Polling first reported by the AJC finds that GOP U.S. Senate candidates rallying behind Donald Trump’s harmful budget law could face major backlash at the ballot box next November, including MAGA extremist Rep. Mike Collins, who “helped whip votes to pass” the devastating law and is reportedly preparing to jump into the Senate race.

In case you missed it: The polling found that among Georgia voters, “52% oppose the sweeping spending plan, which slashes Medicaid and safety net programs while extending Trump-era tax cuts.” After learning the bill will “slash spending ‘for seniors in nursing homes, kids and working families,’ threaten the ‘closure of hundreds of hospitals’ and increase ‘the costs of energy, food and health care,” 52% “said they would be ‘less likely’ to vote for a candidate” who supported it.

Collins, who called the new law that’s hurting his state a sign that “the Golden Age of America is here,” has previously told Georgians to “get off of Medicaid, get off of Social Security.” Earlier this month, concerned Georgians protested outside Collins’ district office to denounce his support for these harmful cuts. 

Despite the bill’s devastating impact on Georgia, all of Georgia’s announced and potential GOP U.S. Senate candidates stood behind Trump’s budget plan with Rep. Mike Collins, including “MAGA Warrior” Rep. Buddy Carter, Insurance Commissioner John King, and former mediocre football coach Derek Dooley.

Read key takeaways from the AJC’s recent polling below:

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: New polling finds most Georgia voters oppose Trump’s budget plan
Greg Bluestein | July 21, 2025

KEY POINTS: 

• A Public Policy Polling survey of Georgia voters commissioned by national Democrats found that 52% oppose the sweeping spending plan, which slashes Medicaid and safety net programs while extending Trump-era tax cuts.
• It also found that nearly two-thirds of voters expressed concerns after they were supplied with Democratic messaging, such as warnings the law could lead to the closure of scores of hospitals and hike “the costs of energy, food and health care.”
• But to pay for it, the legislation slashes $1 trillion from Medicaid, trims federal food assistance spending and rolls back incentives that helped turn Georgia into a green energy powerhouse. It also adds roughly $3 trillion to the national debt.
• Roughly 310,000 Georgians could lose insurance under the bill, according to a forecast by the health research nonprofit KFF.
• Top Georgia Republicans are united behind the measure. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reached out to all current and potential candidates for U.S. Senate. All but one, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, affirmed their support.
• U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, one of the first Republicans to challenge Ossoff, led a subcommittee that formulated the Medicaid spending cuts. And U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, who is preparing for a potential run, helped whip votes to pass the measure.