Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is passing on a bid for US Senate, delivering a major blow to GOP leaders who have spent months trying to lure him into vying for one of their biggest targets of the midterms.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp was the Senate GOP’s “No. 1 recruit” for the 2026 election cycle. The Republican governor said no anyway.

ATLANTA (AP) — Brian Kemp, Georgia’s Republican governor, announced Monday that he’s not running for U.S. Senate in 2026 against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff.

Jared Curtis, the No. 4 quarterback recruit for the 2026 class according to 247Sports, recommitted to Georgia on 247Sports' YouTube channel and ending a tight recruiting battle with Oregon. Curtis originally committed to Georgia in March 2024 but backed off this past October;