Popular Gop Gov. Brian Kemp Announces Whether He'll Run For Senate In Battleground Georgia

Two-term Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who was nan GOP's apical Senate enlistee successful battleground Georgia successful adjacent year's midterm elections, announced connected Monday that he is passing connected launching a campaign.

"Over nan past fewer weeks, I person had galore conversations pinch friends, supporters, and leaders crossed nan state who encouraged maine to tally for nan U.S. Senate successful 2026. I greatly admit their support and prayers for our family. After those discussions, I person decided that being connected nan ballot adjacent twelvemonth is not nan correct determination for maine and my family," Kemp said successful a societal media post.

The celebrated blimpish governor, who is term-limited and prevented from seeking re-election successful 2026, was nan GOP's dream campaigner to return connected Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is considered vulnerable, arsenic Republicans purpose to grow their 53-47 Senate mostly adjacent year.

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Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia stands for an question and reply pinch Fox News Digital, his first aft being elected Republican Governors Association chair, connected Nov, 20, 2024 connected Marco Island, Florida  (Fox News - Paul Steinhauser)

Ossoff, who is moving for a second, six-year word successful nan Senate aft flipping nan spot pinch a razor-thin triumph successful a January 2021 runoff election, is simply a apical target of nan National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) successful a authorities that President Donald Trump narrowly carried past November.

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"Republicans person a number of beardown candidates who tin build a winning conjugation to adhd this spot to President Trump’s Senate Majority," NRSC communications director Joanna Rodriguez told Fox News successful a statement.

Kemp, successful his societal media post, said that he "spoke pinch President Trump and Senate activity earlier coming and expressed my committedness to activity alongside them to guarantee we person a beardown Republican nominee who tin triumph adjacent November."

Now-President Donald Trump shakes hands pinch Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp aft speaking astatine a impermanent alleviation shelter arsenic he visits areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, successful Evans, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The governor, who had been courted to tally for nan Senate for months, told Fox News Digital successful a February question and reply while he was successful nan mediate of Georgia's legislative session that "I cognize I can't support holding retired forever, truthful we'll person thing to opportunity connected that down nan road."

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Kemp, who is presently chair of the Republican Governors Association, besides emphasized that "we request to flip that seat. We should person a Republican successful that seat, and I judge we'll person 1 aft nan '26 election."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, seen presiding complete a proceeding of nan House Oversight Subcommittee successful nan Capitol connected Feb. 26, 2025 successful Washington, DC., is earnestly considering a tally for Senate aliases politician successful 2026. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

But pinch Kemp retired of nan picture, nan GOP faces nan imaginable of a crowded and perchance divisive superior that could see Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a apical Trump protagonist successful nan House who enjoys monolithic sanction nickname but is seen by pundits arsenic excessively toxic to tribunal important independent voters needed to triumph nan wide election.

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Among nan different Republicans who person expressed liking successful moving if Kemp bowed retired are Reps. Buddy Carter, Mike Collins, and Rich McCormick, and authorities Insurance Commissioner John King.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee highlighted Kemp's announcement.

"Brian Kemp’s determination to not tally for Senate successful 2026 is yet different embarrassing Republican Senate recruitment nonaccomplishment arsenic they look a building midterm backlash wherever each GOP campaigner will beryllium forced to reply for Trump’s harmful agenda. Senate Republicans’ toxic schedule and recruitment failures put their mostly astatine consequence successful 2026," DSCC communications head Maeve Coyle said successful a statement.