Brian is originally from Athens, Georgia. He has a bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Georgia. He lives with his wife, Marty, and their three daughters. They attend Emmanuel Episcopal Church.

Brian is the founder and owner of Kemp Development and Construction Company.

Ballotpedia

Brian Kemp is currently the governor of Georgia. He was first elected in 2018 and has been in office for one term. He was also Georgia Secretary of State for two terms and a state senator from 2003 until 2007.

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The News Courier

Supports a Parental Bill of Rights to give parents the right to move involvement in schools.

Opposes “divisive ideologies” in the classroom such as education about race and racism.

As Governor, gave the largest teacher pay raise in Georgia's history of $5,000.

Supports access to mental health resources in schools.

As Governor, helped pass the "Unmask Georgia Act" (SB 514), which banned schools from requiring students to wear face masks at school.

- Supports a Parental Bill of Rights to give parents the right to move involvement in schools. 
- Opposes “divisive ideologies” in the classroom such as education about race and racism. 
- As Governor, gave the largest teacher pay raise in Georgia's history of $5,000.
- Supports access to mental health resources in schools.
- As Governor, helped pass the "Unmask Georgia Act" (SB 514), which banned schools from requiring students to wear face masks at school.

Education

Said, “unemployment rates are at all-time lows, job creation and investment numbers are through the roof, and businesses of all sizes are thriving”.

As Governor, he signed HB 1302, which lowered taxes by $1 billion.

Supports attracting investments to rural Georgia to grow the economy. As Governor, he finalized an agreement with a major electrical vehicle company, Rivian, to build a manufacturing plant in the state.

- Said, “unemployment rates are at all-time lows, job creation and investment numbers are through the roof, and businesses of all sizes are thriving”. 
- As Governor, he signed HB 1302, which lowered taxes by $1 billion.
- Supports attracting investments to rural Georgia to grow the economy. As Governor, he finalized an agreement with a major electrical vehicle company, Rivian, to build a manufacturing plant in the state.

Economy

LegiScan

Georgia Recorder

Supports lower costs and increased access to healthcare across the state.

As Governor, proposed initiatives to add more healthcare professionals.

As Governor, passed a limited Medicaid expansion plan, which gave insurance to certain Georgians who meet work and activity requirements, such as working more than 80 hours a month. The plan also diverts Georgians from buying insurance from healthcare.gov to purchasing through private insurance companies.

As Governor, signed into law the Heartbeat bill, which banned most abortions in Georgia after six weeks.

In 2022, opposed statewide mask mandates and, on occasion, citywide mandates.

- Supports lower costs and increased access to healthcare across the state.
- As Governor, proposed initiatives to add more healthcare professionals.
- As Governor, passed a limited Medicaid expansion plan, which gave insurance to certain Georgians who meet work and activity requirements, such as working more than 80 hours a month. The plan also diverts Georgians from buying insurance from healthcare.gov to purchasing through private insurance companies.
- As Governor, signed into law the Heartbeat bill, which banned most abortions in Georgia after six weeks. 
- In 2022, opposed statewide mask mandates and, on occasion, citywide mandates.

Healthcare

GA Gov

As Governor, he advocated and signed SB 202 into law, which he calls "the nation’s top-rated election integrity law."

- As Governor, he advocated and signed SB 202 into law, which he calls "the nation’s top-rated election integrity law."

Voting & Elections

WALB News

Georgia.gov

As Governor, gave all police officers a $1,000 bonus.

Wants to continue “cracking down on gang activity and human trafficking.”

As Governor, spent $5.6 million for the Law Enforcement Training Grant Program. This program pays for use-of-force and de-escalation training for law enforcement officers.

Supports the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms, including getting rid of gun permits.

As Governor, signed HB 479, which repealed citizen's arrest in most cases in Georgia. This bill was created in direct response to the death of Ahmaud Arbery, whose killers said they were doing a citizen's arrest.

- As Governor, gave all police officers a $1,000 bonus.
- Wants to continue “cracking down on gang activity and human trafficking.”
- As Governor, spent $5.6 million for the Law Enforcement Training Grant Program. This program pays for use-of-force and de-escalation training for law enforcement officers.
- Supports the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms, including getting rid of gun permits. 
- As Governor, signed HB 479, which repealed citizen's arrest in most cases in Georgia. This bill was created in direct response to the death of Ahmaud Arbery, whose killers said they were doing a citizen's arrest.

Public Safety

Brian Kemp

Shane is originally from Alma, Michigan. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia.

Shane is a podcast host. He has a podcasted called Radical. He was in the Marines from 2001 until 2009. He used to work in business.

Shane Hazel ran for congress as a Republican in 2018 and was not elected.

Wants to get rid of public education and believes that public schools are "government indoctrination camps."

- Wants to get rid of public education and believes that public schools are "government indoctrination camps."

Wants to get rid of all property and income taxes and said "[t]axation is Theft [sic]."

Plans to get rid of "as many regulations as I can," such as labor laws.

- Wants to get rid of all property and income taxes and said "[t]axation is Theft [sic]."
- Plans to get rid of "as many regulations as I can," such as labor laws.

Wants to completely privatize healthcare and get rid of all health mandates, such as the Affordable Care Act.

- Wants to completely privatize healthcare and get rid of all health mandates, such as the Affordable Care Act.

Wants to get rid of government and replace it with Bitcoin so that people will vote "for the goods and services they want with their money."

Said, "Georgia elections have always been rigged."

- Wants to get rid of government and replace it with Bitcoin so that people will vote "for the goods and services they want with their money." 
- Said, "Georgia elections have always been rigged."

Wants to make all non-violent crimes legal and pardon all non-violent prisoners, while "[v]iolent offenders will be dealt with extreme prejudice."

Said, "[a]s the chief executive it is my duty to stand in armed opposition to all that would abuse peaceful people."

- Wants to make all non-violent crimes legal and pardon all non-violent prisoners, while "[v]iolent offenders will be dealt with extreme prejudice." 
- Said, "[a]s the chief executive it is my duty to stand in armed opposition to all that would abuse peaceful people."

Shane Hazel

Stacey is originally from Gulfport, Mississippi. She has a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies from Spelman College, a master's degree in public administration from the University of Texas, and a law degree from Yale. She was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2021.

Stacey is an author, entrepreneur, and a business owner. She is the CEO of Sage Works Production, a production company. She was also the co-founder of NOW Account, a financial services firm. She used to work as a tax attorney for a law firm in Atlanta. She founded multiple political organizations, including the New Georgia Project, Fair Fight Action and Fair Fight PAC, Fair Count, and the Southern Economic Advancement Project.

Stacey Abrams previously ran for Governor in 2018 and was not elected. She was a state representative from 2007 to 2017. She was the House minority leader from 2011 to 2017.

Supports universal pre-k and childcare. Her proposed program would pay all childcare costs that exceed 10% of a family's income. She said, "... the average annual cost of infant care in Georgia is $7,644, an amount that leaves many parents feeling as if affordable child care is out of reach."

Wants to update Georgia's education funding formula to increase public education funding.

Wants to focus on the recruitment and retainment of teachers through permanent teacher pay increases and partnerships with Georgia colleges.

Said, "\[I will] reject attempts to teach children misinformation in the public school system. Some topics like slavery, segregation or the Trail of Tears are difficult, but our children must be given age-appropriate lessons and context."

Supports tuition-free technical colleges, investing in HBCUs and HSIs, restoring academic tenure, and funding need-based scholarships.

- Supports universal pre-k and childcare. Her proposed program would pay all childcare costs that exceed 10% of a family's income. She said, "... the average annual cost of infant care in Georgia is $7,644, an amount that leaves many parents feeling as if affordable child care is out of reach."
- Wants to update Georgia's education funding formula to increase public education funding. 
- Wants to focus on the recruitment and retainment of teachers through permanent teacher pay increases and partnerships with Georgia colleges.
- Opposes private school voucher programs.
- Said, "\[I will] reject attempts to teach children misinformation in the public school system. Some topics like slavery, segregation or the Trail of Tears are difficult, but our children must be given age-appropriate lessons and context."
- Supports tuition-free technical colleges, investing in HBCUs and HSIs, restoring academic tenure, and funding need-based scholarships.

Supports stronger protections for workers, including paid sick leave, expanding unemployment insurance, and preventing employment misclassification.

Wants to ensure that Georgia's new infrastructure funding is distributed transparently and equitably.

Wants to support development in rural Georgia by expanding internet access, updating rural education funding formulas, and funding rural hospitals.

Wants to expand support for entrepreneurs and small businesses, including further investment into small business capital funds.

Supports expanding transportation options, including long-distance passenger trains, local commuter trains, and local commuter buses.

Wants to increase access to housing, including affordable housing. She said, "Renting families and law-abiding, responsible landlords deserve common-sense legal reforms that will make our courts work better for families and property owners."

Supports incentives for residents and builders that adopt clean energy sources, including biomass, hydro, solar, and wind.

- Supports stronger protections for workers, including paid sick leave, expanding unemployment insurance, and preventing employment misclassification.
- Wants to ensure that Georgia's new infrastructure funding is distributed transparently and equitably.
- Wants to support development in rural Georgia by expanding internet access, updating rural education funding formulas, and funding rural hospitals.
- Wants to expand support for entrepreneurs and small businesses, including further investment into small business capital funds. 
- Supports expanding transportation options, including long-distance passenger trains, local commuter trains, and local commuter buses.
- Wants to increase access to housing, including affordable housing. She said, "Renting families and law-abiding, responsible landlords deserve common-sense legal reforms that will make our courts work better for families and property owners."
- Supports incentives for residents and builders that adopt clean energy sources, including biomass, hydro, solar, and wind.

Said, “All Georgians deserve access to quality, affordable health care services”.

Supports expanding Medicaid and abortion access.

Supports programs to recruit and retain more healthcare workers, particularly in rural communities. She also wants to "grow our network of community health workers, doulas, home-visiting service providers and peer support specialists."

Wants to establish a "Health Equity Action Team" to help Georgians navigate the healthcare process. She said, "I will also require the health plans doing business with the state to identify and address health care disparities in access and outcomes within the populations they serve."

- Said, “All Georgians deserve access to quality, affordable health care services”. 
- Supports expanding Medicaid and abortion access. 
- Supports programs to recruit and retain more healthcare workers, particularly in rural communities. She also wants to "grow our network of community health workers, doulas, home-visiting service providers and peer support specialists."
- Wants to establish a "Health Equity Action Team" to help Georgians navigate the healthcare process. She said, "I will also require the health plans doing business with the state to identify and address health care disparities in access and outcomes within the populations they serve."

Said, “\[a]s founder of multiple organizations promoting and protecting the right to vote, I have demonstrated a commitment to a strong democracy in Georgia and beyond.”

Supports making the voting process more convenient, including same-day voter registration and quick processing of voter registration applications.

Wants to work with counties to ensure polling places are fairly allocated, stable, and convenient. She also supports "mobile voting precincts to assist seniors, disabled Georgians and Georgians voting in areas with long wait times"

Wants to end arbitrary rejection of ballots.

Said, "I will veto maps with gerrymandered districts, whether state legislative or Congressional. Moreover, we must end the practice of state interference and restore local control in local elections."

- Said, “\[a]s founder of multiple organizations promoting and protecting the right to vote, I have demonstrated a commitment to a strong democracy in Georgia and beyond.”
- Supports making the voting process more convenient, including same-day voter registration and quick processing of voter registration applications.
- Wants to work with counties to ensure polling places are fairly allocated, stable, and convenient. She also supports "mobile voting precincts to assist seniors, disabled Georgians and Georgians voting in areas with long wait times"
- Wants to end arbitrary rejection of ballots.
- Said, "I will veto maps with gerrymandered districts, whether state legislative or Congressional. Moreover, we must end the practice of state interference and restore local control in local elections."

Supports increased accountability for gun safety, including repealing “campus carry” on college campuses and stopping perpetrators of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking from obtaining guns.

Wants to establish a standard minimum salary for all law enforcement.

Supports developing "law enforcement training standards that help de-escalate violence, improve engagement with vulnerable populations and reduce the need for use of force."

Supports restoring funding to diversion programs.

Wants to pass "clean slate" legislation, which would offer automatic criminal record clearing once someone remains crime-free for a set period of time.

- Supports increased accountability for gun safety, including repealing “campus carry” on college campuses and stopping perpetrators of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking from obtaining guns.
- Wants to establish a standard minimum salary for all law enforcement. 
- Supports developing "law enforcement training standards that help de-escalate violence, improve engagement with vulnerable populations and reduce the need for use of force."
- Supports restoring funding to diversion programs.
- Wants to pass "clean slate" legislation, which would offer automatic criminal record clearing once someone remains crime-free for a set period of time.

Stacey Abrams

- The Governor is similar to the President of the United States: they oversee the executive branch, sign bills into law and then enforce these laws, and act as the commander-in-chief of the state military.
- The Governor has a large influence over which new laws get passed because they can veto any legislation. Georgia lawmakers can only override a veto with a two-thirds majority in the State House and State Senate.
- The Governor appoints heads of various judicial and state offices including the: Department of Education, Department of Human Resources, Department of Public Safety, Department of Transportation, Department of Community Health, Department of Economic Development, and the Department of Natural Resources.
In case a state representative is not able to complete their term, the Governor can appoint a replacement until the end of the term. 
- The Governor is elected every 4 years in midterm election years (e.g., 2022, 2026, 2030). If a governor serves for eight years (two terms in a row), they must wait another four years before running again.

Georgia Governor

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