Brian Kemp
2019 - Present
2027
5
Brian Kemp (Republican Party) is the Governor of Georgia. He assumed office on January 14, 2019. His current term ends on January 11, 2027.
Kemp (Republican Party) ran for re-election for Governor of Georgia. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Kemp defeated former state Rep. Stacey Abrams (D) in the 2018 election by a margin of just over 1 percentage point, succeeding term-limited Gov. Nathan Deal (R).
Kemp first won elected office in 2012, when he unseated state Sen. Doug Haines (D). In 2006, Kemp ran for agriculture commissioner but was defeated in the Republican primary.
In 2010, then-Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) appointed Kemp to the Georgia Secretary of State office vacated by Karen Handel (R), who had resigned to run for governor. Kemp was elected to a full term in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014. Kemp was the second Republican since Reconstruction to hold the office in Georgia.
Before entering elected office, Kemp was a small business owner, managing Athens-based Kemp Properties.
Biography
Kemp was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. He graduated from Clark Central High School and received his B.S. in agriculture from the University of Georgia. Kemp owns Kemp Properties, a property management and real estate investment business. He was a founding director of First Madison Bank and St. Mary’s Hospital Board.[1][2]
Before becoming secretary of state, Kemp served in the Georgia State Senate from 2003 to 2007. He served as chairman of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, vice chairman of the Higher Education Committee, secretary of the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, and member of the Appropriations Committee. Kemp ran for state agriculture commissioner in 2006 but lost in the Republican primary election.
Political career
Governor of Georgia (2019-present)
Kemp was elected as the governor of Georgia in 2018.
Georgia Secretary of State (2010-2018)
Kemp was appointed secretary of state by Governor Sonny Perdue on January 8, 2010, filling the vacancy left by former Secretary of State Karen Handel (R). He won his first election to the office in November 2010. He was re-elected in 2014.
Georgia State Senate (2003-2007)
Kemp was elected to the Georgia State Senate representing District 46 (all of Oconee County and parts of Walton and Clarke counties) after defeating Democratic incumbent Doug Haines in November 2002.
Elections
2022
See also: Georgia gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Governor of Georgia
Incumbent Brian Kemp defeated Stacey Abrams, Shane Hazel, David Byrne, and Milton Lofton in the general election for Governor of Georgia on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Brian Kemp (R) | 53.4 | 2,111,572 |
 | Stacey Abrams (D) | 45.9 | 1,813,673 | |
 | Shane Hazel (L) | 0.7 | 28,163 | |
 | David Byrne (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 18 | |
 | Milton Lofton (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 7 | |
| Total votes: 3,953,433 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Elbert Bartell (Independent)
- President Boddie (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Georgia
Stacey Abrams advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of Georgia on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Stacey Abrams | 100.0 | 727,168 |
| Total votes: 727,168 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Georgia
Incumbent Brian Kemp defeated David Perdue, Kandiss Taylor, Catherine Davis, and Tom Williams in the Republican primary for Governor of Georgia on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Brian Kemp | 73.7 | 888,078 |
 | David Perdue | 21.8 | 262,389 | |
 | Kandiss Taylor | 3.4 | 41,232 | |
 | Catherine Davis | 0.8 | 9,788 | |
| Tom Williams | 0.3 | 3,255 | |
| Total votes: 1,204,742 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Vernon Jones (R)
2018
General election
General election for Governor of Georgia
Brian Kemp defeated Stacey Abrams and Ted Metz in the general election for Governor of Georgia on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Brian Kemp (R) | 50.2 | 1,978,408 |
| Stacey Abrams (D) | 48.8 | 1,923,685 | |
 | Ted Metz (L) | 0.9 | 37,235 | |
| Total votes: 3,939,328 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Larry Odom (Independent)
Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for Governor of Georgia
Brian Kemp defeated Casey Cagle in the Republican primary runoff for Governor of Georgia on July 24, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Brian Kemp | 69.5 | 406,703 |
 | Casey Cagle | 30.5 | 178,893 | |
| Total votes: 585,596 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Georgia
Stacey Abrams defeated Stacey Evans in the Democratic primary for Governor of Georgia on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Stacey Abrams | 76.4 | 424,305 |
 | Stacey Evans | 23.6 | 130,784 | |
| Total votes: 555,089 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Georgia
Casey Cagle and Brian Kemp advanced to a runoff. They defeated Hunter Hill, Clay Tippins, and Michael Williams in the Republican primary for Governor of Georgia on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Casey Cagle | 39.0 | 236,987 |
| ✔ | | Brian Kemp | 25.5 | 155,189 |
 | Hunter Hill | 18.3 | 111,464 | |
 | Clay Tippins | 12.2 | 74,182 | |
 | Michael Williams | 4.9 | 29,619 | |
| Total votes: 607,441 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Eddie Hayes (R)
- Marc Alan Urbach (R)
2014
General election
The general election took place on November 4, 2014.
| Secretary of State of Georgia, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Brian Kemp Incumbent |
57.5% | 1,452,554 | |
| Democrat | Doreen Carter | 42.5% | 1,075,101 | |
| Total Votes | 2,527,655 | |||
| Election results via Georgia Secretary of State | ||||
2010
General election
| 2010 Race for Secretary of State - General Election[3] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Republican Party |  Brian Kemp
|
56.4% | |
| Democratic Party | Georganna Sinkfield | 39.4% | |
| Libertarian Party | David Chastain | 4.2% | |
| Total Votes | 2,552,722 | ||
Republican primary
| 2010 Race for Secretary of State - Republican Primary[4] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Republican Party | Brian Kemp
|
59.2% | |
| Republican Party | Doug MacGinnitie | 40.8% | |
| Total Votes | 609,478 | ||
2006
Republican primary
| 2006 Race for Commissioner of Agriculture - Republican Primary Election[5] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Republican Party | Gary Black
|
42.3% | |
| Republican Party | Brian Kemp | 26.8% | |
| Republican Party | Bob Greer | 15.9% | |
| Republican Party | Deanna Strickland | 15.0% | |
| Total Votes | 362,812 | ||
2004
General election
| 2004 Race for State Senate, District 46 - General Election[6] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Republican Party | Brian Kemp
|
51.6% | |
| Democratic Party | Becky Vaughn | 48.4% | |
| Total Votes | 57,041 | ||
Kemp was unopposed in the Republican primary.
2002
General election
| 2002 Race for State Senate, District 46 - General Election[7] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Republican Party | Brian Kemp
|
50.7% | |
| Democratic Party | Doug Haines | 49.3% | |
| Total Votes | 34,519 | ||
Kemp was unopposed in the Republican primary.
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Brian Kemp did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Kemp's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Brian P. Kemp is a husband, father, businessman, and public servant. On November 6, 2018, he was elected as Georgia’s 83rd Governor, earning more votes than any gubernatorial candidate in state history. Governor Kemp built his first business – Kemp Development and Construction Company – with a pick-up truck and a shovel. Over thirty years later, he is a successful entrepreneur with companies and investments in banking, farming, timber, manufacturing, and real estate. Brian Kemp ran for Governor on a bold, conservative plan to spur economic growth, reform state government, strengthen rural communities, lower healthcare costs, and protect Georgia families from violence. Since his inauguration on January 14, 2019, he’s worked tirelessly to turn those campaign promises into reality and build a safer, stronger Georgia for all who call the Peach State home. Under Governor Kemp, Georgia has remained the top state for business and led the nation in economic recovery as our state emerges from a global pandemic. Because Kemp prioritized both the lives and livelihoods of hardworking Georgians and kept the Peach State open, unemployment rates are at all-time lows, job creation and investment numbers are through the roof, and businesses of all sizes are thriving. The Governor, alongside First Lady Marty Kemp, their daughters, and the GRACE Commission, proposed bipartisan legislation to combat human trafficking, while also cracking down on gangs and violent crime across our state. Kemp championed the largest teacher pay raise in state history, invested record funds in our schools, and strongly supported legislation to keep partisan politics out of the classroom and off the ball field. Like he promised on the campaign trail, Governor Kemp also signed the strongest pro-life bill in the country, pushed reforms to our adoption and foster care systems, and led the effort to strengthen law-abiding Georgians’ constitutional right to defend themselves and their families. And when the woke mob came after our state, Governor Kemp stood up and signed the top-rated election integrity legislation in the country to restore voter confidence at the ballot box. Brian Kemp is running for re-election to continue putting hardworking Georgians first, and ensure Georgia remains the best state to live, work, and raise a family. Brian is married to the former Marty Argo of Athens. They are the proud parents of three daughters – Jarrett, Lucy, and Amy Porter – and members of Emmanuel Episcopal Church. [8] |
” |
| —Brian Kemp[9] | ||
2018
Campaign website
Kemp’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
1. Make Georgia #1 for Small Business Take a chainsaw to burdensome regulations Work with business people – not bureaucrats - to cut red tape and streamline state government Champion common sense workforce development initiatives to meet job demands 2. Reform State Government
3. Strengthen Rural Georgia
4. PUT GEORGIA FIRST
|
” |
| —Brian Kemp’s campaign website (2018)[10] | ||
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Noteworthy events
|
|---|
| Coronavirus pandemic |
| Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.
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On March 29, 2021, a representative for Kemp said he had started a self-quarantine after being exposed to someone over the weekend who tested positive for COVID-19. He tested negative for the virus March 29.[11] On October 30, 2020, Kemp began a self-quarantine after he and first lady came into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus.[12]
Response to request for voter rolls (2017)
On June 29, 2017, the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, which had been created by President Donald Trump on May 11, requested information on registered voters from all 50 states dating back to 2006. The states were given until July 14 to respond. Secretary Kemp announced that the state would provide only publicly available information to the commission. [13]
Power to set presidential primary date transferred to secretary of state (2012)
In 2012, the Georgia General Assembly passed House Bill 454, which transferred the responsibility for setting the presidential preference primary date from the legislature to the secretary of state. Georgia's legislature adjourned earlier than some other states, and states with later legislative sessions could wait until after states like Georgia had set their dates in order to choose more strategic ones. Secretary of State Kemp supported transferring the responsibility for setting the date, arguing that this could give Georgia a strategic advantage and encourage candidates to campaign in the state.[14]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Kemp and his wife, Marty, have three children. Kemp is a practicing member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church.[1]
See also
2022 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Governor of Georgia |
Officeholder Governor of Georgia |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Office of the Governor, "About Governor Brian P. Kemp," accessed May 17, 2021
- ↑ Kemp Secretary of State, "Kemp Bio," archived September 26, 2013
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official Results of the Tuesday, November 02, 2010 General Election," accessed May 17, 2021
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official Results of the Tuesday, July 20, 2010 General Primary Election," accessed May 17, 2021
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official Results of the July 18, 2006 Primary Election," accessed May 17, 2021
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official Results of the November 2, 2004 General Election," accessed May 17, 2021
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official Results of the November 5, 2002 General Election," accessed May 17, 2021
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Brian Kemp's campaign website, “About,” accessed May 9, 2022
- ↑ Brian Kemp for Governor, “Brian Kemp's 4 Point Plan to Put Georgians First,” accessed September 10, 2018
- ↑ AJC, "Georgia governor to self-quarantine after exposure to coronavirus," March 29, 2021
- ↑ The Hill, "Georgia governor quarantines after possible COVID exposure," October 30, 2020
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Georgia to share data with Trump commission on voter fraud," June 30, 2017
- ↑ The Huffington Post, "Secretary of State: Ga. Progressing as Primary Battleground," February 22, 2012
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Nathan Deal (R) |
Governor of Georgia 2019-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Georgia Secretary of State 2010-2018 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Georgia State Senate District 46 2003-2007 |
Succeeded by - |
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State of Georgia Atlanta (capital) |
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