AJC: “Paulk, who is wrapping up 12 years in office, said Ossoff won him over with his attention to rural Georgia, particularly his work on hurricane recovery and securing funding for the county’s hospital.”
Atlanta, Ga. — The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is out with new reporting this morning on “the growing roster of GOP crossover supporters” following an interview with Republican Irwin County Commissioner Chris Paulk, who is endorsing Senator Jon Ossoff for re-election.
The AJC reports that “Paulk, who is wrapping up 12 years in office, said Ossoff won him over with his attention to rural Georgia, particularly his work on hurricane recovery and securing funding for the county’s hospital.” In citing Sen. Ossoff’s outstanding constituent services, Paulk acknowledged that Sen. Ossoff “doesn’t have to be concerned with 9,000 people down here. But the effort they made, and the time they spent, really spoke to me. They really care about rural Georgia.”
Paulk’s endorsement is the latest in a string of endorsements from Republicans who have crossed party lines to support Senator Jon Ossoff in his bid for re-election:
- The AJC previously detailed how Tifton Mayor Julie Smith and Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson crossed party lines to support the Senator and “praised Ossoff’s approach to constituent service and his efforts to steer federal resources to South Georgia.”
- Former Republican U.S. Senator Jeff Flake also endorsed Sen. Ossoff, with the AJC reporting that, according to Flake, “character, constituent work and respect for the institution outweigh their policy differences.”
- The New York Times additionally cited that Toccoa Commissioner, former Mayor, and “lifelong Republican” Gail Fry is backing Senator Ossoff for re-election, saying, “We have gotten more support from Senator Ossoff than any other office that we’ve contacted.”
- Georgia Peanut Commission Chair Donald Chase, who is “speaking only for himself and not the organization,” is yet another conservative backing Senator Ossoff for re-election despite having “voted Republican for nearly his entire adult life.” Chase told the AJC, “I like people who will stand up for the things that I believe we, as Georgians, support.”
AJC: Another GOP crossover
By Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam | October 26, 2026
KEY EXCERPTS
- Add Irwin County Commissioner Chris Paulk to the list of Republicans backing Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff over Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins.
- Paulk, who is wrapping up 12 years in office, said Ossoff won him over with his attention to rural Georgia, particularly his work on hurricane recovery and securing funding for the county’s hospital.
- “He doesn’t have to be concerned with 9,000 people down here,” said Paulk. “But the effort they made, and the time they spent, really spoke to me. They really care about rural Georgia.” […]
- He said he’s voting for other Republicans on the ballot but believes Ossoff has earned another term.
- “I’m an independent thinker. I look at the person,” Paulk said. “Previous actions are a pretty good indication of future behavior.”
- Paulk joins a growing roster of GOP crossover supporters, including Republican mayors Scott James Matheson of Valdosta and Julie Smith of Tifton; and Georgia Peanut Commission Chair Donald Chase and former Republican U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona.
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