ATLANTA — The field in the next election for U.S. Senate in Georgia just shrank.
John King, one of the two Republicans who declared his candidacy to unseat Democratic incumbent John Ossoff next year, has suspended his campaign.
“Right now it’s clear there’s little path forward to the nomination,” King said on social media site X Thursday.
The retired major general in the U.S. Army National Guard and former police chief was the first GOP official elected statewide to join the race. Elected Georgia’s insurance and safety fire commissioner three years ago, King announced in May that he would challenge U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter of St. Simons in the Senate GOP primary.
Carter had jumped into the race days after Gov. Brian Kemp announced he would not be running against Ossoff, opening the Republican primary.
The names of other potential GOP candidates have been tossed around, but so far no one else has stepped up to challenge Carter.
King was already behind on campaign fundraising. He and Carter reported gathering a similar amount from donors in their April through June federal filings, but Carter loaned his own campaign another couple million dollars, putting him well ahead of King.
Neither could match Ossoff’s fundraising prowess. The Democrat collected more than $10 million during that same period, ending the second quarter with over $15 million.
More Republicans could jump in, including college and pro football coach Derek Dooley. The son of legendary Bulldogs coach Vince Dooley is rumored to be favored by Kemp.
King, meanwhile, will run for re-election to his state post.