Senate Republicans are in full-on panic mode over the possibility of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) running for Senate in 2026. They fear that her controversial past could cost them the seat and give Democrats a win.
Greene, a lightning rod for controversy, is eyeing a Senate bid against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff — or possibly a run for governor. “The polling shows I can win the governor’s primary or I can win the Senate primary,” Greene told NewsNation. “That’s a choice that I can make, and I’ll give it some thought.”
With her strong base of Trump supporters, Greene would likely have no trouble securing the Republican nomination. But GOP leaders are raising alarms, worried she could end up like Herschel Walker in 2022 — winning the primary but losing the general election in a state that’s shifting purple.
“We need to have the absolute best candidate, and that includes electability,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). He didn’t mince words when he admitted that Greene’s controversial views could be a liability in Georgia, a state that leans more independent than her safe, deeply conservative district. “She wouldn’t be high on my list of recruits,” he added.
Cramer, who once penned an article for Newsweek calling out Greene’s embrace of wild conspiracy theories, highlighted some of her most infamous claims. From suggesting the 9/11 attacks were an inside job to claiming the Parkland school shooting was a hoax, Greene’s past remarks have made many Republicans nervous.
Greene even once posted on Facebook that California’s deadly wildfires were caused by lasers from space — part of a supposed scheme by wealthy elites to clear land for a high-speed rail project. Though she later deleted the post, the damage was done.
“I think she’s recanted some of the crazier things she’s said,” Cramer acknowledged. “But electability is one of the more important criteria in recruiting a candidate. Sometimes we let ideology be more important, and that’s a mistake.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who faces a tough reelection battle in a swing state, echoed these concerns. “I think she’d be a solid primary contender, but the state’s a lot like North Carolina. It could be a challenge at the statewide level,” he said, pointing out the need to appeal to moderates and independents in Georgia’s suburbs.
Greene, for her part, has dominated her congressional district, winning reelection in 2024 with 64.4% of the vote. But her district is far from representative of Georgia as a whole, especially when it comes to the diverse, suburban areas around Atlanta. To beat Ossoff, Greene would need to win over swing counties like Cobb, Gwinnett, and Henry — places where her hard-right rhetoric may not play well.
Despite the growing concerns from within her own party, Greene’s supporters are confident she could easily win a GOP primary. Her campaign spokesman emphasized her wide-reaching influence, saying, “Polling shows Congresswoman Greene would blow out a primary. She has the same type of support President Trump has, and now he’s president… She has one of the largest digital files in all of Congress.”
But Senate Republicans aren’t convinced. Even Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who has long been involved in GOP strategy, seemed dismissive when asked about Greene’s Senate ambitions. “I’m sorry that Brian Kemp’s not running,” Cornyn chuckled. When pressed further, he was blunt: “I want one that can win. I don’t know whether she qualifies or not.”
In response to the criticism, Greene’s spokesperson accused Senate Republicans of being afraid of her. “These are likely the same Republicans refusing to confirm President Trump’s nominees,” the spokesperson said. They added, “Congresswoman Greene would be any candidate’s worst nightmare.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has been more cautious, staying neutral for now but acknowledging that some candidates are just better suited for the general election. “There clearly are always some candidates that are just better than other candidates in a general election,” he said.
As of now, Greene’s bid remains up in the air, but Republicans are clearly worried about what her candidacy could sink their chances of winning.
