Overview

• Six-term Congressman Buddy Carter has officially announced his candidacy for Georgia's 2026 U.S. Senate race, challenging Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff.
• Carter's campaign emphasizes his alignment with Donald Trump, branding himself as a 'MAGA warrior' in his launch ad and criticizing Ossoff's stances on immigration and transgender athletes in sports.
• The Cook Political Report rates Georgia's Senate race as a toss-up, highlighting its significance for control of the U.S. Senate in 2026.
• Carter's decision to run follows Governor Brian Kemp's announcement that he would not seek the Senate seat, reshaping the Republican primary landscape.
• His Senate bid leaves his Coastal Georgia House seat open, with Kandiss Taylor already declared as a candidate to succeed him.