The first time I interviewed Buddy Carter, he was handing out medicine as a small-town pharmacist in Pooler, Georgia. Today, he’s handing out campaign promises as he launches what may be the most significant political challenge of his career – a bid to unseat Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in 2026.
“I’ve served Georgians at every level of government, from city council to Congress. Now, it’s time to bring Georgia values to the Senate,” Carter told me during an exclusive interview at his campaign headquarters in Savannah. The six-term congressman’s announcement ends months of speculation about his political future.
Carter’s entry creates an early high-profile contest for a Senate seat that Democrats narrowly captured in 2021’s special election runoff. Ossoff, then 33, became the youngest senator elected since Joe Biden in 1973, winning by just 55,000 votes statewide.
Political observers view Carter as the Republican establishment’s preferred candidate, though the primary field remains unsettled. “Congressman Carter brings strong name recognition in coastal Georgia, but he’ll need to expand that footprint into metro Atlanta,” notes Dr. Charles Bullock, political science professor at the University of Georgia.
The race highlights Georgia’s continued evolution as a battleground state. Once reliably Republican, Georgia has elected two Democratic senators and supported President Biden in 2020 by the narrowest of margins – just 11,779 votes.
I’ve covered Georgia politics for nearly two decades, watching this transformation firsthand. The suburban voters who once formed the backbone of Republican strength have become increasingly competitive, while rural Georgia remains deeply conservative.
Carter’s campaign strategy appears focused on economic concerns and border security. “Georgians are struggling with higher prices while Washington Democrats push radical policies that make life harder for working families,” he stated in his announcement video.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee immediately endorsed Carter’s candidacy. “Congressman Carter has proven he can win tough races and represent Georgia values,” said NRSC Chairman Kevin Cramer in a statement provided to Epochedge.com.
Ossoff enters the race with significant advantages – most notably a formidable fundraising operation that raised over $140 million in his 2020-21 campaign, according to Federal Election Commission data. His campaign account already contains $8.3 million cash-on-hand, giving him a substantial early financial advantage.
When reached for comment, Ossoff’s spokesperson Kate Feldman provided a brief statement: “Senator Ossoff remains focused on delivering results for Georgians, not politics. His work securing funding for Georgia’s ports, veterans’ healthcare, and rural broadband speaks for itself.”
The timing of Carter’s announcement appears strategic. Declaring candidacy 18 months before election year allows ample time for fundraising and coalition-building. It also potentially deters other high-profile Republicans from entering the race.
Recent polling from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows Ossoff with a 48% approval rating statewide, slightly above Georgia’s partisan baseline. The same survey found 52% of Georgians believe the country is “on the wrong track” – a potential opening for Republican challengers.
Carter’s congressional record reveals consistent conservative positions on social and economic issues. He’s maintained a 94% voting alignment with House Republican leadership according to Congressional Quarterly voting analysis.
The biggest challenge for Carter may be navigating an increasingly complex Republican primary electorate. “The GOP base expects candidates who embrace Trump’s agenda, while the general election requires appealing to moderate suburban voters,” explains Ashley Kirzinger, Associate Director for Public Opinion at the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Georgia’s changing demographics further complicate the electoral landscape. The state’s voting-eligible population has grown 11% since 2020, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, with much of that growth concentrated in urban and suburban counties.
For perspective, I spoke with former Georgia Senator Saxby
