he prepares for his 2026 re-election bid. The survey, conducted by the Tyson Group, tested Ossoff against three potential Republican challengers—Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA), Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA), and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). The results suggest a difficult path ahead for the Georgia Democrat, especially in a matchup against the widely popular governor.
The poll, conducted in January, shows Ossoff trailing Kemp by 7 points—a significant warning sign for Democrats looking to retain the seat. In a head-to-head race, Kemp leads Sen. Jon Ossoff 49% to 42%, with 8% of voters still undecided. The Republican governor, who remains highly popular in Georgia, performs particularly well among White voters (71%), older voters (66% among those 75 and older), and Republicans (91%).
Ossoff, meanwhile, maintains strong support among African American voters (80%) and younger voters aged 18-29 (54%). However, his challenges with moderates and independents remain evident. Kemp secures 32% of independent voters, while Ossoff holds 49%, leaving a significant 17% still undecided. Kemp’s substantial polling numbers suggest that, should he choose to run, he would be a formidable contender capable of flipping the Georgia Senate seat to Republican control.
Ossoff performs slightly better in hypothetical matchups against Rep. Buddy Carter and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, but the results still indicate challenges for Democrats. Against Carter, Ossoff leads 47% to 39%, with 13% of voters undecided. In the Ossoff-Greene matchup, Ossoff leads with 51% to 39%, while 9% of voters remain undecided.
Perhaps the most alarming statistic for Ossoff is his favorability rating, which lags behind other key Georgia figures. The poll found:
- Brian Kemp: 43% favorable, 40% unfavorable
- Stacey Abrams: 36% favorable, 52% unfavorable
- Jon Ossoff: 25% favorable, 13% unfavorable
- Marjorie Taylor Greene: 31% favorable, 26% unfavorable
