Brian Kemp Won’t Run for the US Senate in 2026

The Georgia governor was widely regarded as the leading Republican primary candidate in 2026 to try to unseat Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.).

WASHINGTON—Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has announced that he will not be a candidate in the U.S. Senate election in Georgia in 2026.

A Republican serving his second and final term as governor, Kemp has long been seen as the prime candidate for the Republican nomination in the election.

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), who is seeking reelection, won his Senate seat in 2020, when former Vice President Joe Biden won the state—and the presidential election.

President Donald Trump won the state in 2024. Hence, the GOP views Georgia as a prime battleground to grow its Senate majority during the 2026 midterm congressional elections.

Kemp said he had consulted with many people about the race but decided against running for personal reasons.

“I have had many conversations with friends, supporters, and leaders across the country who encouraged me to run for the US Senate in 2026…[a]fter those discussions, I have decided that being on the ballot next year is not the right decision for me and my family,” Kemp wrote on social media.

Kemp’s profile in federal Republican politics has been largely defined by his relationship with Trump, who endorsed him for the state’s gubernatorial race in 2018, which he narrowly won against former State Rep. Stacey Abrams (D) while serving as Georgia’s secretary of state.

Kemp’s relationship with Trump soured in 2020 when he disagreed with Trump’s challenge of the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state, which Biden won by fewer than 12,000 votes. Kemp was reelected as governor in 2022 by a large margin over Abrams in a rematch after Trump opposed him in the Republican primary.

During the 2024 election, their relationship improved. In his May 5 message regarding the Senate election, Kemp wrote that he had spoken with Trump about the decision and committed to supporting the eventual Republican gubernatorial nominee.

Democrats were gleeful about Kemp dropping out.

“Brian Kemp’s decision to not run for the Senate in 2026 is yet another embarrassing Republican Senate recruitment failure as they face a building midterm backlash,” wrote Maeve Coyle, communications director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), on social media.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which is the DSCC’s counterpart and is responsible for electing Republicans to the U.S. Senate, made no mention of Kemp’s decision in response to the news and indicated confidence about the Georgia race.

“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,” wrote Joanna Rodriguez, the NRSC’s spokesperson, in a statement circulated to multiple news organizations.

Several Republicans in Georgia have been mentioned as possible candidates. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is reported to be interested. A poll conducted by the Trafalgar Group, which is the GOP’s primary polling vendor, showed Greene with 43 percent support in a primary without Kemp—leading the next potential candidate by double-digits.

Greene’s political operation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.