GA Senate 2026: Kemp officially OUT (so is MTG)

[Existing in the context]

Welp

[Oryxslayer]

He's the AJC's piece on Kemp's refusal. However, every site is carrying the news cause it's big, the previously wide open door now slides almost fully shut.

I think a title change or edit is in order

[GeorgiaModerate]

Title updated.

This is now Likely D; Safe D if MTG is the Republican nominee.

[Ferguson97]

Excellent news. Congratulations to Senator Ossoff on his re-election.

[JMT]

https://twitter.com/jordainc/status/1919460406122152227?s=46&t=-r8JGlJno4tbL...

[These birds not meant to fly alone]

Fantastic news. Ossoff should cruise to re-election now, which means he will also be in good position to run for President in 2028.

[Devils30]

No chance Ossoff loses now, this is likely D.

[somco]

if Ossoff wins by the margins he’s currently polling at, I don’t see how party leaders aren’t flat-out begging him to run for president by 2027 lol

[Skill and Chance]

Brad Raffensperger signals he's eyeing a 2026 campaign
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/politics/the-georgia-vote/georgia-secretary-brad-raffensperger-teases-2026-campaign/85-7e8f1370-147a-4136-9206-25ad37a5692d

Well that's a tea leaf against the potential of a Kemp entry, I have a hard time seeing the two run against each other...or anyone prominent really go against Kemp. But who can say beyond the man himself at this stage.

Brad Raffensberger will run for Governor to succeed Kemp. That's the most obvious choice for him and he will dispatch Stacey Abrams.

It looks like everybody getting around Carr with Jones leading the MAGA opposition. He probably just going run for reelection.

Raffensperger? Idk, doubt he runs for reelection. He probably wants to be Governor or Senator, and realistically, this is his probably his last chance to do so. He’ll be 71 in 2026.

Would Raffensperger have the wealth/donors/connections to seriously run as an independent for governor or senator?  That would seem to be his best path because he likely has no chance in an R primary.  Probably makes the most sense for governor if the runoff could give him a clean 1-on-1 with the Dem.

Or (if it's for governor), he might really lean into "I stood up to Trump" and displace the Dem, going into a runoff with a committed MAGA R? 

In any event, GA's electoral system makes this uniquely intriguing, because all an Independent has to do is make the runoff and they automatically win on negative partisanship in this era.

[Eastern Washington Democrat]

Kemp is officially out

[wbrocks67]

Fantastic news. Ossoff should cruise to re-election now, which means he will also be in good position to run for President in 2028.

This. This basically guarantees Ossoff wins next year, and that's already great news for a possible 2028 prez campaign. He's definitely my dark horse candidate.

Ossoff bros we are so back

[Joe Biden 2028]

Fantastic news. Ossoff should cruise to re-election now, which means he will also be in good position to run for President in 2028.

Only if Democrats win the governor race in 2026

[here2view]

Likely D. Now let's win the Governor election.

[Joe Biden 2028]

I don't think MTG runs for senate. Even the craziest people value job security. Why would she give up her safe house seat for a senate race that is a toss up at best for her? GA's 14th district is one of the reddest in the nation. She got 75% in 2020

[wbrocks67]

Fantastic news. Ossoff should cruise to re-election now, which means he will also be in good position to run for President in 2028.

Only if Democrats win the governor race in 2026

Huh? What does that have to do with Ossoff running in 2028?

[Compuzled_One]

Excellent. Unless McCormick or Raffensberger jump in, or something insane happens, Ossoff should win.

[These birds not meant to fly alone]

Fantastic news. Ossoff should cruise to re-election now, which means he will also be in good position to run for President in 2028.

Only if Democrats win the governor race in 2026

Huh? What does that have to do with Ossoff running in 2028?

I would assume it's because the next Governor would pick Ossoff's replacement in the Senate.

[インターネット掲示板ユーザー Punxsutawney Phil]

Kemp is officially out

A great outcome for both Kemp and Ossoff.

[Atlas Force]

https://twitter.com/UgaritNoosphere/status/1919466276734243271

[South Dakota Democrat]

Fantastic news. Ossoff should cruise to re-election now, which means he will also be in good position to run for President in 2028.

Only if Democrats win the governor race in 2026

Huh? What does that have to do with Ossoff running in 2028?

It has pretty much everything to do with it, given the Senate seat.

[Nyvin]

They're actually going to nominate MTG, aren't they?

[Joe Biden 2028]

Fantastic news. Ossoff should cruise to re-election now, which means he will also be in good position to run for President in 2028.

Only if Democrats win the governor race in 2026

Huh? What does that have to do with Ossoff running in 2028?

Ossoff can't run for President in 2028 unless a Democratic governor wins in 2026. Its the same reason Sherrod Brown didn't run for President in 2020.

[Raccoon]

He probably realizes it will be harder for him than youd think on paper.

Though id suspect he could narrowly squek by ossof hypothetically.

[GAinDC]

I think this decision was less about political headwinds and more about protecting his family.

I don't think anyone in that family would want to engage in the Trump groveling and humiliation rituals that would be  required of a Republican candidate in a key Senate race next year. And even if he did all that, he still might have lost with his reputation and self-respect shattered.

[Existing in the context]

He probably realizes it will be harder for him than youd think on paper.

Though id suspect he could narrowly squek by ossof hypothetically.

The trend line was against him and his lead was pretty narrow given his favorables. Ossoff would've taken the lead next summer and win without a runoff.