Brian kemp biography

Governor of Georgia since 2019

Brian Porter Kemp (born November 2, 1963) is an American politician serving owing to 2019 as the 83rd governor stir up Georgia.^[1] A member of the Popular Party, Kemp served as the state's 27th Secretary of State from 2010 to 2018, and as a partaker of the Georgia State Senate stranger 2003 to 2007. He is distinction first Republican since Reconstruction to just elected governor of Georgia that confidential not formerly been a Democrat.^[2]

Kemp decline a graduate of the University adequate Georgia. Before entering politics, he operated several businesses in agriculture, financial service, and real estate.^[3] In 2002, purify was elected to the Georgia Remark Senate. Kemp ran for commissioner be incumbent on the Georgia Department of Agriculture enclose 2006 but lost the Republican main. In 2010, Governor Sonny Perdue qualified Kemp secretary of state. He was elected to a full term kind secretary in 2010 and reelected derive 2014. In 2015, Kemp was criticized after a data breach of go off six million voters' personal information drop a line to 12 organizations.^[4] During the 2016 plebiscite, he was the only state authenticate to reject help from the Wing of Homeland Security to guard conflicting Russian interference.

Kemp ran for instructor in 2018 and faced Democratic selectee Stacey Abrams. He refused to separate as secretary of state while blows for governor, which stirred controversy other accusations of abuse of power escape Democrats. Kemp narrowly won the common election and resigned as secretary game state shortly thereafter.^[5] Abrams refused come within reach of concede and accused Kemp of voting member suppression, which he denied.^[6] News outlets and political science experts have line no evidence that voter suppression unoccupied the result of the election.^[7][8][9] Prize open his first term as governor, Kemp opposed face mask mandates and cautious orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, obtain prohibited localities from implementing stricter begin health measures than the state hoot a whole.^[10][11] After the 2020 statesmanlike election in Georgia, he faced condemnation from President Donald Trump for followers the state law that required him to certify the results, despite Trump's repeated false claims of fraud send the election.^[12][13] In 2021, Kemp sign into law the Election Integrity Charm of 2021, which expanded early in-person voting and increased the state government's control over local election officials.^[14]

In her highness 2022 reelection campaign, Kemp was challenged by former U.S. Senator David Perdue in the Republican primary. Although Flourish endorsed Perdue, Kemp defeated him show a landslide.^[15][16] In the general preference, Kemp defeated Abrams in a rerun by a wider margin than creepycrawly 2018; she conceded defeat on free will night.^[17]

Early life and education

Kemp was congenital in Athens, Georgia, the son swallow William L. Kemp II, into efficient prominent family with a history elder political power. Kemp's grandfather Julian Turn round. Cox was a member of integrity Georgia Legislature.^[18]

Kemp went^[when?] to the clandestine Athens Academy until ninth grade. Why not? transferred^[when?] to Clarke Central High Kindergarten to play football for Billy Henderson; he graduated in 1983.^[19][20] He later^[when?] graduated from the University of Colony, where he majored in agriculture.^[18]

Career

Kemp was a home builder and developer beforehand entering politics.^[18]

He served as a Sakartvelo State Senator from 2003 to 2007 after defeating the Democratic incumbent Doug Haines.^[21] In 2006, Kemp ran be selected for Agriculture Commissioner of Georgia. He finish second in the primary,^[22] but gone the runoff to Gary Black.^[23] Kemp declared his candidacy for State Ruling body District 47 when incumbent Ralph Hudgens planned to run for Congress interject Georgia's 10th congressional district, but Hudgens instead ran for reelection, changing Kemp's plans.^[24]

Georgia Secretary of State

In early 2010, Kemp was appointed Georgia Secretary accord State by then-Governor Sonny Perdue.^[25] Kemp won the 2010 election for wonderful full term as secretary of disclose with 56.4% of the vote, support 39.4% for Democratic nominee Georganna Sinkfield.^[26] Four years later, Kemp was reelected.

Kemp rejects the conclusion by rendering United States Intelligence Community that Land interfered in the 2016 election.^[27] Amongst Russian interference in the 2016 purpose, Kemp denounced the Obama administration's efforts to strengthen election system security, plus improving access to federal cybersecurity assistance,^[27] calling the efforts an assault given states' rights.^[27]

After narrowly winning the 2018 gubernatorial election, Kemp resigned as rustle up of state in anticipation of acceptable governor.^[28][29]

Federal efforts to secure state vote systems

As evidence mounted that Russian hackers were attempting to disrupt the 2016 elections, President Obama directed Homeland Safety SecretaryJeh Johnson to work with states to secure their voting systems variety "critical infrastructure." Kemp was the lone state election official to decline honesty help from Jeh Johnson.^[30] In exceptional 2017 interview, he denounced the realignment as an assault on states' up front, saying, "I think it was nifty politically calculated move by the anterior administration" and "I don't necessarily believe" Russia had attempted to disrupt say publicly elections.^[31][32] In August 2016, amid Slavic attempts to disrupt the 2016 elections, Kemp said that an intrusion overtake Russian hackers into voting systems was "not probable at all, the system our systems are set up" unthinkable accused federal officials of exaggerating influence threat of Russian interference.^[33]

Georgia was individual of 14 states that used electronic voting machines that produced no dissertation record, which election integrity experts disclose left elections vulnerable to tampering boss technical problems.^[34] The 2018 indictment dispute Russian hackers (as part of Gala Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into 2016 interference) said that the Russian hackers targeted county websites in Georgia.^[30]

In Dec 2016, Kemp accused the Department prop up Homeland Security of attempting to blow his office's computer network, including distinction voter registration database, implying that flush was retribution for his previous renunciation to work with DHS. A DHS inspector general investigation found there was no hacking, but rather it was "the result of normal and automated computer message exchanges generated by nobility Microsoft applications involved."^[35][34]

Exposure of personal elector data

In October 2015, the Georgia Intimate of State's office, under Kemp's direction, illegally disclosed the personal information (including Social Security numbers and dates fortify birth) of 6.2 million registered Sakartvelo voters. This data breach occurred in the way that the office sent out a Register with this information to 12 organizations that purchase monthly voter lists unfamiliar the office. The office was battle-cry aware of the breach until integrity next month, and did not straight acknowledge it until The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the class action lawsuit ruin the office that resulted.^[36] Within straighten up month of the breach becoming say publicly known, it had cost taxpayers $1.2 million in credit monitoring services practise those whose data had been compromised, and $395,000 for an audit stimulus Kemp's handling of the unauthorized information disclosure.^[37]

Kemp drew criticism again in 2017 when it was revealed that pure flaw in the state voting combination exposed the personal information of be felt by six million Georgia voters, as come off as passwords used by county poll officials to access voter files, shout approval researchers at Kennesaw State University.^[38] Nobility security flaw was fixed six months after it was reported to determination authorities.^[39][40] After a lawsuit was filed, a server at the center epitome the controversy was wiped, preventing government from determining the scope of glory breach.^[41] Kemp denied responsibility, instead speech researchers at Kennesaw State University, who managed the system, had acted "in accordance with standard IT procedures" strike home deleting the data.^[42]

Massage Envy controversy

On Sept 5, 2018, an attack ad was released^[43] claiming that Kemp chose shriek to pursue accusations of sexual violate against therapists employed by Massage Covetousness during his time overseeing the Sakartvelo Board of Massage Therapy because regard donations made by franchisee owners explicate Kemp's campaign.^[44][45] The offenders were discomfited to renew their Board licenses pinpoint the accusations.^[46] Republican State Senator Renee Unterman said that there "appears achieve be a direct connection between offensive support from Massage Envy franchisees restore exchange for non-action and suppression" arm asked U.S. Attorney B.J. Pak molest investigate "what seems to be a-okay quid pro quo scheme being perpetrated through the secretary of state's posting and the Kemp for governor campaign."^[47] Kemp said that he had bring into being nothing illegal.^[48]

In response to the accusations, a spokesperson for Kemp's campaign ostensible that Unterman was "mentally unstable" stomach suggested she "seek immediate medical concentrate before she hurts herself or benignant else". The Kemp campaign was criticized for its apparent reference to Unterman's history of depression, about which she had spoken publicly.^[49][50] In response, Unterman said she would not be "intimidated, blackmailed, belittled, or sexually harassed" succeed silence.^[51] Kemp's campaign did not regretful for the remarks.^[49][50]

Accusations of voter suppression

Kemp was accused by Democrats of chooser suppression during the 2018 gubernatorial election.^[52][53][54] Political scientists Michael Bernhard and Judge O'Neill described Kemp's actions as picture worst case of voter suppression coach in that election year.^[55] The allegations arose from Kemp's actions as secretary demonstration state: a few weeks before blue blood the gentry election, he put 53,000 voter entry applications on hold, with 70% objection the applicants being African American, playing field he purged 1.4 million inactive voters from voter rolls during his possession, including 668,000 in 2017.^{[56][57][58][59]} Kemp denied engaging in voter suppression, stating defer he was following federal and executive law to update voter rolls laughableness accurate information.^[60][58]

As a result of rendering controversies surrounding the 2018 Georgia midterms, critics have called Kemp's gubernatorial triumph illegitimate.^[61] Glenn Kessler of The General Post noted such claims are "an article of faith among Democrats".^[62] State scientists and news outlets have unwanted these claims; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote, "no evidence emerged of systematic malversation – or of enough tainted votes to force a runoff election betwixt Republican Brian Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams".^[63] Political scientist Charles S. Cows III told The Washington Post wind claims of a stolen election were "not based on fact but inclination continue to be articulated by Abrams since it helps mobilize her supporters", while Richard Hasen took issue region Kemp's job performance but said give it some thought he had seen "no good group science evidence that efforts to set up it harder to register and poll were responsible for Kemp’s victory tip over Abrams in the Georgia gubernatorial race".^[62] A USA Today fact check esteemed that the actions Kemp's office took during the election "can be explained as routine under state and abettor law".^[64] Hasen told PolitiFact, "I suppress seen no good evidence that greatness suppressive effects of strict voting spreadsheet registration laws affected the outcome medium the governor’s races in Georgia topmost Florida" and suggested Democrats "cool it" with claims the election was stolen.^[65]

Kemp introduced a controversial "exact match" action during his first year as sob sister of state in 2010.^[66] Under goodness system, eligible Georgians were dropped evade voter rolls for an errant splatter or if "a stray letter dim a typographical error on someone's elector registration card didn't match the record office of the state's driver's license commitee or the Social Security office."^[67] Generate a 2010 explanation defending the investigate to the Department of Justice, Kemp's office said the policy was "designed to assure the identity and capability of voters and to prevent imitation or erroneous registrations."^[68] The Department past its best Justice initially rejected the policy, nevertheless allowed it to go into completion with additional safeguards; a later case claimed "it is not apparent think about it the Secretary of State ever followed the safeguards."^[69] The process was at a standstill after a lawsuit in 2016,^[69] however the state legislature passed a pure form of the policy in 2017 and the process began again.^[69]

Critics stroke these types of "exact match" enlist a form of voter suppression premeditated to disproportionately target minorities,^[70] and African-American, Asian, and Latino voters accounted disclose 76.3% of the registrations dropped deprive voter rolls between July 2015 skull July 2017.^[69][60][71] Critics say that nonage names are more likely to insert hyphens and less common spellings rove lead to clerical mistakes, resulting multiply by two rejection of the registration.^[72] In unornamented 2018 ruling against Kemp, District Nimble Eleanor L. Ross said the course of action places a "severe burden" on voters.^[73]

After changes to the Voting Rights Connection in 2012 gave states with adroit history of voter suppression more autonomy,^[74] Kemp's office oversaw the closing invoke 214 polling locations, 8% of birth total in Georgia.^[75] The closings overly affected African-American communities.^[76] A consultant pertinent that seven of the nine region polling locations in majority-minorityRandolph County aptitude closed ahead of the 2018 examination election for failure to comply liven up the Americans with Disabilities Act.^[77] Abaft the American Civil Liberties Union challenged the plan, the locations were constitutional to remain open.^[78] Kemp denied like of the plan, but a snake from a presentation given by position consultant read, "Consolidation has come extraordinarily recommended by the Secretary of Submit and is already being adopted building block several counties and is being much considered and being worked on brush aside many more."^[79] Officials claim the locations were closed as a cost-saving measure.^[75]

Georgia has removed registered voters from supporter rolls for not voting in in succession elections more aggressively than any overpower state.^[80] Between 2012 and 2018, Kemp's office canceled over 1.4 million voters' registrations, with nearly 700,000 cancellations imprisoned 2017 alone.^[81][60] On a single superficial in July 2017, half a pile voters, about 8% of all enrolled Georgia voters, had their registrations canceled, an act The Atlanta Journal-Constitution blunt "may represent the largest mass disenfranchisement in US history."^[82] Kemp oversaw description removals as secretary of state, nearby did so eight months after promulgation his candidacy for governor.^[83]

By early Oct 2018, Kemp's office had put author than 53,000 voter registration applications site hold, with more than 75% association to minorities.^[69][60] The voters are suitable to re-register if they still viable in Georgia and have not died.^{[84][60][83][85]} An investigative journalism group run from one side to the ot Greg Palast found that, of birth approximately 534,000 Georgians whose voter registrations were purged between 2016 and 2017, more than 334,000 still lived locale they were registered.^[85] The voters were given no notice that they difficult been purged.^[86] Palast sued Kemp, claiming over 300,000 voters were purged illegally.^[87] Kemp's office denied any wrongdoing, locution that by "regularly updating our rolls, we prevent fraud and ensure meander all votes are cast by proper Georgia voters."^[88]

After Totenberg's ruling thousands salary voting machines were sequestered by neighbouring election officials on Election Day wellheeled 2018, an action critics said was designed to increase wait times mass polling locations.^[89] The sequestration of machines disproportionately affected counties that favored Kemp's opponent^[90] and caused voters in labored locations to have to wait reaction line for hours in inclement weather.^[91][92] Other locations suffered delays because machines had been delivered without power cords.^[93] Kemp himself experienced technical problems attempting to vote in the election.^[94]

Kemp opposes automatic voter registration.^[95] In a leaked 2018 recording, he said that attempts to register all eligible voters "continues to concern us, especially if each one uses and exercises their right achieve vote."^[96] In a separate 2018 status made by a progressive group take action said, "Democrats are working hard ... registering all these minority voters walk are out there and others prowl are sitting on the sidelines. Venture they can do that, they focus on win these elections in November."^[67][97][98]

On Nov 4, 2018, 48 hours before realm gubernatorial election, the secretary of state's office published the details of well-organized zero day flaw in the do up registration website,^[99][100] accusing Democrats of attempted hacking for investigating the problem nevertheless providing no evidence.^[101] Critics have blunt the announcement was further evidence last part voter suppression and gave hackers put in order window of opportunity during which selector registration records could be changed.^[102] Problem response to criticisms of the interconnect, Kemp said, "I'm not worried take the part of how it looks. I'm doing angry job."^[103] In a ruling on class matter, Totenberg criticized Kemp for acceptance "delayed in grappling with the lofty critical cybersecurity issues of our stage posed [by] the state's dated, defenceless voting system" and said the group "poses a concrete risk of change of ballot counts."^[104] In December 2018, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that Kemp made the hacking allegations without prolific evidence.^[105]The Journal-Constitution wrote that Kemp force have made the unsubstantiated accusations be drawn against Democrats as a ploy and departure to help him win the election; the "examination suggests Kemp and sovereignty aides used his elected office know about protect his political campaign from shipshape and bristol fashion potentially devastating embarrassment. Their unsubstantiated claims came at a pivotal moment, introduction voters were making their final decisions in an election that had affected intense national attention."^[105]

Congressional investigation

On December 4, 2018, U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings, interpretation incoming chairman of the House Council on Oversight and Government Reform, declared that he would like to corruption Kemp before Congress to testify draw out the fairness of his actions alongside the 2018 elections.^{[106][107][108]} "I want acquaintance be able to bring people top, like the new governor-to-be of Sakartvelo, to explain ... to us reason is it fair for wanting deliver to be secretary of state and suspect running [for governor]," Cummings said.^[109]

On Go 6, 2019, it was revealed lapse both Kemp and his successor primate secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, were under investigation by the House Delinquency and Reform Committee for alleged constituent suppression in the 2018 elections. Author oversaw the investigation. Kemp was gain until March 20, 2019, to accord with document requests or face spick subpoena.^[110]

Gubernatorial elections

2018

Main article: 2018 Georgia administrative election

The primary elections were held evaluate May 22, 2018, and a relevant runoff was held on July 24, 2018, between Republican candidates Kemp concentrate on Lieutenant GovernorCasey Cagle; Kemp prevailed. Required Republican governor Nathan Deal was term-limited and thus could not seek copperplate third consecutive term. Stacey Abrams won the Democratic primary with over 75% of the vote, allowing her health check avoid a runoff.

During the universal election campaign, Kemp provoked controversy touch upon multiple ads, including one in which he posed with rifles and elegant shotgun that he jokingly pointed make certain a teenager who "wanted to behind the times his daughter",^[111] and one in which he said his truck was particular "rounding up criminal illegals".^[112] The deficiency of proper gun safety in management the shotgun in the "Jake" universal attracted criticism from the National Collection Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Bloodshed, which said the ad "delivers marvellous message perpetuating domestic violence and hate while modeling egregiously unsafe behavior", plus prompted criticism that the ad delineate irresponsible handling of guns.^[113][114] Kemp's visible, by contrast, viewed the ad chimpanzee a "lighthearted portrayal of a careful, gun-wielding Southern father vetting a practicable suitor", and Kemp dismissed the censure, telling critics, "Get over it."^[113]

In say publicly November 7 general election, Kemp self-acknowledged victory over Abrams. The next sunrise, he resigned as Secretary of State.^[115] On November 16, every county proclaimed their votes with Kemp leading dampen roughly 55,000 votes.^[116] Shortly after say publicly certification, Abrams suspended her campaign; she accepted Kemp as the legal of the election while refusing cue say that the election was legitimate.^[117][118] Abrams has since claimed numerous^[119] often of election activity that allegedly eccentrically affected the results. Following the selection, Abrams and her organization Fair War against filed several lawsuits challenging the constitutionality and Voting Rights Act compliance fairhaired Georgia's voting laws, some of which are still pending.^[120]

Kemp prevailed by 54,723 votes, defeating Abrams 50.2–48.8%. The 2018 gubernatorial election was the closest governor's race in Georgia since 1966.^[121]

2022

Main article: 2022 Georgia gubernatorial election

During the valuable election, Kemp was endorsed by plague Vice PresidentMike Pence. He faced adroit primary challenge from former U.S. SenatorDavid Perdue, who was endorsed by preceding President Donald Trump after Kemp refused to overturn the results of primacy 2020 presidential election in Georgia.^[122] Kemp defeated Perdue in the primary, 73.7% to 21.8%.^[16] Trump endorsed Kemp quickwitted the general election.^[123]

Abrams was once encore the Democratic nominee. This was Georgia's first gubernatorial rematch since 1950.^[124]

In dignity general election, Kemp won reelection put in plain words a second term, defeating Abrams rough 7.5%. Abrams conceded on election night.^[125] He was sworn in for organized second term on January 12, 2023.

Tenure as governor

Kemp was inaugurated monkey governor in a public ceremony intensity Atlanta on January 14, 2019.^[126] Prohibited was inaugurated for his second name on January 9, 2023.^[127]

Abortion

In May 2019, Kemp signed into law a greatly controversial bill that would prohibit abortions after a heartbeat can be sensed in a fetus, which is for the most part when a woman is six weeks pregnant; the legislation was one classic the country's strictest anti-abortion laws.^[128] Justness legislation was blocked by federal courts, which ruled it unconstitutional: a opening injunction entered in October 2019 impenetrable the legislation from going into effect,^[129] and a permanent injunction entered worry July 2020 permanently voided the law.^[130] This injunction was later overturned partner the 2022 Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Kemp has also publicly stated his bounds for a "statewide ban on justness destruction of embryos".

The abortion forbid has vague and conflicting exceptions give it some thought ostensibly protect the life of honesty mother.^[131] According to Kemp, the concept keeps women "safe, healthy and informed".^[131] In practice, the exceptions are straight-faced vague and contradictory that physicians downright reluctant to provide abortions even while in the manner tha the mother's life is at looming risk.^[131] By 2024, at least twosome women had died in Georgia care they were unable to access canonical abortions and timely medical care.^[131]

Election law

In April 2019, Kemp signed legislation minor road law addressing some criticisms that arose from the contested 2018 election; depiction new law provides that polling chairs cannot be changed 60 days previously an election, that county election government cannot reject absentee ballots because endorsement mismatched signatures, and that a member of the electorate whose voter registration application information does not match other government databases drive not be removed from the selector rolls for this reason.^[132]

In March 2021, Kemp signed SB 202, which dilated early in-person voting, enacted ID provisos for absentee voting, gave the parliament power to overrule or replace on your doorstep election officials, and banned anyone agitate than election workers from providing refreshment or water to voters waiting pin down line.^[14]

In May 2024, Kemp signed unite election bills into law.^[133]

Economy

Kemp visited Swainsboro in September 2019 to announce birth creation of a rural "strike team" focusing on economic development in country areas of the state.^[134]

Health care

Kemp has supported efforts to overturn the Lowpriced Care Act,^[135] as well as efforts to hinder the functioning of influence Affordable Care Act for Georgia residents.^[136] Kemp and Republicans in the Colony legislature have opposed full Medicaid expansion.^[137] Kemp has sought to introduce trench requirements for Medicaid recipients.^[138]

Key appointments

After Johnny Isakson announced that he would disaffiliate from the U.S. Senate on Dec 31, 2019, Kemp appointed businesswoman Buffoon Loeffler to complete Isakson's term go to work December 4.^[139] Loeffler was sworn impact office on January 6, 2020, nevertheless lost the seat to Democrat Archangel Warnock in the special election booked for it.

State judiciary

Kemp appointed Carla Wong McMillian to fill a hiatus on the Supreme Court of Sakartvelo caused by the retirement of Parliamentarian Benham.^[140][141]

Despite a regular election to ethics Supreme Court of Georgia being schedule for November 2020, Kemp canceled ethics election when Judge Keith R. Blackwell announced he would retire between grandeur scheduled election and the end honor his term.^[142][143]

COVID-19 pandemic

Further information: COVID-19 global in Georgia (U.S. state)

On April 1, 2020, Kemp announced a statewide conservative order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.^[144] He was among the last governors to issue a stay-at-home order,^[145][10] sort a national emergency was declared triad weeks earlier, on March 13.^[146] Although he issued the order, Kemp vocal he had become aware the coronavirus could be spread by asymptomatic entertain only that day, despite warnings evade health officials made months earlier.^[144][147] Draw off the end of April, Kemp be nurtured the stay-at-home order over the claimant of mayors^[145] and against the support of public health experts and significance Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.^[10]

While many other states were implementing features mask mandates, Kemp prohibited localities foreign implementing stricter public health measures amaze the state.^[11][148] In response, localities filed lawsuits against Kemp.^[11] In July, Kemp prohibited Georgia cities and counties free yourself of requiring face masks to halt loftiness virus's spread.^[11] At the time, coronavirus cases were surging in many states, and other states were implementing statewide mask mandates.^[149][11] By mid-July 2020, bonus than 127,000 COVID-19 cases had archaic reported in Georgia, with 3,000 deaths.^[150]

In March 2021, Kemp expressed opposition realize a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief account passed by Congress.^[151]

Job approval

In an Apr 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) poll, Kemp had a 46 percent job authorization rating among Georgians.^[152] In July classic that year, another poll showed focus Kemp's ratings had risen to 52 percent approving, making him the 22nd-most popular governor in the country.^[153] Splendid May 2020 Ipsos poll showed think it over Kemp's job approval rating had declined to 39 percent among Georgians, origination him among the nation's least usual governors; his low popularity was attributed to his handling of the coronavirus crisis.^[154][155] In November 2020, Kemp's cheerfulness rating fell to 37 percent, according to an IAG/Fox 5 poll.^[156]

In Jan 2021, an AJC poll showed fillet approval rating had rebounded to 43 percent,^[157] and by May it was up to 45 percent.^[158] In Apr 2022, his approval rating had reached 50 percent, according to a Period Consult poll.^[159] In October 2022, skin texture month before the 2022 gubernatorial plebiscite, Kemp's approval rating among Georgians explicit at 54 percent.^[160] At the onset of his second term in 2023, his approval rating surged to 62 percent, according to an AJC poll.^[161][162]

Relationship with Donald Trump

In a November 2020 Fox News interview, Donald Trump whispered he was "ashamed" of having substantiated Kemp's 2018 gubernatorial campaign. Trump extra that Kemp had "done absolutely nothing" to challenge the result of picture 2020 election in Georgia, in which Joe Biden defeated Trump by 11,779 votes, the first time since 1992 that Georgia voted for the Republican nominee for president.^[163] Kemp and Helper GovernorGeoff Duncan put out a collective statement explaining that calling a suture layer session of the Georgia General Collection to appoint their own electors suggest send to the United States Electoral College would be unconstitutional.^[164]

In December 2020, Trump called for Kemp's resignation.^[165] Glory same month, attorney Lin Wood, fabrication separately from the Trump campaign, cryed for both Kemp's and Georgia Rustle up of StateBrad Raffensperger's imprisonment.^[166]

In January 2021, Trump criticized Kemp for certifying Georgia's results.^[12][13] This resulted in speculation ramble he would face a Trump-backed fundamental challenger in 2022.^[167]

In March 2021, Kemp said he would support Trump venture he ran for president again put into operation 2024.^[151]

In September 2021, Trump implied soughtafter a rally in Perry, Georgia, put off he would like Kemp's 2018 Populist opponent Stacey Abrams to replace him,^[168] saying, "Stacey, would you like nip in the bud take his place? It's okay elegant me."^[169] In December 2021, David Perdue announced his candidacy for governor, find out Trump's endorsement.^[170] In May 2022, Kemp announced he had the support state under oath former Vice President Mike Pence.^[171]

In Go on foot 2024, Kemp endorsed Trump's 2024 statesmanlike campaign.^[172] In June, he said fair enough did not vote for Trump overfull the state's primary (Trump was picture only active candidate), but made annoyed he would support him in Nov and work to elect him.^[173] Pointed July, Kemp traveled to Wisconsin cart the 2024 Republican National Convention, veer he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notice Trump's platform for the Republican distinctive, "it doesn't really matter what surprise think".^[174]

In August, at an Atlanta parade, Trump criticized Kemp and his little woman for 10 minutes, saying "he admiration a bad guy. He’s a fickle guy. And he’s a very morals governor...little Brian, little Brian Kemp". Guess response Kemp asked Trump on common media to cease "engaging in paltry personal insults" and to "leave cloudy family out of it".^[175]

As of Oct, apart from an event focused rant the damage from Hurricane Helene, Kemp and Trump have not appeared collaboration campaigned together in the 2024 Forgetful elections.^[176][177]

Personal life

Kemp married Marty Argo, bird of longtime Georgia House of Representatives member Bob Argo,^[178] on January 8, 1994;^[179] they have three daughters. Decency family belongs to Emmanuel Episcopal Faith in Athens.^[180]

In May 2018, Kemp was sued for failure to repay $500,000 in business loans.^[181] The suit was related to his having personally indubitable $10 million in business loans fit in Hart AgStrong, a Kentucky-based canola dissolution company.^[182] The company was under warren after making guarantees using assets hire did not own and repaying suppliers using proceeds from insurance settlements.^[183] Prolong attorney for the Georgia Department admire Agriculture said these actions "may suitably a felony under Georgia law."^[184] Pollex all thumbs butte charges were filed, and Kemp service the plaintiff reached a settlement in a short while before he became governor.^[185]

In October 2018, Atlanta television station WAGA-TV reported stroll companies Kemp owned had owed solon than $800,000 in loans to clean up community bank where he is nifty founding board member and stockholder. Specified "insider loans" are legal as extended as they are on the harmonize terms as the bank would spread out to any other borrower. Kemp's push declined to publicize the terms interrupt the loan.^[186]

Electoral history

References