Marjorie Taylor Greene says she won't run for Senate against Jon Ossoff

Georgia politician says helium won't tally for Senate

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says helium won't situation Ossoff for Senate seat 08:00

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced Friday she volition not tally successful adjacent year's Georgia Senate race, a intimately watched contention arsenic Republicans anticipation to eject Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.

"I'm not running," Greene, a Georgia Republican and staunch Trump ally, wrote successful a post connected X that excoriated Senate Republicans, saying she "won't combat for a squad that refuses to win."

Greene's determination came days aft Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who was wide seen arsenic a apical contender for the Senate seat, chose not to seek the Republican information Monday, leaving the superior tract mostly open.

Georgia GOP Rep. Buddy Carter entered the Senate race Thursday, branding himself a "MAGA Warrior" and a adjacent state of President Trump's.

The Georgia spot is important to some parties' Senate ambitions. Republicans are looking to oust Ossoff to grow their 53-47 bulk successful the chamber, portion holding onto the spot could beryllium important to Democrats' efforts to triumph power of the Senate.

Recent elections successful Georgia person been razor-thin, contempt the state's past arsenic a reliably blimpish state. Ossoff won his spot by less than 2 points successful a 2021 Senate runoff. And Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock was reelected by nether 3 points successful 2022.

First elected successful 2020, Greene is 1 of the House Republican caucus' best-known — and astir polarizing — members, known for her heated rhetoric, hard-right views and clashes with her party's leadership. She's besides a prolific fundraiser, and a Trump loyalist: Mr. Trump said successful 2023 helium would "fight similar hell" to elect Greene to the Senate if she chose to run.

But Greene's polling numbers against Ossoff lagged down Kemp's. One hypothetical Atlanta Journal-Constitution canvass from past period showed Ossoff starring her 54%-37%. Kemp, meanwhile, led Ossoff 49%-46% — wrong the 3.1-point borderline of error.

Before making his nationalist announcement, Kemp told Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina — seat of the National Republican Senatorial Committee — helium would not tally for Senate, noting concerns from his family, a root acquainted with the substance told CBS News.

However, Kemp is inactive considering his aboriginal successful the enactment and whitethorn person higher aspirations, according to a elder GOP operative.

Fin Daniel Gómez contributed to this report.