Kemp will not run for U.S. Senate, igniting a GOP scramble in Georgia race

https://www.ajc.com/politics/brian-kemp-will-not-run-for-us-senate-igniting-a-republican-scramble-in-georgia-race/ZX3U4RMYT5BODJJPR7DPAY2W2Q/

Gov. Brian Kemp has decided not to run for U.S. Senate in 2026, dashing the hopes of Republicans in Georgia and Washington who saw him as their strongest shot to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff.

Kemp told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution of his decision Monday after a monthslong pressure campaign from state and national GOP leaders.

“After those discussions, I have decided that being on the ballot next year is not the right decision for me and my family,” he said.
The governor said he told President Donald Trump and senior Senate Republicans that he would help ensure we “have a strong Republican nominee who can win next November, and ultimately be a conservative voice in the U.S. Senate who will put hardworking Georgians first.”

“I am confident we will be united in that important effort,” said Kemp, who could deploy a nationwide political network and an extensive fundraising machine behind another contender.

“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.”

Though some allies of the second-term Republican long doubted he would run, the uncertainty froze for months the race against Ossoff, whom Republicans see as one of the most vulnerable incumbents on the ballot next year.


A new AJC poll reinforced why Kemp was so heavily recruited. He tallied a 60% approval rating and was the only Republican of four in the survey who was neck and neck with Ossoff in a hypothetical matchup.

With Kemp on the sidelines, a scramble is now underway over who will emerge as the GOP nominee in a race that could hinge on Trump, as recent polls show eroding support in Georgia for his agenda.

The decision also leaves open the possibility of a future bid by the 61-year-old Republican for the White House. The governor, who cannot seek a third term, aims to keep his political options open even as he steers clear of a Senate campaign.

Top Republicans made clear they were waiting on Kemp’s decision before launching their own bids. Now, a chain reaction is expected. Some likely contenders have already hired aides, courted donors, met with Trump advisers and taken other quiet steps to lay the groundwork for a campaign. Formal announcements could come quickly.

 

[oh no its pipkun]

Kemp could endorse one of the remaining GOP candidates and the GA GOPe can open their warchest and push that candidate.

But old habits die hard.

 

[Rudolf's Friend]

A new AJC poll reinforced why Kemp was so heavily recruited. He tallied a 60% approval rating and was the only Republican of four in the survey who was neck and neck with Ossoff in a hypothetical matchup.

With Kemp on the sidelines, a scramble is now underway over who will emerge as the GOP nominee in a race that could hinge on Trump, as recent polls show eroding support in Georgia for his agenda.

Here’s why I can tell that the senate and Trump support polls are bullshit, in Ohio during our 2024 senate race the polls all said that Sherrod Brown was far ahead of every Republican candidate competing against him by like 7 or 8 points, and he ended up losing by that amount in the election. These people have no clue what they’re talking about.

 

[Meat Target]

Kemp only won because Stacey Abrams is an astroturfed retard with delusions of importance.

 

[Urban Paradise]

Despite Kemp not running, I still think Ossoff has an uphill battle ahead of him. Ossoff had the advantage of running against Perdue ( who didn't even show up to the debate) in 2020. Despite that, he only won last time by around 1.3 percent. Georgia still leans right, so all the Georgia GOP has to do is run a competent candidate. And considering Trump's approval rating right now, that candidate should probably distance themselves from him. Just focus on the issues and ignore the culture war stuff, and they're set.

 

[Buttigieg2020]

The decision also leaves open the possibility of a future bid by the 61-year-old Republican for the White House.

Oh cool, it’s 2028’s Jeb!

 

[Bonesjones]

Here’s why I can tell that the senate and Trump support polls are bullshit, in Ohio during our 2024 senate race the polls all said that Sherrod Brown was far ahead of every Republican candidate competing against him by like 7 or 8 points, and he ended up losing by that amount in the election. These people have no clue what they’re talking about.

AJC is a leftist rag, they'll say anything to get a Democrat in office.

 

[Lovely Kin]

It's going to be close either way, but I am curious about how this race is going to turn out. If Kemp actually ran, I believe he would have won no matter what since Ossoff is a weak candidate. Curious who runs instead instead of Kemp.

 

[Rudolf's Friend]

It's going to be close either way, but I am curious about how this race is going to turn out. If Kemp actually ran, I believe he would have won no matter what since Ossoff is a weak candidate. Curious who runs instead of Kemp.

A lot of it depends on how much Democrat Billionaire like Reid Hoffman are willing to pump into Ossoff’s campaign. Considering that he is a pro-Israeli Jew I can imagine that will divide the Democrat base a bit.

 

[clipartfan92]

Considering that he is a pro-Israeli Jew I can imagine that will divide the Democrat base a bit.

From a few months ago:
Georgia’s First Jewish Senator Is Losing Jewish Support

 

[Polyboros2]

Kemp only won because Stacey Abrams is an astroturfed retard with delusions of importance.

Kemp and Raffenberger both got their elections rigged in 2022 for participating in the 2020 steal.

He probably is cashing in the RINO pay out ASAP before all the laundered federal money dries up.

 

[Super-Chevy454]

Kemp only won because Stacey Abrams is an astroturfed retard with delusions of importance.

And let's hope there's more astruturfed retards like her.

 

[namelesstacotruck]

From a few months ago:
Georgia’s First Jewish Senator Is Losing Jewish Support

Its why Kemp dropped.

The Georgia GOP is ruled absolutely by Rinos who are the biggest boomers imaginable. They only win because the Maga crowd is very real in Georgia but they hate Trump. They just cant figure out how to win elections without Maga. They do nothing about the continual loss of major areas.

Kemp is a huge backstabber and his organizations goal is a surrendered hand over to the pro Israel faction of the dems. Alot of jewish money is in Atlanta. They prefer Ossof over Maga. They will backstab to keep Ossof in.

Everyone forgets about the election night bullshit that happened in Georgia last year.

 

[Long Time Caller]

I hear Herschel Walker is still available.

 

[GunCar Gary]

And considering Trump's approval rating right now, that candidate should probably distance themselves from him. Just focus on the issues and ignore the culture war stuff, and they're set.

you mean you should listen to those same polls that said Biden still had 37% approval rating even when that debate revealed he was a barely functioning vegetable and that Harris was going to win Iowa by +3 and Trump ended up winning +13 instead? those polls?

yes goyim, give up your ideas of populism and fighting against woke culture that hates you and wants to replace you with poor third world brown people. go back to the real issues like arguing over single digit percentage changes in your tax rates while the government oppresses you and sends all your money to israel and ukraine

 

[George Lucas]

Georgia’s elections come down to how much money the GA Dems have for ballot stuffing.

 

[Urban Paradise]

that Harris was going to win Iowa by +3 and Trump ended up winning +13 instead? those polls?

That Des Moines Register poll was an extreme outlier. The only reason it gained any momentum was because of pollsters' prior accuracy. Overall, most pundits had Iowa going safe red.

yes goyim, give up your ideas of populism and fighting against woke culture that hates you and wants to replace you with poor third world brown people. go back to the real issues like arguing over single digit percentage changes in your tax rates while the government oppresses you and sends all your money to israel and ukraine

Neither Trump nor MAGA is populist in any meaningful way. Trump himself supports H-1B visas. Under Trump's first term, drone strikes surpassed Obama's in the first two years. In his second term, Trump routinely threatens war with Iran and can't even commit to imposing tariffs. He's become unstable and unpredictable. Even Rasmussen Reports has him underwater in some polls. With that said, voters overwhelmingly do not care about culture war bullshit. Their prime concern has always been the economy. They don't feel that visceral hatred over trannies or niggers that you have.

 

[GunCar Gary]

That Des Moines Register poll was an extreme outlier. The only reason it gained any momentum was because of pollsters' prior accuracy.

i, too, am unconcerned with previously accurate pollsters throwing away decades of credibility in order to deceive the general public. surely this has no far reaching consequences and is an isolated incident that definitely is not a sign of other cheating in the election

Trump himself supports H-1B visas. Under Trump's first term, drone strikes surpassed Obama's in the first two years. In his second term, Trump routinely threatens war with Iran and can't even commit to imposing tariffs. He's become unstable and unpredictable.

all of these talking points are either out of date or grossly misrepresenting reality. RINOs and agitators such as yourself will continue to fall behind as long as you let your TDS run everything in your life

 

[Urban Paradise]

RINOs and agitators such as yourself will continue to fall behind as long as you let your TDS run everything in your life

Here's the thing: I actually want Trump to succeed and to stay true to American nationalist principles. The problem is that Trump has a track record of backing down and listening to the nearest NeoCon who is willing to whisper sweet nothings into his ear. While Trump may be incompetent, he is miles better than the alternative, which is maliciously destructive. Now, focusing on the economy goes beyond tax cuts. You could incorporate immigration into the economics discourse. Bring up that mass immigration will only drive up house prices and lower wages, too. The problem isn't only illegal immigration, but legal immigration as well. And the best part, voters care about the immigration issue - it's one of the few issues that the general public agrees with him on.