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GA Senate Race: Warnock Opens Up 10 Point Lead Over Walker, Quinnipiac University Georgia Poll Finds; Kemp And Abrams Locked In Dead Heat In Governor's Race

In the race for the U.S. Senate in Georgia, Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock leads 54 - 44 percent over Republican challenger Herschel Walker, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University poll of Georgia registered voters released today.

In Quinnipiac's January 2022 poll, the race was very tight with 49 percent of voters supporting Walker and 48 percent supporting Warnock.

In today's poll, Democrats (97 - 2 percent) and independents (62 - 33 percent) back Warnock, while Republicans (93 - 7 percent) back Walker.

There are big differences by gender, race, and age.

Warnock wins the support of women 61 - 37 percent, while Walker wins the support of men 52 - 45 percent.

Warnock wins the backing of Black voters 88 - 10 percent, while Walker wins the backing of white voters 62 - 35 percent.

Warnock leads among voters 18 - 34 years old (66 - 32 percent) and voters 35 - 49 years old (59 - 39 percent). Voters 50 - 64 years old are split with 49 percent supporting Warnock and 48 percent supporting Walker. Walker leads among voters 65 years of age and over (52 - 45 percent).

SENATE RACE: FAVORABILITY & PERSONAL TRAITS

Forty-nine percent of voters have a favorable opinion of Raphael Warnock, while 37 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him.

Thirty-seven percent of voters have a favorable opinion of Herschel Walker, while 42 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him.

When it comes to Warnock's personal traits, voters say:

  • 54 - 33 percent that he is honest;
  • 56 - 34 percent that he has good leadership skills;
  • 59 - 33 percent that he cares about average Georgians.

When it comes to Walker's personal traits, voters say:

  • 43 - 39 percent that he is not honest;
  • 43 - 37 percent that he does not have good leadership skills;
  • 44 - 42 percent that he cares about average Georgians.
"Herschel Walker fumbles on honesty and tumbles on favorability as Raphael Warnock surges ahead in the race for senator," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

GOVERNOR'S RACE

The race for Georgia governor is a tie with 48 percent of voters supporting Republican incumbent Brian Kemp and 48 percent supporting Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams.

This is essentially unchanged from Quinnipiac's January 2022 poll when 49 percent supported Kemp and 47 percent supported Abrams.

In today's poll, Republicans (96 - 2 percent) support Kemp, while Democrats (95 - 4 percent) and independents (52 - 42 percent) support Abrams.

There are big differences by gender, race, and age.

Abrams wins the support of women 55 - 42 percent, while Kemp wins the support of men 56 - 39 percent.

Abrams wins the backing of Black voters 83 - 13 percent, while Kemp wins the backing of white voters 68 - 29 percent.

Abrams leads among voters 18 - 34 years old (61 - 36 percent). Among voters 35 - 49 years old, Abrams receives 49 percent, while Kemp receives 44 percent. Kemp leads among voters 50 - 64 years old (52 - 45 percent) and voters 65 years of age and over (59 - 39 percent).

GOV. RACE: FAVORABILITY & PERSONAL TRAITS

Forty-three percent of voters have a favorable opinion of Brian Kemp, while 42 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him.

Forty-six percent of voters have a favorable opinion of Stacey Abrams, while 42 percent have an unfavorable opinion of her.

When it comes to Kemp's personal traits, voters say:

  • 47 - 41 percent that he is honest;
  • 56 - 35 percent that he has good leadership skills;
  • 51 - 42 percent that he cares about average Georgians.

When it comes to Abrams' personal traits, voters say:

  • 49 - 39 percent that she is honest;
  • 52 - 38 percent that she has good leadership skills;
  • 54 - 38 percent that she cares about average Georgians.
"With both candidates getting positive numbers on honesty, empathy and leadership, Kemp and Abrams are in a Governor's race too close to call," added Malloy.

MOST URGENT ISSUE

Asked to choose the most urgent issue facing Georgia today, inflation (41 percent) ranks first followed by gun violence (15 percent), abortion (10 percent), and election laws (10 percent).

Among Republicans, 67 percent say inflation with no other issue reaching double digits.

Among Democrats, 26 percent say gun violence followed by racial inequality (18 percent), abortion (14 percent), inflation (14 percent), and election laws (13 percent).

Among independents, 42 percent say inflation followed by gun violence (12 percent), abortion (11 percent), and election laws (10 percent).

"Despite the public's sorrow and outrage over guns and abortion, inflation, a phenomenon that can affect virtually every Georgian, is most concerning," added Malloy.

JOB APPROVALS

Voters give President Joe Biden a negative 33 - 60 percent job approval rating.

Voters give Governor Brian Kemp a 48 - 43 percent job approval rating, up from Quinnipiac's January 2022 poll when he received a negative 42 - 49 percent job approval rating.

Job approval ratings for Georgia elected officials...

  • Senator Raphael Warnock: 49 percent approve, while 39 percent disapprove;
  • Senator Jon Ossoff: 42 percent approve, while 39 percent disapprove;
  • Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger: 45 percent approve, while 30 percent disapprove.

VOTING IN GEORGIA

For the 2022 general elections, 49 percent of voters plan to vote in person at an early voting location, 34 percent plan to vote in person on Election Day, and 12 percent plan to vote early by mail or absentee ballot.

Among Republicans, 50 percent plan to vote in person at an early voting location, 41 percent plan to vote in person on Election Day, and 5 percent plan to vote early by mail or absentee ballot.

Among Democrats, 58 percent plan to vote in person at an early voting location, 23 percent plan to vote in person on Election Day, and 17 percent plan to vote early by mail or absentee ballot.

Among independents, 45 percent plan to vote in person at an early voting location, 38 percent plan to vote in person on Election Day, and 11 percent plan to vote early by mail or absentee ballot.

1,497 Georgia registered voters were surveyed from June 23rd - 27th with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.

Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll

Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.

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