Georgia
Gov. Brian Kemp says he won’t run for Georgia Senate seat
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will not seek the GOP nomination in next year’s Georgia Senate race, a key contest for control of Congress’ upper chamber as Republicans look to unseat vulnerable Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.
In a post on X, Kemp said, “Being on the ballot next year is not the right decision for me and my family.”
He added that he spoke with Senate GOP leadership and President Trump and “expressed my commitment to work alongside them to ensure we have a strong Republican nominee who can win next November.”
Kemp led Ossoff 49%-46% in a hypothetical Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll of the 2026 Senate race taken last month, within the 3.1-point margin of error.
The Georgia Senate race is one of next year’s most closely watched contests, and retaining the seat could prove essential to Democrats’ efforts to regain control of the Senate, where Republicans currently hold a 53-47 edge.
Elections in Georgia — once a consistently red state — are perennially close. Ossoff won his Senate seat by under two points in a 2021 runoff against GOP Sen. David Perdue, driven by strong performance in the Atlanta suburbs and among Black voters — helping to cinch the Democrats’ narrow Senate majority. And Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock was reelected by fewer than three points in 2022, beating Trump-backed ex-football star Herschel Walker.
Kemp’s plans for the Senate race were closely watched due to his popularity in the state. The term-limited governor defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams by just 1.4 points in 2018, but improved his margin to 7.5 points in a 2022 rematch against Abrams. Kemp also easily staved off a Trump-backed primary challenge by Perdue in 2022, beating him by over 50 points.
Kemp and Mr. Trump have a rocky relationship, dating back to the governor’s refusal to help the president overturn his narrow 2020 election loss in Georgia. Mr. Trump endorsed Perdue’s primary election, calling Kemp the “WORST Governor in the Country on Election Integrity.” Kemp later endorsed Mr. Trump’s 2024 campaign, and Mr. Trump won back Georgia.
With Kemp out of the race, it’s unclear who will seek to run against Ossoff.
Mr. Trump said in 2023 he would “fight like hell” for Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene if she runs for Senate. The firebrand lawmaker said earlier this year she’s “considering all possibilities” when asked if she will run for statewide office in 2026.
Candidates other than Kemp could face a tougher path: In last month’s Journal-Constitution poll, Ossoff led Greene 54%-37%. The incumbent senator also led Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King 51%-38%, and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger — another Trump foe — 48%-39%.
Gulfstream recently announced a $5 million investment in Georgia education, welcoming students and leaders to its Savannah headquarters.
ATHENS, Ga. – Designated hitter Daniel Jackson and centerfielder Rylan Lujo combined for nine RBI Sunday, leading fifth-ranked Georgia to a 12-1 win over LSU at Foley Field.
Georgia improved to 41-11 overall, 21-6 in the SEC, while LSU dropped to 29-24 overall and 9-18 in conference play.
The Tigers return to action at 6:30 p.m. CT Thursday when they play host to Florida in Game 1 of a three-game SEC series in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. Thursday’s game will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and streamed on SEC Network +.
“Georgia won the moments in this series,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “They’re going to score, so you’ve got to capitalize against them when you have scoring opportunities on offense.”
Georgia starting pitcher Caden Aoki (8-0) was the winner, limiting LSU to one run on four hits in 5.0 innings with two walks and seven strikeouts.
LSU right-hander Casan Evans (2-3), making his first appearance since April 17 versus Texas A&M, started the game Sunday and was charged with the loss, working 1.2 innings and allowing four runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
“I thought Casan’s stuff looked great, and that’s good for him from a health standpoint,” Johnson said. “He’s a guy that the more he pitches, the better he is, so there might have been a little bit of rust, but I thought he competed fine.”
Georgia struck for four runs in the bottom of the second inning in an outburst highlighted by Jackson’s two-out, two-run single and an RBI single by second baseman Ryan Black.
The Tigers narrowed the gap to 4-1 in the third when designated hitter Omar Serna Jr. delivered an RBI single.
Georgia extended its lead to 7-1 in the fourth as Jackson launched a two-run homer and centerfielder Lujo lined a run-scoring single.
Lujo unloaded a grand slam in the fifth, giving the Bulldogs an 11-1 advantage.
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