On Monday, Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp announced that he will not run to unseat Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) in the 2026 election.
Polls had shown Kemp, who is term-limited and cannot seek a third term as governor next year, neck-and-neck if not ahead of Ossoff in a prospective match-up. But Kemp said in a post on X that he would pass on a campaign despite being pushed to enter the contest by fellow Republicans.
“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 US Senate in 2026. I greatly appreciate their support and prayers for our family,” Kemp shared. “After those discussions, I have decided that being on the ballot next year is not the right decision for me and my family.”
President Donald Trump has periodically criticized Kemp for matters related to the 2020 presidential election over the past several years. However, Kemp ended up endorsing Trump in the 2024 election. Trump even praised Kemp as “fantastic” back in February. Whatever their relationship may be now, Kemp said he conversed with Trump before making his announcement.
“I 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, and ultimately be a conservative voice in the US Senate who will put hardworking Georgians first,” Kemp said. “I am confident we will be united in that important effort, and I look forward to electing the next generation of leaders up and down the ballot here in the Peach State who will keep our state and nation headed in the right direction in 2026 and beyond.”
Republicans currently have a 53-47 majority in the Senate. They also narrowly control the House.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), a group dedicated to electing GOP members to the upper chamber, shrugged off Kemp deciding not to run against Ossoff.
“While Jon Ossoff is running to impeach President Trump, Republicans have a number of strong candidates who can build a winning coalition to add this seat to President Trump’s Senate Majority,” said NRSC spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez.
Other members of the GOP who are considering a run for Senate or are seen as potential contenders include Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Rich McCormick (R-GA), and Mike Collins (R-GA), as well as Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) also released a statement on Kemp neglecting to campaign for Ossoff’s Senate seat.
“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,” said DSCC spokesperson Maeve Coyle. “Senate Republicans’ toxic agenda and recruitment failures put their majority at risk in 2026.”
Some in the political sphere have speculated that Kemp might compete for the presidency in 2028.
“I’ve never met a senator, who first was a governor, claim the senate was a good job. If anything, the former governors hate the place the most. If Kemp made one call to a former gov serving in the senate, I’m sure he was dissuaded. That said, might be worth adding Kemp to the WH ‘28 list,” journalist Chuck Todd said on X.
