ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Outgoing Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced Monday he is not running for U.S. Senate.

“Over the last few weeks, I have had many conversations with friends, supporters, and leaders across the country who encouraged me to run for the US Senate in 2026,” Kemp said. “I greatly appreciate their support and prayers for our family.

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

“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.

“I am confident we will be united in that important effort, and I look forward to electing the next generation of leaders up and down the ballot here in the Peach State who will keep our state and nation headed in the right direction in 2026 and beyond,” Kemp said.

Kemp had been rumored to be a possible Republican challenger to U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, the Georgia Democratic incumbent who made his reelection campaign official in March.

Last month, two prominent GOP US senators - Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and Tim Scott of South Carolina - flew to Atlanta to meet Kemp for lunch. Scott is chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

The two-term Georgia governor is riding a legislative and political wave of success in recent weeks. Last month, Kemp signed Georgia’s largest income tax cut in history, a measure his office says will deliver more than $1 billion in tax cuts and relief.

Days later, Kemp added another notch to his belt of legislative victories when he signed the state’s historic attempt to rein in what his supporters call frivolous and excessive jury awards.

So far, no GOP candidate has stepped up to challenge Ossoff, whose Georgia U.S. Senate seat is seen as a priority for Republicans to pick up in 2026.

“As we’ve said for the past few months, Sen. Ossoff is well-prepared to defeat any challenger,” said Ossoff campaign manager Ellen Foster. “As Republicans scramble in the aftermath, our campaign will continue to build insurmountable momentum needed to win next November.”

“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, spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

With Kemp’s two terms ending next year, Georgia’s 2026 governor’s race is wide open. So far, Republican Attorney General Chris Carr and Democratic Atlanta state Sen. Jason Esteves are the only announced candidates.

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