TO:

INTERESTED PARTIES

FROM:

GLEN BOLGER/JIM HOBART

RE:

KEY FINDINGS FROM A RECENT STATEWIDE SURVEY IN GEORGIA

DATE:

MAY 12, 2020

Methodology
Public Opinion Strategies conducted a statewide telephone survey in Georgia that tested the Presidential
and U.S. Senate ballots in the state, as well as Governor Kemp’s response to the coronavirus. The survey
was conducted May 4-7, 2020 among 500 likely voters, including 250 interviews with cell phone
respondents. The survey has a margin of error of +4.38% in 95 out of 100 cases.
Key Findings
1.
The presidential race in Georgia is a dead heat.
Currently, 46% of Georgia voters are backing President Donald Trump, while 47% are supporting
Joe Biden. Five percent (5%) of voters are undecided and 2% chose not to answer.
The President does have the edge on intensity, with 43% of voters saying they will definitely
vote for him, and 39% saying they will definitely vote for Biden.
2.

The U.S. Senate races that will be on the ballot in November are also very tight.
Incumbent Republican Senator David Perdue currently leads potential Democratic opponent Jon
Ossoff by two points (43% Perdue/41% Ossoff) with Libertarian Shane Hazel garnering 7% of
the vote and 8% of voters undecided (the other candidates running in the Democratic primary
for U.S. Senate were not tested).
The special election to fill the remainder of Johnny Isakson’s term is wide open, Republican
challenger Doug Collins sitting at 19% of the vote, appointed incumbent Senator Kelly Loeffler
receiving 18% of the vote, and Democrat Matt Lieberman garnering 17% of the vote. Raphael
Warnock receives 9% of the vote, and no other candidate tops 5%.
Fully 26% of voters are undecided.

 GA Key Findings Memo
Page two of three
3.

Georgians remain worried about someone in their immediate family catching the coronavirus
and more than 40% know someone who has been infected with the coronavirus.
Sixty-five percent (65%) of Georgia voters say that are worried about a person in their
immediate family contracting the coronavirus, including 30% who say they are very worried.
Nearly one-third (32%) of voters in the state say they are not worried someone in their family
will catch the coronavirus.
Just under half (44%) of Georgia voters say that they know someone who has been infected
with the coronavirus.

4.

A majority of Georgia voters support recent coronavirus related decisions made by Governor
Kemp.
A slim majority (51%) of voters in the state approve of Governor Kemp’s decision a few weeks
ago to give certain businesses the choice of whether to open or stay closed. Forty-seven
percent (47%) of voters disagreed with this decision.
Support is higher for the Governor’s decision to lift the stay-at-home order for most Georgians,
while extending precautions for the medically fragile elderly, and those in senior living facilities.
Fully 58% of voters approve of this decision, including 38% who strongly approve. Forty-one
percent (41%) of voters disapprove.

5.

There is very strong support for giving certain businesses the right to reopen, provided they
follow strict health measures.
Survey respondents were read the following statement:
“Even though I am going to continue staying at home, giving certain businesses the right to
reopen as long as they follow strict health measures like wearing masks, limiting customers, and
practicing social distancing is the right thing to do.”
A clear majority (73%) of Georgia voters agree with this statement, with 44% saying they
strongly agree with it. Just 26% of voters disagree.

6.

With testing now available to all Georgians, voters in the state are divided on whether they
will take a test as soon as possible, or only take a test if it is necessary.
Asked about taking a test to determine if they have or have had the coronavirus, 43% of
Georgia voters say they would take the test as soon as possible, while 48% would take the test
only if it was necessary. Six percent (6%) of voters said they would choose to not take the test.

 GA Key Findings Memo
Page three of three
The Bottom Line
Georgia voters remain worried about the coronavirus, but there is also support for lifting the stay-athome order in the state as well as giving businesses in the state the right to reopen, as long as they
follow strict health measures.
Survey Demographics
Party Identification
42% Republican
16% Independent
41% Democrat
Ethnicity
60% White
30% African-American
4% Hispanic
2% Asian
4% Other
Gender
53% Female
47% Male