AJC: Trump's Budget Bill Could 'Hurt GOP Candidates' in 2026 Senate Race

New polling first reported by the AJC finds that GOP U.S. Senate candidates rallying behind Donald Trump’s harmful budget bill could face major backlash at the ballot box next November. 

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.

Georgia’s announced and potential GOP U.S. Senate candidates, including “MAGA Warrior” Rep. Buddy Carter, Insurance Commissioner John King, Rep. Mike Collins, and former sub-par football coach Derek Dooley, all stood behind Trump’s budget bill despite the harmful impacts it would have on Georgia. 

“This poll makes clear that the entire GOP field for Senate have tied themselves to a sinking ship by lining up in support of the GOP’s toxic plan,” said Democratic Party of Georgia Senior Communications Advisor Devon Cruz. “Between now and next November, we’ll make sure Georgians know exactly how these Republicans stood by attacks on their health care, jobs, and economy, just to deliver massive tax cuts for billionaires.” 

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 turned 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.