Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is leading Republican challenger Mike Collins in Georgia’s closely watched U.S. Senate race, according to a new poll released less than a month before the November 3 midterm elections.
A Wedgewood Polls survey conducted October 2–3 found Ossoff with 55% support, compared with 45% for Collins, giving the incumbent a 10-point lead among surveyed likely voters. The poll surveyed 600 likely voters, according to the polling data published by Track the Vote.
A separate polling average published by Track the Vote on October 9 placed Ossoff at 53.2% and Collins at 43.8%, a 9.4-point difference. The average draws on multiple surveys, which can provide a broader snapshot of the race than any single poll. Track the Vote’s Georgia Senate polling page
A Competitive Race With National Stakes
Georgia is among the states drawing national attention as Democrats seek to gain seats in the Senate and Republicans work to maintain their majority.
Ossoff, who won his Senate seat in Georgia’s 2021 runoff election, is seeking another term. Collins, a Republican congressman, is challenging him in a contest that has attracted substantial campaign spending and attention from national political organizations.
The candidates faced off in their first televised debate on October 8, discussing inflation, healthcare, immigration and the policies of President Donald Trump. The debate also featured sharp exchanges over Collins’ associations with people accused of expressing racist or white-nationalist views, allegations he has pushed back against. Collins criticized Ossoff’s policy positions and sought to portray the incumbent as out of step with conservative voters. The Washington Post’s debate coverage
Georgia’s Political Landscape
Georgia voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election, but the state has remained competitive in recent statewide contests. Ossoff’s current polling lead highlights the distinction between presidential voting patterns and the dynamics of an individual Senate race.
The outcome may depend on a range of factors, including turnout, voters’ views of the economy and healthcare, and how the candidates’ campaigns perform in the final weeks.
Polling averages can help show the overall direction of a contest, but they are not election results. Surveys differ in methodology, sample size and timing, and voter preferences can change before Election Day.
Final Weeks Before Election Day
With November 3 approaching, both campaigns are working to persuade voters and mobilize supporters. The race has also become part of the wider national battle over control of the Senate, increasing the incentive for outside groups to spend money on advertising and voter outreach.
Ossoff’s 55%–45% result in the Wedgewood survey and his lead in Track the Vote’s polling average provide two snapshots of the contest as the campaign enters its final stretch. The votes cast in November, rather than the polling figures, will determine who represents Georgia in the Senate.
