Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger
Name	Brad Raffensperger
Office	Secretary of State of Georgia
Term start	January 14, 2019
Predecessor	Brian Kemp
Birth date	18 March 1955
Birth place	Campbellton, Georgia
Party	Republican Party
Spouse	Trish Raffensperger
Alma mater	Georgia Institute of Technology; Emory University School of Law

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger

Brad Raffensperger is an American politician and civil engineer serving as Secretary of State of Georgia since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he is known for his work on election administration and voting systems as well as for his role in the aftermath of the 2020 United States presidential election. Raffensperger's background combines technical training from Georgia Institute of Technology and legal education from Emory University School of Law with private-sector experience in construction and real estate development.

Early life and education

Raffensperger was born in Campbellton, Georgia and raised in Gwinnett County, Georgia. He attended Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned a degree in civil engineering and studied alongside peers from Engineering schools in the United States and engaged with campus groups connected to Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He later obtained a Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law, joining alumni networks that include graduates active in Georgia politics, Atlanta business, and regional legal practice.

Early career and private sector work

After graduation Raffensperger worked as a civil engineer and founded a private firm involved in residential construction and real estate development in the Atlanta metropolitan area. His firms contracted with regional builders and engaged with Gwinnett County zoning boards, DeKalb County permitting offices, and local planning commissions. He also served on boards and advisory panels connected to professional engineering societies and participated in regional initiatives with organizations such as the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association.

Political career

Raffensperger entered elected office as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing a district in Gwinnett County. In the legislature he served on committees that interfaced with state infrastructure and regulatory oversight, interacting with lawmakers from the Georgia General Assembly including members aligned with Brian Kemp, David Ralston, and Stacey Abrams. He sponsored and supported bills touching on local development, taxation matters, and administrative procedures, and he cultivated relationships with county officials in Fulton County, Cobb County, and Henry County. In 2018 he ran for Secretary of State of Georgia in a contested Republican primary and subsequent general election, defeating opponents who included figures from the Georgia Republican Party and advocates connected to national groups such as The Heritage Foundation and Club for Growth.

Tenure as Georgia Secretary of State

As Secretary of State Raffensperger oversaw the Georgia State Elections Board, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's coordination on election security matters, and the implementation of voting technologies including touchscreen voting machines and ballot scanners procured from vendors also used in other states like Florida and Texas. His office worked with federal entities including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and state partners such as the Georgia Department of Public Health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia to adjust procedures for absentee ballots, early voting, and polling place operations. He engaged with corporations and nonpartisan groups including The Pew Charitable Trusts, Bipartisan Policy Center, and the National Association of Secretaries of State on standards for election security, voter registration modernization, and chain of custody protocols.

2020 election and controversies

Raffensperger became a nationally prominent figure during and after the 2020 United States presidential election when Georgia's results were contested by allies of then-president Donald Trump. He faced pressure from state and national figures, including a widely publicized January 2021 phone call with Donald Trump in which Trump urged him to "find" votes, and interactions involving Rudy Giuliani and members of the Trump campaign. Raffensperger and his office certified election results showing Joe Biden carried Georgia, leading to litigation in state and federal courts such as filings in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and review by the Georgia Supreme Court. His actions prompted responses from state actors including Governor Brian Kemp, Secretary of State offices in other states, and federal investigations by the United States Department of Justice. The period also saw legislative proposals in the Georgia General Assembly to change election administration rules, responses from voting rights advocates like Fair Fight Action and The Brennan Center for Justice, and scrutiny from news organizations such as The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Personal life and affiliations

Raffensperger is married to Trish Raffensperger and they reside in Milton, Georgia in Fulton County. He is a member of professional and civic organizations including the American Society of Civil Engineers, local chambers such as the Greater Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and faith communities within Georgia. He has appeared on media outlets including CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and in interviews with journalists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and national newspapers. Raffensperger continues to interact with state and national elected officials, nonprofit organizations, and private-sector partners in matters related to election administration, public policy, and state law.

Category:Secretaries of State of Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Republican Party (United States) politicians from Georgia Category:Georgia Tech alumni Category:Emory University School of Law alumni