Jon Ossoff opens up sizable lead in high-stakes Georgia Senate race

Ossoff leads Mike Collins 48% to 40%, with his strongest support coming from Black voters, women and younger Georgians.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff leads Republican challenger and U.S. Rep. Mike Collins by eight percentage points in a new poll of likely Georgia voters ahead of the November 3, 2026, midterm elections.

As reported by CBS News, the survey was conducted by the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC). It found that 48% of respondents would vote to reelect Jon Ossoff, while 40% said they support Collins. Nearly 12% were undecided, according to the poll released October 21. The poll surveyed 1,000 likely Georgia general-election voters by telephone from October 7 through October 15. It has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.

The results also showed differences in support across demographic groups. Jon Ossoff performed most strongly among women, Black voters, younger respondents and college-educated voters. Collins led among white voters, people aged 65 and older, and respondents without college degrees. Both candidates received 43% support among male respondents. The survey also found that 55% of those polled approved of Ossoff’s performance as senator, compared with 35% who somewhat or strongly disapproved.

The results represent the views of the people surveyed during the polling period; they do not establish how the election will turn out. Ossoff, a Democrat first elected to the Senate in 2021, is seeking a second term. Mike Collins, a Republican representing Georgia’s 10th Congressional District, is challenging him for the seat.

The race is part of the broader 2026 contest for control of the U.S. Senate. Georgia is a key state in that fight, and the candidates have highlighted issues including the economy, health care, immigration and taxes. The latest AJC survey adds to a series of polls measuring the contest, but the remaining undecided voters and differences between survey methods make it important to interpret individual results in context.