Recruiting Governor for Senate

Politically, 2026 promises to be quite a year

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Over the weekend, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who now serves as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, was again asked in an interview if he will challenge first-term Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) next year. As has been his practice, the Governor's response was non-committal.

Looking at the national Senate picture for the 2026 election cycle, we see many sitting or recently term-limited Governors in a similar position to that of Gov. Kemp. In fact, there are a total of seven term-limited state chief executives who could challenge a Senator of the opposite party next year. Presidential aspirations could also play a significant role in determining which Governors might run for the Senate versus those who would want to concentrate on entering what is sure to be an open 2028 presidential race for both parties.

In addition to Governor Kemp, the four Governors attracting the most Senate attention are also the most prominent ones said to be weighing their national prospects. 

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), whose term ends at the beginning of 2026, is in position to challenge Sen. Mark Warner (D). Mr. Youngkin was discussed as a possible Vice Presidential candidate and appears to have the desire to run for President. What he may decide is unclear at this point in time. For the Senate, though he is the best possible candidate for the GOP, Gov. Youngkin would still be at least a slight underdog to Sen. Warner.

Kentucky's Andy Beshear (D) won't leave office until the beginning of 2028, but he would be the best Democratic candidate to enter the now open 2026 Senate race. He has previously said he wouldn't run for the Senate, but has not ruled out running for President. Still, he will be under strong pressure from national Democrats to run for the Senate since he is realistically the only Kentuckian who may be able to deny the Republicans from holding retiring Mitch McConnell's seat.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis (R) is standing for a third term in a Tar Heel State that always features close races, and the 2026 campaign appears as no exception to that electoral pattern. Former Governor Roy Cooper (D) was term-limited in 2024 and has been actively looking at both a Senate and presidential run. Like Gov. Youngkin, Mr. Cooper was also considered as a Vice Presidential running mate. 

Mr. Cooper, of the four Governors with presidential hopes, appears most open to launching a Senate bid. He has said several times that he will make a decision "within a few months."

The Michigan Senate race with Sen. Gary Peters (D) retiring, will become one of the hottest 2026 campaigns. Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) has been commonly associated with a 2028 presidential run. Since, however, Sen. Peters has surprisingly left the Senate seat open, party leaders will certainly attempt to persuade Gov. Whitmer to jump into the race. 

The party hierarchy's argument to her should be bolstered since early 2026 Senate campaign polls find Republican former Congressman and close 2024 Senate finisher Mike Rogers leading ex-US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The latter tops a potential Democratic primary by a spread beyond the polling margin of error.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) cannot seek re-election, but she will draw attention from the national Democratic leaders who are desperately looking to find a credible candidate against first-term Sen. Roger Marshall (R). Though Gov. Kelly has not indicated any interest in the Senate race, nor talked about running for President, it will not escape the party strategists that she would make a race against Sen. Marshall very competitive.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D), her public rift with President Trump notwithstanding, is also term-limited and could challenge Sen. Susan Collins (R). Governor Mills would be 79 years of age to begin a Senate career should she run and win in 2026. Previously, she has deflected questions about her challenging Sen. Collins but, now going to war with President Trump over transgenders in school sports, her desire about entering the federal political ring may be changing. 

In 2020, the Democratic nominee Sara Gideon spent over $64 million to defeat Sen. Collins, not counting millions more in outside spending and led in almost all polling, but she failed to even make the final result close, as Sen. Collins was re-elected with a 50-42% victory margin. Though Gov. Mills would be a stronger candidate, upending Sen. Collins would still be a difficult task.

Many 2026 questions remain to be answered, but it is possible that we could see an abnormally high number of seriously challenged Senate races soon unfolding.

Jim Ellis is a 35-year veteran of politics at the state and national levels. He has served ss executive director for two national political action committees, as well as a consultant to the three national Republican Party organizations in DC, the National Federation of Independent Business, and various national conservative groups.

Born and raised in Sacramento, California, he earned a B. A. in Political Science from the University of California at Davis in 1979. Jim raised his daughter, Jacqueline, alone after his wife died following a tragic car accident. He helped establish the Joan Ellis Victims Assistance Network in Rochester, NH. Jim also is a member of the Northern Virginia Football Officials Association, which officiates high school games throughout the region.

Editor's note:

HOW SOULS AND LIBERTY WILL MOVE FORWARD THE NEXT FOUR YEARS

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Donald Trump is president once again, and his decisions, Cabinet selections, and force of personality are shaping the United States and the world in ways we could only dream of.

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Editor-in-Chief, Souls and Liberty