New Polling Affirms Mike Collins’ Frontrunner Status in Georgia’s U.S. Senate Primary

Jackson, Georgia – Mike Collins leads Buddy Carter and Derek Dooley by double digits in today’s Atlanta Journal Constitution/University of Georgia School of Public & International Affairs poll. The survey shows Collins leading the field with 30%, while Carter and failed football coach Dooley poll at 20% and 12%, respectively.

These poll numbers affirm previous surveys’ results and mirror on-the-ground sentiment of Georgia Republicans—Mike Collins is both the frontrunner in the Republican Primary and voters are rejecting the astroturfed campaign of Derek Dooley.

Collins on average leads Dooley by 17 points and Carter by 9 points, despite Dooley enjoying the weight of Governor Kemp’s political machine and being bolstered with nearly $1 million in advertisements, and Carter spending nearly $3 million on statewide advertising.

The polling data and spending analysis make one thing clear: neither Carter nor Dooley can buy Collins’ authentic brand and message. Despite outsized spending by his opponents and only holding public office for a little over two years, Collins has remained the frontrunner while his opponents trail and remain stagnant.

The survey was conducted from October 15-23, 2025, among 1,000 likely Republican Primary voters and can be viewed here.