I first metBrian Kempas a young state senator from Athens.He also was an agribusinessman, developer and homebuilder.After four years in the state senate, Kemp ran in 2006 for agriculture commissioner, finishing second in the GOP primary toGary Black, who won the general election that fall.
In 2010, when Secretary of StateKaren Handelresigned to run for governor, GovernorSonny Perdueappointed Kemp to the position.Kemp served there ably and was reelected to a full term in 2010, and again in 2014.During 2017/2018, he began an underdog GOP campaign for governor, with the odds-on favorite at the time being popular GOP Lieutenant GovernorCasey Cagle.
But the Cagle campaign began stumbling atop flat debate performances aided by a troubling recording in the circulation of a conversation that the LG thought was private.Meanwhile, Perdue was now in the Trump Administration cabinet as U.S. secretary of agriculture and toward the end of a cabinet meeting and prior to that runoff, Perdue reportedly told Trumpthat he should take a look at the Georgia governor’s race – and perhaps get involved.
That advice was seconded by U.S.SenatorDavid 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.
In a harsh beatdown for Cagle, Kemp would handily carry all but two of Georgia’s 159 counties, including Cagle’s home county of Hall, to advance into the 2018 fall campaign against a wellfunded and increasingly national political figure, former State House minority leaderStacey 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 StateCathy Cox and Secretary of StateLewis 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 elections, the process is overseen by the secretary of state, whose office also reviews/ investigates allegations of irregularities or voter fraud.Significantly, in Georgia the secretary of state’s office does not tabulate votes; it reports only unofficial tallies and later certifies results received from each county.
The 2018 gubernatorial contest was close, with Kemp winning over Abrams by roughly 58,000 votes.Kemp was sworn in; however, Abrams never conceded and continued to allege voter suppression and related irregularities cost her a contest that she claimed she’d actually won. This may sound familiar when I speak later of Trump and the 2020 contest in Georgia.
During 2020, Kemp campaigned for Trump’s reelection, though the incumbent president was critical of Kemp reopening Georgia “too soon” during the COVID pandemic, along with other disagreements over the appointment of a successor to retiring U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA).Trump favored CongressmanDoug Collins(R-District 14), but Kemp instead appointed political newcomer and entrepreneur Kelly Loeffleras interim senator.
Trump’s reelection would top the GOP ticket in Georgia that November, along with the two GOP senators, David Perdue and interim Loeffler.Of those three, Perdue would receive the highest ballot count, but Trump, Perdue, and Loeffler each eventually lost their respective races.
Afterward, Kemp did something few in his party seem capable of – without directly criticizing Trump, and while acknowledging support for his campaign in 2020 – he stood by Georgia law and the 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.It also placed Kemp, along with Secretary of StateBrad Raffenspergerand a few other GOP officials in other states, firmly atop Trump’s enemies list. The 2022 rematch for Kemp against Abrams seemed anti-climactic. Abrams was 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%, and this time she did concede on election night.
Georgia remains as one of few original 13 colonies with only one U.S. president – Jimmy Carter – ever among its citizens.
Some suggest Brian Kemp could be Georgia’s second. But for now, at least, Kemp remains our governor and is delivering for Georgia.The choice, of course, is his to make, but I think we would like to keep him here.
