Georgia Governor Brian Kemp decides against contesting for a prominent seat in the Senate, currently held by Democrats.
Georgia's Republican pie just got a little bit sweeter. With Governor Brian Kemp stepping out of the Senate race in 2023, a handful of hopefuls are jumping at the opportunity to snatch the seat from Democrat Jon Ossoff.
Georgia sits squarely on the Republican radar as they aim to expand their three-seat Senate majority. Alongside Michigan, it's one of two states where Dems are defending a seat in a Trump-winning state. Meanwhile, Senator Gary Peters of Michigan has announced his retirement.
Kemp, serving his second and final term due to term limits, declared in a recent statement that a Senate run wasn't the right move for him and his family. He assured, however, that he would work alongside Republican leadership to support a strong nominee who can win next year.
The absence of Kemp in the race may spark a competitive primary battle against Ossoff, who snagged the seat in a nail-bits January 2021 runoff following the 2020 election. Potential contenders include several members of Georgia's congressional delegation, like Reps Buddy Carter, Rich McCormick, Mike Collins, and Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Greene, the outspoken right-winger, has kept her cards close to her chest, hinting at various options without confirming a Senate run. Among other statewide elected Republicans, Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper and Insurance Commissioner John King are considered serious contenders, though neither has formally declared their candidacy.
Republicans remain confident of flipping the seat, even sans Kemp as their nominee. NRSC spokeswoman Joanna Rodriguez stated, "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."
In a somewhat ironic twist, Ossoff's vocal support for Trump's impeachment becomes a campaign issue for his opponents. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, on the other hand, views Kemp's decision as another embarrassing recruitment failure and a sign of their majority being at risk in 2026.
Kemp's decision to not run for re-election as governor in 2024 may come as a relief to some, as his electoral victory in 2022 by nearly 8 percentage points, in a race against Democrat Stacey Abrams, showed he was able to maintain support from the party's conservative base amidst containing a primary challenge from Trump-endorsed former Senator David Perdue who vowed to campaign against him.
In the context of Georgia's political landscape, the insurance commissioner, John King, is being considered a serious contender for the Senate seat in the 2023 race, indirectly connecting insurance and politics. Additionally, the general news about the upcoming Senate races includes the potential impact of Senator Gary Peters' retirement in Michigan on the balance of power, suggesting a connection between politics and general news.
