Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) has opted not to run for the U.S. Senate in Georgia’s 2026 election, a decision that could reshape the GOP’s path to unseating Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and trigger a high-stakes Republican primary.

Kemp, a popular Republican, has decided against a run, after sitting down last month with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC). 

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The Governor wrote on X he won’t run for Senate in 2026, citing personal reasons, but pledged to support the GOP in finding and backing a strong, conservative candidate who can win.

“After those discussions, I have decided that being on the ballot next year is not the right decision for me and my family,” he said.

Kemp said he assured Trump and Senate leaders he’ll help rally behind a strong GOP nominee in 2026 and is committed to electing conservative leaders across the ballot in Georgia.

“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,” he wrote.

The U.S. Senate is proving a tough sell for governors this cycle, with Kemp joining New Hampshire’s Chris Sununu and Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer in passing on high-profile 2026 races, despite pressure from party leaders.

For weeks, Republicans in Georgia and Washington quietly signaled that Kemp was leaning against entering the race. The Governor vaulted from underdog to governor in 2018, defeating Democrat Stacey Abrams in a nationally watched race. He led Georgia through the COVID-19 pandemic and weathered intense criticism from President Trump following the 2020 election.

“It’s unfortunate Kemp has chosen not to run, but his career has been so impressive so I can’t imagine why he would have decided to run for Senate, which is why so many of us had been making it clear it was unlikely he was going to get into the race.” said a Georgia Republican operative familiar with Senate campaigns.

Kemp’s refusal to intervene in the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 win in Georgia strained his relationship with Trump, making him a regular target of the president’s criticism. But the rift has softened in recent years, Kemp appeared alongside Trump during the 2024 campaign and even welcomed him at a recent Republican Governors Association meeting. Still, it was uncertain whether Trump would back Kemp if he chose to run for Senate.

“There’s also the question of whether Trump would have endorsed Kemp if he had decided to run and I know that could have been a major black eye,” the GOP operative added.

Many in the GOP viewed Kemp as their most formidable contender to take on Ossoff. A recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution survey found the two essentially tied, with results falling within the margin of error. With Trump winning Georgia by roughly two points last November, the state remains a key battleground for Republicans heading into the midterms.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is attempting to spin the latest development, focusing on Ossoff’s recent comments in which he express support for impeach President Trump.

“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 Joanna Rodriguez, Communications Director for NRSC.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is casting Kemp’s decision as a high-profile recruitment setback for Republicans, highlighting what they see as growing struggles to field strong candidates.

“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 Maeve Coyle, Communications Director for DSCC “Senate Republicans’ toxic agenda and recruitment failures put their majority at risk in 2026.”

Georgia is one of Republicans’ best Senate pickup opportunities, and now a competitive GOP primary is already beginning to unfold.

Several Georgia Republicans have been positioning themselves for a possible Senate run even before Kemp announced his decision. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) has hinted he might enter the race if Kemp steps aside, while Reps. Rich McCormick (R-GA) and Mike Collins (R-GA) told Fox News they are keeping their options open. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has not ruled out a run, either.

In February, state Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper shared on X that he met with the NRSC, and Insurance Commissioner John King told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last year that he would seriously consider a campaign — but only if Kemp chooses not to run. Some are encouraging freshman Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA) to pursue a run, including Trump, according to a source familiar.

GOP operatives in the state are already gearing up for what is expected to be a fiercely competitive contest with the absence of a clear frontrunner.

“I’d rather fight 100 gorillas myself than sit through all the ads Georgia voters are going to see for the next year,” said a Republican strategist based in Georgia.