Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King joins GOP field hoping to take on Sen. Jon Ossoff
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King speaks at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's Eggs and Issues event in Atlanta in January. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King has joined the race to take on Sen. Jon Ossoff in next year's midterm election.
In social media posts announcing his run Monday, King emphasized his military and law enforcement background. King served in the U.S. Army National Guard for four decades, retiring as a major general in 2023. He also served in the Atlanta Police Department and the Doraville Police Department, where he was chief for 17 years.
'I've had the privilege to lead your sons and daughters in some incredible places around the world: Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Africa. During President Trump's first term, I served on the U.S. Mexico border. As an Atlanta police officer, I was shot and stabbed in the line of duty, protecting our community. I've never shied away from a fight, but what truly scares me today is having Jon Ossoff for six more years.'
King was appointed insurance commissioner by Gov. Brian Kemp in 2019 and elected to a full term in 2022, making him Georgia's first Hispanic statewide elected official. He was born in Mexico and came to the U.S. at 17. He posted his announcement video to X in both English and Spanish, a sign he could be trying to court Latino voters.
Though Latino voters in Georgia favored former Vice President Kamala Harris over President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, Republicans have made inroads in recent years, and advocates report a lack of outreach to Latino Georgians from either major party.
In his announcement, King positioned himself as a strong potential ally to the president.
'President Trump got sent to Washington DC to solve some very big problems,' King said. 'He needs help, and I'm asking for your support to go help President Trump and solve these incredibly big problems.'
King now joins Congressman Buddy Carter, a six-term Republican representing a coastal Georgia district, in the race against Ossoff. Carter threw his hat into the ring last week, also pitching himself as a strong Trump backer.
Ossoff is the only Democratic senator up for re-election in a state won by Trump in 2024, so the race for his seat is likely to keep attracting attention. Last week, Kemp announced that he doesn't plan to run, which could spur even more Republicans to try their chances. He has raised more than $11 million so far in 2025, according to federal election filings.
Some of Carter's colleagues in Congress are seen as potential contenders, including Reps. Rick Allen, Mike Collins and Rich McCormick as well as state Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene took herself off the list last week with a social media post.
In a statement, Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Charlie Bailey expressed confidence that Trump's policies will harm any Republican's chances in a general election.
'John King touting his loyalty to Donald Trump at the launch of his bid for Georgia's Senate seat is telling yet not surprising as the Republican field grows and caters to the MAGA far-right,' Bailey said.
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