Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp won’t run for US Senate seat in 2026
Share this @internewscast.com

ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, announced on Monday that he will not be running for the U.S. Senate in 2026 against Jon Ossoff, the Democratic incumbent.

Kemp, who will step down as governor in 2027 after serving for eight years due to term limits, has consistently been considered a prime candidate by the GOP for challenging Ossoff, a prominent target for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. With Kemp’s decision not to enter the race, it is anticipated that there will be a fiercely contested primary among candidates who have yet to achieve a major statewide victory.

In a statement, Kemp mentioned, “I spoke with President Trump and Senate leadership earlier today and conveyed my commitment to collaborate with them to ensure we have a strong Republican nominee who can secure a win next November, ultimately serving as a conservative voice in the US Senate and prioritizing the needs of hardworking Georgians.”

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, who represents a district on Georgia’s coast, is itching to run and is likely to jump in. U.S. Reps. Mike Collins and Rich McCormick and Insurance Commissioner John King could also be possibilities.

A number of top-tier Republicans appear to have excluded themselves by taking top positions in President Donald Trump’s administration, including former U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, currently secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs; former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, head of the Small Business Administration; and former U.S. Sen. David Perdue, ambassador-designate to China.

A possible candidate with massive name recognition is Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a prolific fundraiser who may have gone as far as she can go in the House and was passed over for a position in the Trump administration. She has said she’s considering running for Senate or governor in 2026, but her entry into either race would likely prompt internal opposition from more traditional Republicans, including those aligned with Kemp.

National Republicans have already been advertising against Ossoff, who launched his reelection bid at a March rally where he proclaimed his defiance to Trump. He has tried to craft a role as a traditional senator who can work across the aisle and as a crusader against corruption and wrongdoing.

The election is likely to be closely contested and fantastically expensive. The twin Senate races in 2020, when Ossoff and Raphael Warnock narrowly won and flipped control of the body to Democrats, cost more than $900 million combined, according to OpenSecrets, which tracks political spending. Warnock’s 2022 reelection over Republican Herschel Walker cost more than $470 million, OpenSecrets found.

The 61-year-old Kemp hesitated for months about entering the race, seemingly reluctant to become one of 100 senators after years of charting his own course in executive office. That’s especially true as Trump, who once regarded Kemp as an enemy, stands astride the Republican Party.

Kemp has harbored ambitions to run for president and had faced questions about whether it would be better to do so as a senator or to follow in the footsteps of fellow Georgian Jimmy Carter and run as a successful former governor. Losing a Senate race would probably extinguish such hopes, but staying out could leave the door open to run directly for the White House after he leaves office.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Arrest Made in Disturbing ‘Human Flesh’ Teddy Bear Prank in Southern California

(KTLA) – Authorities have apprehended a suspect after a teddy bear resembling…

District Attorney Criticizes Justice System After 12-Year-Old Faces Murder Charge

() Sam Bregman, district attorney for Bernalillo County, has criticized the New…

Tybee Locals and Business Owners Gather to Oppose Highway 80 Proposal

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. () – Tybee Island residents and business owners orchestrated…

Illinois Treasurer’s Office Achieves Record High Return of Funds in Last Fiscal Year

The Illinois Treasurer’s Office in Springfield is celebrating a landmark year for…

Weather Preparedness Event to be Hosted by Senior P.R.E.P. in Aiken

AIKEN, S.C. () – The City of Aiken and the South Carolina…

Torrential Rains Cause Yard Flooding in North Brevard County Amid Flash Flood Alert

MIMS, Fla. – Rainfall reminded some of a hurricane Tuesday in north…

31 Dogs Saved from ‘Hoarding Situation’ in Highlands County

SEBRING, Fla. (WFLA) — The Humane Society of Highlands County is seeking…

Affordable Housing Solutions for Healthcare Staff Arrive in Bluffton

BLUFFTON, SC () – The Bluffton Town Council is advancing with a…

Watch Live: House GOP Leaders Discuss Budget Cuts and Russian Sanctions

House Republican leaders will brief reporters Tuesday morning following its closed-door meeting,…

Israel Considers Increasing Role in Syria Amid Ceasefire Breakdown

DAMASCUS – Intense fighting erupted once more in the southern Syrian city…

Judge Orders ICE to Release Transgender Asylum-Seeker

Editor’s Note: This story contains discussions of rape or sexual assault that…

Watch: Trump’s UN Ambassador Nominee Waltz Undergoes Senate Confirmation Hearing

Former national security adviser Mike Waltz will testified before the Senate on…