I first met Brian Kemp as a young State Senator from Athens, Georgia. He was also an agri-businessman, developer, and homebuilder. After 4 years in the State Senate, Kemp ran for Agriculture Commissioner in 2006, finishing second in the GOP Primary to Gary Black, who won the General Election that fall. In 2010, when Secretary of State Karen Handel resigned to run for Governor, Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Kemp to the position. Kemp served there ably, re-elected to two full terms in 2010 and again in 2014. During 2017/2018, he began an underdog GOP campaign for Governor, with the odd's on favorite at the time being popular GOP Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle.
But later the Cagle campaign was stumbling, atop flat debate performances aided by a troubling recording in the circulation of a conversation that the LG thought was private. Former Governor Sonny Perdue was now in the Trump Administration Cabinet, as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Towards the end of a Cabinet meeting and prior to that runoff, Secretary Perdue reportedly told President Donald Trump that he should take a look at the Georgia Governor's race, and perhaps get involved. That advice was seconded by U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), a Trump ally and the former Governor's first cousin. Without ever meeting or speaking to Kemp personally, Trump tweeted his endorsement of the Secretary of State, giving a well-timed boost to Kemp's campaign heading into the runoff. Kemp would handily carry (69-31%) all but two counties of Georgia's 159, including Cagle's home county of Hall. It was a harsh beatdown for the LG.
Kemp headed into the fall campaign against a well-funded and increasingly national political figure, former State House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, Abrams would be exceedingly critical of Kemp not resigning as Secretary of State during the campaign. While Karen Handel had resigned during the 2010 campaign, two other Democrats, Secretary of State Cathy Cox, and Secretary of State Lewis Massey had each campaigned for Governor while holding the office, each losing out in the Democratic Primary or runoff. Though Georgia elections are administered by county election superintendents and Boards of Election, the election process is overseen by the Secretary of State, whose office also reviews/investigates allegations of irregularities or voter fraud. The SOS in Georgia also does not TABULATE votes, only reporting out the unofficial tallies, and later certifying the results received from each county.
The 2018 Gubernatorial contest was close, Abrams and Kemp were separated by roughly 58,000 votes. Kemp was sworn in, but Abrams never conceded and continued to allege voter suppression and related irregularities cost her a contest that she actually 'won.' This may sound familiar when I speak later of Donald Trump and the 2020 contest in Georgia.
During 2020, Kemp campaigned for Trump's re-election, though the incumbent President was critical of Kemp re-opening Georgia 'too soon,' and other disagreements over the appointment of a successor to retiring U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA). Trump favored Congressman Doug Collins (R-District 14), but Kemp instead appointed political newcomer and entrepreneur Kelly Loeffler as the interim Senator. Trump's re-election would top the GOP ticket that November 2020, along with two GOP Senators, David Perdue, and interim Senator Loeffler. Of those three, Senator Perdue would receive the highest ballot count, as Trump, Perdue, and Loeffler each eventual lost their respective races.
Kemp did something few in his party seem capable of doing. Without directly criticizing Trump, and while acknowledging support for his campaign in 2020, Kemp stood by the Georgia law and results of the election, and would not engage or respond to whatever the former President threw his way. This independence resounded particularly well with independent and non-party-aligned Georgia voters in 2022. This would also place Kemp, along with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and a few other GOP officials in other states atop the Trump enemies list.
The 2022 rematch with Abrams seemed anti-climactic. Abrams would be out-polled by two of her own fellow nominees down-ticket on the Democratic ballot. She admitted late in the campaign to having a particular challenge locking down black male voters. Her margin of loss was 8 percent, and this time she did concede on election night.
Georgia may remain one of the few original 13 colonies with only one U.S. President, Jimmy Carter. And while his track record as former President has been unparalleled, Carter also found Washington more than a bit unwelcoming. Brian Kemp is our Governor, and he is delivering for Georgia. The choice of course is his to make, but I think we would like to keep him here.
