Ga. Republican Perdue won’t run for U.S. Senate in 2022

ATLANTA — Former Georgia Sen. David Perdue said Tuesday that he will not run in 2022 to reclaim a seat in the U.S. Senate, eight days after the defeated Republican filed campaign paperwork that could have opened the way for him to run against Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock.

“I am confident that whoever wins the Republican primary next year will defeat the Democrat candidate in the general election for this seat, and I will do everything I can to make that happen,” Perdue, 71, said in a statement.

Perdue lost his re-election bid in a closely watched runoff last month against Democrat Jon Ossoff. Ossoff ’s win, along with Warnock’s victory over Sen. Kelly Loeffler, resulted in Democrats taking control of the Senate for the first time since 2011.

Perdue had filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election

Commission on Feb. 15.

Unlike Ossoff, who will not be up for re-election until 2026, Warnock’s term expires in two years. That’s because Warnock is filling the remainder of retired Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson’s term.

Perdue’s decision not to run could ease the path for a number of other Republican candidates. Former U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, who did not advance to the runoff against Warnock, has said he could run for Senate in 2022.