More than three years after the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, the conflict between the U.S. ally and Palestine has become a central argument in America's midterm elections.
Races in Georgiaare no different. Incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, Georgia's first Jewish senator, is in a crucial race against Republican Rep. Mike Collins, a Trump-endorsed candidate. The candidates differ on how to handle Israeli aid, and some voters, including single-issue voters, will be showing up on election day with their answers in mind.
"First of all, let me say that the security of the Israeli people matters to me. I have relatives living in Israel. The safety and security of Palestinians matters to me, and it should matter to all of us," Ossoff said in a recent
debate appearance. "And here's the bottom line: when it comes to selling weapons or giving weapons to a foreign government, we should assess in every case whether that foreign government is acting consistent with our interests, our laws and our values."
Collins, on the other hand, said Ossoff and the Democratic Socialists of America (of which Ossoff is not affiliated) "hate Israel."
"They would rather vote for Iran than support Israel," Collins said in the debate.
Now, in polling published Oct. 21 from YouGov and the Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project, Georgia voters have been asked how they feel about American support of Israel, and if it's something they would like to see continue or end.
Hundreds of likely Georgia voters were polled between Sept. 25 and Oct. 14, just three weeks before election day.
Do Georgia voters approve of financial support for Israel?
Voters were polled across six possible swing states, including Georgia, Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas.
In Georgia, 55% of likely voters approved of the Senate's previous measures to block the transfer of bombs to Israel. Only 28% of voters disapproved.
By party, 76% of Georgia Democrats support blocking bombs to Israel, while 69% of Independents and 33% of Republicans also support the block.
When asked about Congress' move to cut $3.3 billion in taxpayer-funded military support, 52% of Georgia voters supported cutting the funding. One-third of voters, 34%, didn't support the funding cut.
Does the U.S.-Israel relationship benefit America?
Voters were also asked more generally about the relationship between the United States and Israel.
In Georgia, 74% of previous Trump voters said the president has supported Israel at the right amount. Another 17% of Trump voters said the president has been too supportive of Israel.
More than one-third of all Georgia voters, 39%, believe the United States should reduce support for Israel. That is just slightly higher than the 34% of voters who believe the U.S. should keep support the same. Only 9% of voters believed there should be more support of Israel.
Very few voters, however, believe the relationship with Israel is more beneficial to the United States. Only 8% of voters said the partnership benefits the U.S. more than Israel. Nearly half, 45%, said the relationship benefits Israel more, and 32% of voters said the benefits are about the same for both nations.
The same was true of the war in Iran. Half of voters, 50%, said the Iran war benefits Israel more than the United States. About a third, 28% of voters, said the war benefits the U.S. more, while 22% said they weren't sure.
Will the relationship with Israel impact midterm elections?
"If a politician running for office in your state pledged to vote against more weapons funding to Israel, would that make you more or less likely to vote for them," Georgia voters were asked.
In response, 41% of voters said they would be more likely to vote for a politician who opposes aid, while 32% said they would be less likely to support that politician. Another 27% said they weren't sure whether they would support that politician or not.
The numbers were relatively consistent across all six battleground states, suggesting feelings about Israel, and Iran, could sway voters one way or the other on election day.
Irene Wright covers Georgia politics as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where do Georgia voters stand on Israel ahead of midterm election?
