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Jackson, Collins Leading in Top Georgia Races, New Poll Shows
Health care executive Rick Jackson and U.S. Rep. Mike Collins hold sizable leads in GOP primaries for governor and Senate, respectively.
Published on Mar. 9, 2026
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A new poll of over 500 likely GOP voters in Georgia shows health care executive Rick Jackson leading the Republican gubernatorial primary with 27% support, followed by Lt. Governor Burt Jones at 22% and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger at 11%. In the Republican U.S. Senate primary, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins leads former football coach Derek Dooley 31% to 13%, with U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter at 11%. The poll also found that the top issues for primary voters are inflation/cost of living and border security/illegal immigration.
Why it matters
The results of these high-profile Republican primaries in Georgia will have significant implications for the state's political landscape heading into the 2026 general election season. The gubernatorial and Senate races are expected to be closely watched and heavily contested, with national Republicans aiming to flip the Senate seat currently held by Democrat Jon Ossoff.
The details
The poll, conducted by Louisiana-based JMC Analytics and Polling, surveyed more than 500 likely GOP voters in Georgia over the weekend. In the Republican gubernatorial primary, Jackson leads Jones 27% to 22%, with Raffensperger at 11% and Attorney General Chris Carr at 4%. Meanwhile, in the Senate race, Collins holds a wide lead over Dooley 31% to 13%, with Carter at 11%. The poll found that voters' top issues are inflation/cost of living (27%) and border security/illegal immigration (25%).
- The poll was conducted over the weekend of March 6-8, 2026.
The players
Rick Jackson
A health care executive who is the current frontrunner in the Republican gubernatorial primary in Georgia.
Burt Jones
The current Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, who is running second in the Republican gubernatorial primary.
Brad Raffensperger
The current Georgia Secretary of State, who is polling at 11% in the Republican gubernatorial primary.
Mike Collins
A U.S. Representative who is the current frontrunner in the Republican U.S. Senate primary in Georgia.
Derek Dooley
A former football coach who is running second in the Republican U.S. Senate primary in Georgia.
What’s next
Qualifying for the May 19, 2026 primaries in Georgia ended on Friday, March 6th. The results of these high-profile Republican primaries will be closely watched as the state's political landscape takes shape ahead of the 2026 general election season.
The takeaway
The poll results highlight the continued influence of MAGA and evangelical Republican voters in Georgia's GOP primaries, as well as the importance of issues like inflation, cost of living, and border security for the party's base. The competitive nature of these races underscores the high stakes involved as Republicans aim to flip the Senate seat and retain control of the governor's mansion in a key battleground state.
