Fashionable GOP Gov. Brian Kemp passes on 2026 Senate run in battleground Georgia

[ad_1] Two-term Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who was the GOP's prime Senate recruit in battleground Georgia in subsequent 12 months's midterm elections, introduced on Monday that he's passing on launching a marketing campaign.

"Over the previous couple of weeks, I've had many conversations with pals, supporters, and leaders throughout the nation who inspired me to run for the U.S. Senate in 2026. I vastly recognize their assist and prayers for our household. After these discussions, I've determined that being on the poll subsequent 12 months will not be the suitable choice for me and my household," Kemp stated in a social media submit.

The favored conservative governor, who's term-limited and prevented from looking for re-election in 2026, was the GOP's dream candidate to tackle Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is taken into account susceptible, as Republicans goal to increase their 53-47 Senate majority subsequent 12 months.

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Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia stands for an interview with Fox Information Digital, his first after being elected Republican Governors Affiliation chair, on Nov, 20, 2024 on Marco Island, Florida (Fox Information - Paul Steinhauser)

Ossoff, who's working for a second, six-year time period within the Senate after flipping the seat with a razor-thin victory in a January 2021 runoff election, is a prime goal of the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) in a state that President Donald Trump narrowly carried final November.

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"Republicans have plenty of sturdy candidates who can construct a profitable coalition so as to add this seat to President Trump’s Senate Majority," NRSC communications director Joanna Rodriguez informed Fox Information in an announcement.

Kemp, in his social media submit, stated that he "spoke with President Trump and Senate management earlier immediately and expressed my dedication to work alongside them to make sure we've got a robust Republican nominee who can win subsequent November."

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The governor, who had been courted to run for the Senate for months, informed Fox Information Digital in a February interview whereas he was in the midst of Georgia's legislative session that "I do know I am unable to maintain holding out without end, so we'll have one thing to say on that down the street."

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Kemp, who's presently chair of the Republican Governors Association , additionally emphasised that "we have to flip that seat. We must always have a Republican in that seat, and I imagine we'll have one after the '26 election."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, seen presiding over a listening to of the Home Oversight Subcommittee within the Capitol on Feb. 26, 2025 in Washington, DC., is severely contemplating a run for Senate or governor in 2026. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs)

However with Kemp out of the image, the GOP faces the prospect of a crowded and doubtlessly divisive main that might embrace Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a prime Trump supporter within the Home who enjoys large title recognition however is seen by pundits as too poisonous to court docket essential unbiased voters wanted to win the final election.

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Among the many different Republicans who've expressed curiosity in working if Kemp bowed out are Reps. Buddy Carter, Mike Collins, and Wealthy McCormick, and state Insurance coverage Commissioner John King.

The Democratic Senatorial Marketing campaign Committee highlighted Kemp's announcement.

"Brian Kemp’s choice to not run for Senate in 2026 is one more embarrassing Republican Senate recruitment failure as they face a constructing midterm backlash the place each GOP candidate can be pressured to reply for Trump’s dangerous agenda. Senate Republicans’ poisonous agenda and recruitment failures put their majority in danger in 2026," DSCC communications director Maeve Coyle stated in an announcement.

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter primarily based within the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the marketing campaign path from coast to coast."