Isakson and his Senate GOP colleague David Perdue saw their email inboxes bombarded and phone lines inundated by callers complaining about Trump and his Cabinet nominees earlier this year. A public meeting their staffs held in Greensboro back in February turned testy in a scene reminiscent of some of the viral confrontations that have marked other congressional town halls across the country. A group of constituents has been hosting weekly protests outside of Perdue's Atlanta office for months.

Isakson has hosted three telephone town halls over the last several months, polite events that have helped blunt the complaints of some critics about his lack of in-person events. Others, though, have complained about the controlled nature of the calls.

The third-term Republican has largely avoided the public spotlight this spring and summer after a pair of back surgeries stemming from a case of spinal deterioration left him in physical therapy.