Brian Kemp
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| Brian Kemp | |
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| Name | Brian Kemp |
| Birth date | May 2, 1963 |
| Birth place | Athens, Georgia |
| Nationality | American |
| Office | 83rd Governor of Georgia |
| Term start | January 14, 2019 |
| Predecessor | Nathan Deal |
| Party | Republican Party |
| Spouse | Sandra Deal |
Brian Kemp Brian Kemp is an American politician and member of the Republican Party who has served as the 83rd Governor of Georgia since 2019. Before his governorship he served as Secretary of State of Georgia and represented parts of Georgia in the Georgia State Senate and the Georgia House of Representatives. His tenure has involved high-profile disputes over voting policy, economic development, and state law enforcement priorities.
Early life and education
Kemp was born in Athens, Georgia and raised on a family farm near Crawford County. He attended University of Georgia where he studied political science and played intramural activities, later transferring to University of Georgia School of Law programs in some reports; he earned a degree in agriculture and returned to manage his family's agricultural operations in Baldwin County. His early connections included local chapters of Future Farmers of America, agricultural cooperatives, and county-level chapters of the Republican Party.
Early political career
Kemp's electoral career began with service in the Georgia House of Representatives where he represented a rural district in the General Assembly. He later won a seat in the Georgia State Senate where he served on committees related to agriculture and state fiscal issues. During this period he worked with statewide figures such as Sonny Perdue, Nathan Deal, and lawmakers from the Georgia Legislature to advance legislation on agricultural subsidies and local infrastructure projects. Kemp also held leadership positions in county-level organizations including the Northeast Georgia Farmers Association and local Republican groups.
Secretary of State of Georgia
Elected as Secretary of State of Georgia in 2010, Kemp oversaw state functions including corporate filings, professional licensing, and election administration. He launched initiatives to modernize parts of the state's business registration system and engaged with federal entities such as the United States Department of Homeland Security on voter registration databases. Kemp's office cooperated with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and state courts on matters ranging from notary regulation to interstate compact coordination. His tenure as secretary drew attention from national organizations including the National Association of Secretaries of State and advocacy groups focused on election integrity like the Voting Rights Lab.
2018 gubernatorial campaign
Kemp ran for governor in 2018 in a contest that drew national interest and endorsements from figures including President Donald Trump and state leaders such as Nathan Deal. The campaign featured debates with Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams and intensive outreach across metropolitan centers such as Atlanta and rural counties across Georgia. Issues included voting access, healthcare disputes involving Affordable Care Act debates, and economic development plans tied to projects promoted by entities like the Georgia Department of Economic Development. The race triggered litigation in state courts including the Supreme Court of Georgia and prompted involvement by national political organizations like the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee.
Governor of Georgia
As governor, Kemp has prioritized policies on tax reform, workforce development, and recruitment of corporate investment through the Georgia Department of Economic Development and partnerships with corporations such as Delta Air Lines and The Home Depot. He signed legislation affecting criminal justice reforms, transportation funding overseen by the Georgia Department of Transportation, and measures impacting state regulatory agencies like the Georgia Public Service Commission. His administration engaged with federal agencies including the United States Department of Justice on voting-rights litigation and with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during public-health responses.
Political positions and governance
Kemp's positions align with many mainstream Republican priorities: support for lower taxes, business-friendly regulation, and conservative appointments to state courts including nominations considered by the Georgia Judicial Nominating Commission. He has taken stances on immigration enforcement that intersect with policies of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has supported law enforcement initiatives coordinated with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and local sheriffs' offices. On healthcare, Kemp opposed Medicaid expansion under proposals related to the Affordable Care Act, while promoting state-level alternatives and workforce training through institutions like the Technical College System of Georgia. Kemp's tenure also included responses to election-security concerns involving the Election Assistance Commission and high-profile federal investigations.
Personal life and controversies
Kemp's personal background as a farmer in Baldwin County and member of local civic groups has informed his political identity; he is married and has children. His career has been marked by controversies and legal challenges including allegations related to voter-roll maintenance while he was Secretary of State of Georgia and disputes arising from the 2018 election outcome involving Stacey Abrams and subsequent federal inquiries. Kemp faced scrutiny from voting-rights advocates such as the ACLU and civil-rights organizations including the NAACP; his actions also prompted responses from conservative advocacy groups like the Heritage Foundation and state business associations such as the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Debates over his record have led to litigation in venues including the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and brought national attention from media outlets and policymakers in Washington, D.C..