Representative Buddy Carter became the first Republican to enter the primary field to take on Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia, one of the nation’s most vulnerable Democrats.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to pass on a Senate bid has top Republican officials scrambling to find a backup plan and avoid a divisive primary — or, at the very least, one divisive candidate.

The Georgia Senate race will be one of the most competitive in the 2026 election cycle as a challenger emerges for Democrat Jon Ossoff.