Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says he is passing on running for the senate in next year's midterm elections, a blow to Republicans who spent months courting him to challenge Democratic incumbent.

The popular two-term governor of Georgia had been seen as the strongest potential Republican challenger to Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat.

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.