After his term ends, Gov. Brian Kemp announced that he would not run for Senate in 2026. This announcement responded to rumors that he would challenge Jon Ossoff for his seat. Burt Jones responded to the announcement with support and optimism.
Kemp went on X to explain his reasoning in a lengthy comment. Simply put, he believes that running as a candidate would not be the right decision for him or his family.
Kemp came to this conclusion, even after many conversations with people who supported the idea of his running.
In his comment, Kemp mentioned his discussions with President Trump and Republican Senate leaders. They discussed how to support a strong candidate for the upcoming Senate race.
Ultimately, Kemp's goal is to get a strong conservative voice to replace Ossoff. He specified that the candidate would have to prioritize Georgia first.
Kemp concluded, “I am confident we will be united in that important effort, and I look forward to electing the next generation of leaders up and down the ballot here in the Peach State who will keep our state and nation headed in the right direction in 2026 and beyond.”
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones responded on X with support for Kemp’s decision. He also responded with optimism towards Kemp’s commitment to support a new candidate.
Jones credited Kemp with advancing a strong, conservative agenda for Georgia. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with him.
Jones stated, “It’s been an honor working with you, but we still have more to do. I look forward to working closely with you to unite behind a true conservative fighter who can carry the America First torch and defeat Jon Ossoff in 2026.”
Jones is expected to take Kemp’s place as governor by running for the seat in 2026. As for who will run against Ossoff, there are some names floating around. However, it is still up in the air as to who will actually take up the challenge.
