With his wife and sons accompanying him, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle showed up bright and early Tuesday to cast a ballot in Georgia's GOP gubernatorial primary runoff election.
Cagle, a Hall County native, has been locked in a tight battle for the nomination with Secretary of State Brian Kemp.
Cagle spoke to a large crowd of reporters - from local, state and national media outlets - after he voted at Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church around 7:30 a.m.
Endorsed by sitting Gov. Nathan Deal, Cagle said he's ready to continue the progress that Deal has started for Georgia.
"Obviously, the future of Georgia is at stake," Cagle said. "We've been able to do some wonderful things partnering with Gov. Deal [not only] seeing historic job growth numbers but also a tax cut of $5.7 billion. I have a vision and a goal to make sure that we're adding more jobs in the state of Georgia."
Cagle acknowledged his runoff with Kemp had been a difficult one.
"It has been a hard-fought battle by both candidates...but after the contest we'll come together and shake hands and obviously unify around the common mission, which is obviously to see a Republican governor elected."
Cagle said he and his family would continue to campaign throughout the day. He holds a press conference in Atlanta at 4 p.m. before he and his supporters hold a results watch party at the Atlanta Marriott Century Center.
Kemp has a watch party at the Holiday Inn in Athens.
