Georgia’s Republican Governor, Brian Kemp, announced on Monday that he won’t be running for the Senate next year, which is a setback for Republican hopes of unseating Democratic Senator John Ossoff.
Kemp, 61, had been viewed as a formidable Republican contender in various polls against Ossoff (D-Ga.).
“I’ve decided that running for office next year isn’t the right choice for me and my family,” Kemp stated. He also mentioned having discussions with President Trump and Senate leaders, assuring them of his commitment to support a strong Republican candidate for the November elections, one who embodies conservative values in the U.S. Senate.
Kemp was narrowly elected governor in 2018, defeating Democrat Stacey Abrams by 1.4 percentage points. Four years later, he won a rematch against Abrams more convincingly, with a 7.5 percentage point lead.
Republicans lost a Senate seat in Georgia through a couple of closely contested elections in 2021, which led to Senator Rafael Warnock (D-Ga.) taking over, defeating Herschel Walker, a former football star endorsed by Trump.
Ossoff, 38, is considered one of the most vulnerable senators in the 2026 race, especially as Senators Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Gary Peters of Michigan, and Tina Smith of Minnesota have opted to retire instead of facing tough re-election battles.
With Kemp deciding against a run, the GOP primary could see more than four current congressional members vie for the nomination, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Buddy Carter, Mike Collins, and Rich McCormick. Other possible candidates could be state agriculture commissioner Tyler Harper and insurance secretary John King.
“We’re confident about uniting in this important effort and are eager to select the next generation of leaders in Georgia, who will steer our state and nation in the right direction post-2026,” Kemp remarked.
Joanna Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the National Republican Senate Committee, expressed confidence in the potential Republican candidates, suggesting they could form a winning coalition to regain this Senate seat and bolster Trump’s Senate majority.
Kemp isn’t the only Republican leader opting out of races this cycle, as former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has also chosen not to pursue Shaheen’s Senate seat.
Currently, Republicans hold a slight majority in the Senate at 53-47, but in 2026, they will be defending 22 of the 35 seats up for grabs.
