Georgia Governor Brian Kemp finds himself at the center of intense speculation as Republicans eye him as their best shot at flipping a key Senate seat in 2026.
With Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) up for re-election, the GOP sees Kemp as a candidate who could clear the field, unite the party, and present the strongest challenge to the first-term Democrat.
Kemp, a two-term governor, has yet to signal his intentions, but that hasn’t stopped Republican strategists and donors from making their case. As conservative commentator Erick Erickson put it, “It’s kind of the parlor game in Georgia right now.”
During a recent interview with conservative radio host Martha Zoller, Kemp remained noncommittal, emphasizing that his focus is on his current role and legislative priorities.
🚨 Republicans poised to FLIP the Georgia Senate seat in 2026 – new poll…
🔴 Brian Kemp: 49% (+7)
🔵 Jon Ossoff: 42%Tyson Group | 600LV pic.twitter.com/YSfTLi9FSh
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 13, 2025
“I tell people, Martha, my focus right now is on my day job,” Kemp said. “I got two responsibilities outside my family and my business, and that is, number one is I’m the governor of the great state of Georgia.”
However, while Kemp downplayed any immediate political moves, he did take the opportunity to remind listeners of his role in Georgia’s elections last cycle—particularly his work helping House candidates and supporting President Donald Trump’s campaign in the state.
That track record is precisely why national Republicans, including Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), are pushing Kemp to run. Scott, who chairs the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, recently told Semafor that the GOP is “looking for a way to make our No. 1 recruit a senator” and called Kemp “the best candidate in Georgia we’ve had for a very long time.”
The numbers back that up. A poll from the conservative Club for Growth last month tested various hypothetical match-ups against Ossoff, and Kemp was the only Republican who came out ahead.
