A Georgia Republican with a habit of outrunning his party's statewide nominees says he would be foolish not to consider a 2028 Senate bid.
Rep. Rich McCormick is openly weighing a run against Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, telling The Gateway Pundit in an exclusive interview that his electoral record makes him a natural contender. The potential matchup could become one of the most consequential races in the country for control of the U.S. Senate.
McCormick framed himself as a proven vote-getter in a battleground that has drifted leftward in recent cycles. He also told Just the News that "I would literally be unpatriotic to not consider" the race.
McCormick's political career began with a near miss. He first ran for Congress in 2020 in Georgia's 7th Congressional District, narrowly losing to Democrat Carolyn Bourdeaux.
Two years later, after redistricting, he ran in the newly drawn 6th District and won his first term. He has since established himself as a rising conservative voice in Washington.
Reflecting on the 2020 cycle, McCormick recalled the tight Senate contest between Warnock and then-Sen. Kelly Loeffler. "When you look at the last three elections, when Warnock first beat Kelly Loeffler in a very, very close race, it was down to a percentage. That was when, before I even came into office," McCormick said.
He then described his own experience that year. "We ran that general. We were told we won that night, and then we were told at 2:00 AM we lost that race."
"But we outperformed Loeffler by three points when she lost by less than a point," McCormick continued. "That's the first time I ever ran. Was very close."
McCormick went on to argue that his performance has consistently exceeded that of other Republicans on the ballot. "The next election cycle, Warnock had to run again because he was in a special, right? He went against Herschel Walker, who lost by 1.7%."
"We outperformed Herschel by 14 points," he added, highlighting the gap between his results and those of the Senate nominee. Walker actually lost the 2022 runoff to Warnock by roughly 2.8 points.
McCormick pointed to later cycles as well. "The next election we did better than the national standard considerably. I won't say who was running that time."
"And then the next one we outperformed in the Ossoff race; we outperformed that by 10 points," he said. For conservatives frustrated by repeated narrow losses in Georgia, his message is simple: Republicans must nominate candidates who can expand the party's appeal without compromising core principles.
McCormick insisted his interest is about fielding the strongest possible contender rather than personal ambition. "So when you look at who performed the best in the last three elections I think it's clear that, that we have to put our best foot forward," he said.
"So of course I'm gonna consider it. Ultimately I wanna win," McCormick added. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported that he is already laying groundwork for a possible statewide run.
At the same time, McCormick signaled deference to outgoing Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, whose own future has been the subject of intense speculation. "If Governor Kemp decides to run for Senate, I'll back him 100%. But if Governor Kemp's not gonna run, who's our next best?"
He stressed that the party cannot afford another loss. "Because, quite frankly, the main thing is winning. We have to win, and if we don't bring our best game, our best messenger, our best organizer, our best fundraiser, whatever it is, everything that wins elections, we're going to lose."
Beyond his electoral rsum, McCormick has cultivated a down-to-earth image. Supporters even know him for his ability to ride a skateboard, a small but telling detail in an era when authenticity matters to voters.
Georgia, once a reliable red state, has become a fiercely contested battleground as rapid growth in the Atlanta suburbs has reshaped its politics. In 2020, Joe Biden carried the state, and Democrats captured both Senate seats, elevating Warnock and Jon Ossoff and handing their party control of the chamber.
Warnock himself has hinted at ambitions for higher office in 2028, adding another layer of uncertainty to the race. The question looming over Georgia Republicans is whether a battle-tested candidate like McCormick can finally reclaim the seat.
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