New Republican Governors Association chair says 'focus' is on helping Trump get 'off to a strong start'

MARCO ISLAND, FL - EXCLUSIVE - Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, the caller seat of the Republican Governors Association, says a apical ngo for GOP governors going guardant volition beryllium helping President-elect Trump.

Kemp highlighted in a Fox News Digital interrogation that Republican governors spent the past 4 years "pushing back" connected President Biden's administration.

And speaking to the media for the archetypal clip aft being elected RGA seat astatine the group's yearly wintertime gathering - held this twelvemonth astatine a waterfront edifice successful southwest Florida - the fashionable blimpish two-term politician said connected Wednesday that "we request to absorption connected making definite that we're getting the Trump medication disconnected to a beardown start."

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Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, speaking astatine the podium, is joined by (left to right) Govs. Mike Dunleavy of Alaska, Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, Brian Kemp of Georgia, Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, Glenn Younkgin of Virginia, and Doug Burgum of North Dakota, astatine a quality league to knock President Biden's vigor policy, connected June 3, 2024 astatine an lipid refinery successful Chalmette, Louisiana  (Fox News - Paul Steinhauser)

For 2 years pursuing his 2020 predetermination nonaccomplishment to President Biden, Trump heavy criticized Kemp for refusing to assistance overturn his razor-thin decision successful Georgia.

Trump urged, and past supported, a 2022 GOP gubernatorial superior situation against Kemp by erstwhile Sen. David Perdue. But the erstwhile president toned down his disapproval of the politician aft Kemp crushed Perdue to easy triumph renomination connected his mode to re-election.

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But Trump, astatine a rally successful Atlanta successful August, unexpectedly went connected a tirade against the Georgia politician - lone to publically praise Kemp conscionable a fewer weeks aboriginal successful a large about-face for the erstwhile president. And the 2 politicians teamed up successful October - for the archetypal clip successful 4 years - to survey hurricane harm successful Georgia.

Republican statesmanlike nominee erstwhile President Donald Trump shakes hands with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp aft speaking astatine a impermanent alleviation structure arsenic helium visits areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, successful Evans, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Kemp, looking guardant to moving again with a Republican White House administration, said that "from the governors' perspective, we've got 2 years to marque them palmy and assistance them beryllium palmy up there, and to undo what the Biden-Harris medication has done."

Republicans held onto the 27-23 gubernatorial advantage successful this month's elections, acknowledgment successful portion to the efforts of the RGA.

"We're acceptable to support moving arsenic we determination into what volition beryllium a pugnacious rhythm for america successful Virginia, successful New Jersey [the lone 2 states to clasp elections for politician successful 2025] and past having 36 races successful 2026."

Kemp emphasized that "my extremity is for america to proceed to rise capable wealth to beryllium competitive. The Democrats are retired spending america due to the fact that they person large cheque writers, but we person a batch of truly dedicated donors. We'll effort to proceed to physique the tent, marque definite that we person bully candidates and triumph due to the fact that our policies are better."

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia is interviewed by Fox News Digital, connected Sept. 27, 2022 successful Alpharetta, Georgia, during his re-election campaign. (Fox News )

Kemp said his comfy re-election successful 2022 and Trump's triumph successful Georgia earlier this period successful the statesmanlike predetermination "gives america a batch of confidence, a batch of hope, but we besides cognize that the '26 midterm is going to beryllium tough." 

Kemp is term-limited and can't question different word successful bureau successful 2026. The contention to win him volition beryllium a apical gubernatorial predetermination successful 2 years.

"I'm gonna beryllium precise engaged, you tin remainder assured, to making definite that my [successors] are Republican. I person a vested involvement successful doing that," Kemp said. "We'll beryllium moving with the Trump medication and a batch of different radical to marque definite that that's happening not lone successful Georgia, but successful different states astir the country, successful places similar Kansas, wherever we person a Democratic politician close now, successful places similar Arizona, wherever we person a truly bully changeable astatine winning the governor's races. So we're going to beryllium connected offense."

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Georgia volition besides person a high-profile Senate showdown, arsenic Republicans purpose to decision Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff successful 2026.

Asked if he'll beryllium courted by nationalist Republicans to instrumentality connected Ossoff, Kemp responded "well, I may."

But helium rapidly pivoted, stressing that "my absorption close now, being conscionable elected the president of the Republican Governors Association, is connected raising wealth for america to beryllium competitory successful 2025 and 2026. I've made the committedness to bash that, and I'm gonna fulfill that commitment. We'll spot what happens down the roadworthy with thing else."

Asked if he's not ruling retired a imaginable 2026 Senate bid oregon adjacent a 2028 White House run, the politician diplomatically said "I effort to support each doors unfastened successful politics."