It was inevitable much of the media would immediately conclude Georgia GOP Gov. Brian Kemp opting out of challenging Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., all but doomed the GOP’s chances of picking up a Senate seat in 2026.
But while the two-term governor was clearly his party’s best candidate, he was by no means its only candidate. As talk that Kemp would pass on a Senate bid increased before his announcement, several other Republican officeholders in the Peach State began to seriously explore Senate races of their own.
A Trafalgar Group poll completed just before Kemp’s announcement showed GOP Rep. Mike Collins in the strongest position of all — trailing Ossoff by only 48% to 43% statewide. Collins, an ally of President Donald Trump and son of the late, much-loved Rep. Mac Collins, is reportedly seriously considering the Senate race.
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