Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) launched his campaign to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2026, making him the first Republican to jump in the battleground race. Carter billed himself as a “MAGA warrior” in his campaign announcement video released on Thursday.

Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter has positioned himself to be the first Republican challenger against Sen. Jon Ossoff in the upcoming Senate race. Carter has represented Georgia's first congressional district since 2015.

The Georgia Senate race will be one of the most competitive in the 2026 election cycle as a challenger emerges for Democrat Jon Ossoff.