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.

Representative Buddy Carter became the first Republican to enter the primary field to take on Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia, one of the nation’s most vulnerable Democrats.

Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter became the first high-profile Republican to announce a challenge to vulnerable Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.