Brian Kemp, a two-term Republican governor and the GOP’s top Senate candidate in Georgia, a battleground for the midterm elections next year, declared on Monday that he would not be running for office.
“Over the last few weeks, I have had many conversations with friends, supporters, and leaders across the country who encouraged me to run for the U.S. Senate in 2026. I greatly appreciate their support and prayers for our family. After those discussions, I have decided that being on the ballot next year is not the right decision for me and my family,” Kemp stated.
As Republicans strive to increase their 53-47 Senate majority next year, the GOP’s ideal choice to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is viewed as vulnerable, is the well-liked conservative governor, who is term-limited and barred from running for reelection in 2026.
In a state that President Donald Trump barely won last November, Ossoff is a key target for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). He is seeking a second six-year term in the Senate after flipping the seat with a razor-thin victory in a January 2021 runoff election.
“Republicans have a number of strong candidates who can build a winning coalition to add this seat to President Trump’s Senate Majority,” NRSC communications director Joanna Rodriguez stated.
In a statement to social media, Kemp stated that he “spoke with President Trump and Senate leadership earlier today and expressed my commitment to work alongside them to ensure we have a strong Republican nominee who can win next November.”
During Georgia’s legislative session in February, the governor, who had been courted to run for the Senate for months, stated, “I know I can’t keep holding out forever, so we’ll have something to say on that down the road.”
“We need to flip that seat,” Kemp, who is presently the chair of the Republican Governors Association, added. After the election in 2026, I think we’ll have a Republican in that seat, as we should.”
Kemp’s withdrawal, however, leaves the GOP facing a crowded and potentially contentious primary that may feature Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a prominent Trump ally in the House with enormous name recognition who is viewed by commentators as too toxic to win the critical independent votes required to win the general election.
Reps. Buddy Carter, Mike Collins, and Rich McCormick, as well as state Insurance Commissioner John King, are among the other Republicans who have indicated interest in running if Kemp withdraws.
When questioned about Kemp’s comments, Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated, “Obviously, we’re disappointed about that.” Naturally, he would have been an excellent choice, but as I’ve stated previously, that contest will be competitive anyway. The good news is that a lot of people are interested. Many people want to run for that, for the Republican nomination, after all. It will therefore be competitive.
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Kemp’s announcement was emphasized by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
“Brian Kemp’s decision to not run for Senate in 2026 is yet another embarrassing Republican Senate recruitment failure as they face a building midterm backlash where every GOP candidate will be forced to answer for Trump’s harmful agenda. Senate Republicans’ toxic agenda and recruitment failures put their majority at risk in 2026,” DSCC communications director Maeve Coyle stated.
