Kemp, a Republican, was considered a strong potential candidate. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is running for re-election in 2026 in a state Trump carried last year.

Kemp has long been at the top of the GOP’s wish list to challenge Ossoff, whom Republican leaders have made their biggest target in next year’s midterm elections.

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.