Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King has launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate, joining a growing field of Republicans aiming to unseat Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff in the 2026 midterm elections, according to a report from AM Best.
King is the second GOP candidate to enter the race, following U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, who announced his campaign on May 8. Carter represents Georgia’s 1st Congressional District.
King has served as an insurer in Georgia since 2019, when he was appointed to replace Jim Beck. Beck was suspended after being indicted on embezzlement charges related to his time at the Georgia Underwriting Association.
He was later convicted of taking more than $2 million and sentenced in 2023 to more than six years in prison. King was elected to a full term in 2022 and became the first Hispanic candidate in Georgia history to win statewide office.
King’s tenure
During his tenure, King has overseen regulatory matters involving insurance carriers, agents and fire safety across the state.
His office has been responsible for managing responses to severe weather events, addressing market disruptions, and overseeing insurance fraud investigations, according to the report.
His background includes policy oversight across the property/casualty and health insurance sectors, as well as engagement with the broader risk and reinsurance communities.
He has also participated in national insurance regulatory forums and has worked with industry stakeholders on issues such as affordability and access to coverage.
Born in Mexico, King immigrated to the US at age 17 and later joined the Army National Guard. He retired in 2023 with the rank of major general after deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Africa and the U.S.–Mexico border.
He also brings four decades of law enforcement experience, beginning as an officer with the Atlanta Police Department and later serving as police chief of Doraville.
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, John King’s statement
In a statement, King shared: “He’s California’s third senator, not Georgia’s senior senator.
“I’ve led troops in combat, been blown up by an IED in Iraq and been shot and stabbed in the line of duty as a cop. A tough campaign doesn’t scare me; giving Jon Ossoff six more years in the Senate does.”
If elected, King would join a small group of former insurance commissioners who have moved on to serve in Congress.
A campaign for the US Senate has been launched by Georgia’s Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner: Summary
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King has announced he is launching a campaign for the US Senate.
King would join a small group of former insurance commissioners who have served in Congress if he were to be successful.
