Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to pass on a Senate bid has top Republican officials scrambling to find a backup plan and avoid a divisive primary — or, at the very least, one divisive candidate.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp was widely seen as the favorite to challenge Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., on the Republican ticket, potentially widening GOP control of the Senate. The governor said, however,

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will not challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in one of next year's most closely watched contests.