Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s (R) decision to pass on a Senate challenge to Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) is setting off a scramble among Republicans ahead of one of the most crucial races in next year’s midterms.

Republicans were intent on recruiting the popular governor, who would have likely entered the race with an edge against Ossoff, a first-term incumbent who scored an upset victory in 2021 in a state President Trump would go on to win by a few points in last year’s election.

Kemp’s surprise decision not to run dealt a blow to the party and has left it without a clear nominee, with some Republicans acknowledging the party’s path to flipping the seat has gotten trickier.

“They are in shambles,” said one Georgia Republican operative, when asked about the party’s mood since the Kemp announcement.

“Nothing makes me optimistic. I mean … this is a red state if you have the right candidate and if you have the right national mood,” the operative said. “And I'm just looking at this going, like, not going to have the right candidate, national mood is bad.”

Kemp’s announcement has left the door wide open for other Republicans. Among those who have stirred speculation that they might announce Senate bids are Reps. Buddy Carter, Rich McCormick, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Collins, in addition to Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King and Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger.

Raffensberger and Greene might also run for governor.

Recent polling had shown Kemp to be a formidable candidate against Ossoff. A survey released by The Atlantic Journal-Constitution, which was conducted by University of Georgia’s School of Public & International Affairs Survey........

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