Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) won’t challenge Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) next year, forgoing a polarizing Senate bid that many senior Republicans feared could jeopardize the party’s shot at flipping the seat, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

Said Greene: “Jon Ossoff, you can stop with the fundraising emails and campaign ads claiming I’m your opponent. I’m not running.”

Politico: “Greene’s decision loomed large over the race, with many Democrats salivating over the possibility she’d enter the contest in one of the swingiest of swing states in the nation.”

“Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) became the first prominent Republican to jump into the race against Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), launching his campaign Thursday with a TV ad that casts him as a pro-Donald Trump “MAGA warrior,” the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

“Carter, a six-term Savannah-area incumbent, announced his campaign just days after Gov. Brian Kemp passed on a run, triggering what’s expected to be a GOP free-for-all to challenge the Democrat. About a dozen other Georgia Republicans are also considering bids.”

“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,” NBC News reports.

“There are growing concerns in Georgia GOP circles that if Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene becomes the Republican nominee to take on Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, she could hurt the party’s chances to flip the seat, given her divisive reputation and rhetoric.”

A new Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll in Georgia finds Brian Kemp (R) just ahead of Sen. Jon Ossoff (R) in a possible U.S. Senate match up, 49% to 46%.

However, Ossoff would crush Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) is she were the nominee, 54% to 37%.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is “seriously considering” a run for Senate, and believes she would “crush” a GOP primary contest — that is, if Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp passes on a bid to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, the Daily Caller reports.

“Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) met with Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday as the GOP lobbies the Georgia Republican to run for Senate in 2026,” Axios reports.

“Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) accused Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) of using her name to fundraise, as speculation grows that the third-term Republican will run for the Senate,” Punchbowl News reports.

“Greene, who has openly said she is considering running for statewide office in Georgia, responded to Ossoff’s comments this week suggesting she doesn’t have ‘the guts’ to run for Senate.”

Said Greene: “I just found out he’s been lying to everyone and using my name to fundraise. So he must be having a really hard time raising money, is how I see it.”

A new Cygnal poll shows Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) is deadlocked 44% to 44% against a generic Republican challenger, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

But the numbers shift 52% to 38% in favor of the GOP when voters are told Ossoff “voted to allow men to play in women’s sports if they claim to identify as a woman, taking away opportunities from our girls.”

“Four years ago, Senator Jon Ossoff was sworn in using a book of Hebrew scripture as he proudly became Georgia’s first Jewish senator,” the New York Times reports.

“Now, some of his fellow Jewish Democrats have not only turned on him — they are also encouraging the most formidable Republican who could challenge him in next year’s marquee Senate race, Gov. Brian Kemp, to do just that.”

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) “first ran for office seven years ago with a promise to get under Donald Trump’s skin,” the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

“As he seeks another U.S. Senate term, and the president-elect prepares a return to office, the Democrat is stressing his ability to work across party lines.”

Ossoff says now that he is “actively seeking opportunities” to find common ground with Trump and other Republicans.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) wouldn’t rule out challenging Gov. Brian Kemp (R) in a GOP primary for the U.S. Senate seat in 2026, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

Said Greene: “I haven’t made up my mind whether I will do that or not. I have a lot of things to think about. Am I going to be a part of President Trump’s Cabinet if he wins? Is it possible that I’ll be VP?”

Greene called serving as Trump’s running mate “an honor” and something she would consider “very, very heavily.”

“Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is in Washington this week meeting with Senate Republican leaders — and creating a little buzz for Georgia’s next Senate race,” Politico reports.

“There’s no Senate race in Georgia this cycle, but there is one in 2026 — which just so happens to be when Kemp’s gubernatorial term expires. Kemp won his reelection campaign in 2022 by 7 points. Sen. Jon Ossoff will be up for reelection in 2026.”

A new Atlanta Journal Constitution poll in Georgia finds 58% of voters want to ditch runoffs that lead to seemingly endless election seasons.

Failed Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker (R) “closed the year — after his November general election and December runoff — with more than $5 million in cash on hand,” NBC News reports.

“While those still in office use their leftover cash to fund their political organization and gear up for the next bid, those who lose still have broad leeway in how they can use their leftover money. While they can’t use the money on personal expenses, they can transfer cash to other candidates, PACs or political parties, donate the money to charity, or use the money for another campaign or political purpose.”

NBC News: “The former Heisman Trophy-winning University of Georgia football star was hard to manage and coach, according to campaign staff who didn’t want to publicly speak about his foibles; they noted his poor public speaking skills and penchant for veering off message.”

“Behind the scenes, campaign insiders and their political allies describe a first-time celebrity candidate who was difficult to manage and utterly unprepared for a brutal campaign that would tarnish a once-sterling brand.”

Said one GOP strategist: “This is what you get when you have a candidate who threatened women, stalked them, paid them to have abortions, said crazy things and has an adversarial relationship with the English language.”