After spearheading a series of conservative victories as the top dog in Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp faces intense pressure from Washington Republicans to get into the 2026 race for U.S. Senate.
The head of the Senate GOP’s campaign arm has called Mr. Kemp his No. 1 recruit, convinced he poses the biggest threat to Democratic incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff in the 2026 elections.
“There is a pressure campaign strong enough to turn coal into diamond, pushing him to get in because the numbers are so clear,” said Brian Robinson, a Georgia-based GOP strategist.
Mr. Kemp’s decision hangs over the race, freezing the field of other possible Republican contenders while he weighs a possible 2028 presidential campaign against running next year to have little influence in the Senate hierarchy.
Governors across the country find themselves in similar situations, mulling whether they could adjust to life in the Senate — a body that George Allen, who went from Virginia governor to U.S. senator, lamented moved at the “pace of a wounded sea slug.”
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu also are considered top-tier GOP recruits. Mr. Sununu told The Washington Times this week he is giving a run another look.
On the Democratic side, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer quickly announced she was passing on the chance to replace Sen. Gary Peters after he announced he was not seeking reelection.
Ms. Whitmer appears to be set on running for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky is in a similar boat.
Mr. Beshear has signaled no interest in running for the Senate next year after learning Sen. Mitch McConnell, the longtime GOP leader, planned to quit at the end of his term.
Democrats are still hoping that former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will run to unseat Sen. Tom Tillis, perhaps the most vulnerable Senate Republican.
Mr. Sununu, who has passed up previous opportunities to run for the Senate, said governors elected to the Senate are often nostalgic about their former gig.
“There’s never been a governor that’s become a senator and said it was better being a senator,” Mr. Sununu said.
Instead of calling the shots daily and regularly interacting with voters, senators must spend a chunk of time traveling back and forth to Washington, where they must wait to accrue legislative power and are typically expected to fall in line behind the party’s most seasoned leaders.
“The Senate is definitely considered the B team in terms of public service,” Mr. Sununu said. “That doesn’t mean it’s not worth running for. It doesn’t mean it’s not worth your time if you can still deliver for that institution.”
Analysts say the dynamic applies to Mr. Kemp more than most governors because he has benefited from the “strong governor” system in Georgia, making him more powerful than many of his colleagues nationwide.
He has signed hundreds of bills and driven the legislative debate this year with his calls for tort reform.
“Governors get accustomed to waking up in the morning, having an idea, and putting a project in motion immediately. They are able to enact changes. They are able to get laws passed, and they see Congress as a place that is a bunch of theatrics with very few accomplishments,” Mr. Robinson said.
“To go from being the No. 1 executive to the most junior senator in a body of 100 is not very appealing,” he said.
Mr. Ossoff is now considered the most vulnerable incumbent Senate Democrat following retirement announcements in Michigan, Minnesota and New Hampshire.
According to a January poll from the conservative Club for Growth, Mr. Kemp is Mr. Ossoff’s most formidable opponent.
Mr. Kemp led Mr. Ossoff among likely voters by 46% to 40% in a hypothetical matchup, while 14% remained on the fence.
Mr. Ossoff held double-digit leads over other potential rivals — including Reps. Buddy Carter, Mike Collins, Rich McCormick, and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
The survey did not include Rep. Brian Jack and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, a former member of Georgia’s congressional delegation, both of whom could give the race a look — particularly if Mr. Kemp takes a pass.
Democrats remain bullish about his reelection chances
“Sen. Ossoff is a workhorse for his state and will defeat whoever Republicans nominate to run in a tough year for their party,” said David Bergstein, spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the campaign arm for Senate Democrats.
Republicans contend that Mr. Ossoff’s stance on issues such as transgender athletes in women’s sports and illegal immigration have hurt him politically.
“Jon Ossoff is a Democrat with extreme and reckless policies,” said Nick Puglia, spokesperson for the National Republican Sentatorial Committee, the campaign arm for the Senate GOP.
