Brian Kemp does not run for the Senate in Georgia and gives Ossoff a lift

GEORGIA Government Brian Kemp has decided to walk for the Senate in 2026 and to rob Republicans of their top potential recruit against Senator Jon Ossoff, who is seen as the most vulnerable democrat in the room on the mood next year.

Mr. Kemp is a popular governor of two periods that won re -election in 2022 Despite a primary challenge Feeded by President Trump, who publicly stewed about Mr. Kemp’s refusal to spoil his false claims that the 2020 elections were fraudulent.

Top Republicans had nevertheless tried to pursue Mr Kemp in the Senate race, with senators John Thune, the majority leader, and Tim Scott, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Make a recent visit. Polls had shown that he would have been a formidable challenger for Mr. Ossoff, who won the elections in 2020.

“I decided that next year is the mood, not the right decision for me and my family,” Mr. Kemp wrote on x On Monday, saying that he had spoken with Mr Trump that day about his decision, as well as with the leadership of the Senate.

The news of Mr. Kemp’s decision comes when he is collected with supporters and donors in Sea Island, Ga., For a three -day retreat in which top donors were asked to give no less than $ 100,000 to serve as a ‘executive chairman’.

Mr. Kemp’s complicated relationship with Mr. Trump had loomed a potential run.

Mr. Trump publicly attacked Mr. Kemp in 2024 during campaign in Georgia – called him “Little Brian Kemp” – and publicly complained about Mr. Kemp’s wife who also does not support him. “Leave my family out,” “Mr. Kemp responded.

Mr. Kemp and Mr. Trump eventually appeared together And their relationship improved. But the governor has never been concerned with the kind of performative crawls that so many other republicans have done to stay in the good graten of the president.

Mr Ossoff was collected $ 11 million in the first quarter of 2025 to prepare for what is expected to be one of the toughest races in the country next year. He was not removed from criticizing Mr Trump, despite running in a state that the president won in 2025 and accused him of “authoritarian impulses” and a “desire to rule as a king”.

“This country was established on a rejection of kings, and my opinion is that the American people are not interested in this new experiment in the monarchy that this president is trying to impose on,” ” He said recently.

Various prominent Georgia Republicans were able to run, especially with Mr. Kemp from the race. The list contains representative Marjorie Taylor Greene; John King, The insurance commissioner; and Tyler Harper, the agricultural commissioner, that posted a photo of himself In February at the offices of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.