by Bronson Winslow
In the 2022 Georgia gubernatorial election, Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp defeated Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams for the second consecutive time.
Kemp won 54% of the vote, with 86% reporting, according to NBC News. Abrams received 45.3% of the vote.
During his first term as governor, Kemp focused on a “safer, stronger Georgia,” working towards a $1 billion tax rebate while also prioritizing public safety through funding police, investing in education and supporting election integrity and family values, concepts he intends to continue focusing on during his second term as governor, according to his website. Abrams campaigned to expand Medicaid, support education, provide free technical college and needs based financial aid while also providing affordable housing – “all without raising taxes,” according to her website.
Kemp tracked above Abrams throughout the race with an aggregated Five Thirty Eights poll placing the incumbent 7.5% ahead on Monday.
Kemp originally defeated Abrams in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election, leading Abrams to file a lawsuit against Kemp alleging he had worked to suppress voters. This year, the candidates rekindled the controversy, sparring over the alleged “Jim Crow 2.0” election integrity law during their October debate, while also touching on upward mobility, education and crime.
🚨BREAKING🚨 According to Projections Gov. Brian Kemp has been re-elected Governor of Georgia #Midterms2022 pic.twitter.com/iKn8KgKdIi
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 9, 2022
“For someone to say that we have been suppressive in our state or we’ve seen turnout increase over the years, including with minorities like African-Americans, Latinos and others is simply not true. And again, Miss Abrams is going to lie about my record because she doesn’t want to talk about her own,” Kemp said during the debate.
Abrams previously came under fire for her support of the defund the police movement, but looped back on her stance in October, stating that she “does not and never has supported defunding the police,” a spokesperson told Fox News. During the October debate between the two candidates, Abrams doubled down on the claim that she is a lifetime supporter of the police, despite a 2020 appearance on CNN where she agreed with “some defunding” and called for the relocation of police resources.
The voter suppression debate was rekindled after Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Shane Hazel complained about ballot access for third parties once again leading Abrams to claim that Kemp was suppressing votes. “We need a governor, who believes in access to the right to vote and not in voter suppression, which is the hallmark of Brian Kemp’s leadership,” Abrams said during the debate.
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Bronson Winslow is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Brian Kemp” by Brian Kemp. Photo “Stacey Abrams” by Stacey Abrams.
