FILE – Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams speaks to the media after qualifying for the 2022 general election, Tuesday, March 8, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Bryn Anderson, file)
Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams conceded defeat in a rematch with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday. their 2018 game.
According to his campaign, Abrams called Kemp to back down and took the stage minutes later to congratulate the governor.
“I may no longer seek governorship, but I will never stop doing what I can to make sure the people of Georgia have a voice,” she said.
Kemp, who was a developer before serving as state senator and secretary of state, won another term despite attacks from former President Donald Trump threatening to kill support from his own party.
“Well, it looks like reports of my political death have been greatly exaggerated,” Kemp told supporters after backing down.
The Associated Press has yet to call a game Tuesday night.
Camp, 59, appeared to falter among Republicans after the 2020 presidential election when Trump accused him of not doing enough to overthrow President Joe Biden narrowly wins in GeorgiaTrump helped lure former U.S. Senator David Perdue into a major challenge to Kemp, whom he called a “complete failure.”
But Kemp left Perdue during the Republican primary, winning nearly 74 percent of the vote.Kemp patiently explained his electoral moves to Republicans, even as he used his office to sign bills that satisfied conservatives Relax gun lawstax cuts and a ban on the “split concept” in schools.
During the campaign, Kemp highlighted his stewardship of the nation’s economy and his decision to ease public restrictions early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also used federal and state funds to provide billions of dollars in tax breaks and relief. Kemp pushed for laws to suspend state gas taxes, provide $1 billion in state income tax rebates, and even provide $350 in public assistance to everyone in the state. He also promised another income and property tax cut if re-elected, describing the cash as helping Georgians “fight 40 years of high inflation and high oil prices,” which he blamed on Biden, Abrams and others Democrats.
Nearly half of Georgia voters say the economy is the most pressing issue facing the country. AP pollan extensive survey of more than 3,000 voters in the state.
About one-third of Georgians say their households are behind financially. The majority of those voters voted for Kemp and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker.
A small fraction of voters who say their households are financially healthy, about one in 10, are more likely to vote for Democratic candidates, including Abrams and U.S. Senator Rafael Warnock.
Rising costs were cited as a top concern for voters in the state, with about nine in 10 saying higher prices for groceries, gas and other goods were a big factor in their vote. Of those who said they factored inflation into their voting decisions, about half said the cost of groceries and food was the most important factor.
Abrams, a lawyer whose loss to Kemp in 2018 helped her become a Democratic star, would become the first black woman in the United States to serve as governor if she wins.
In the four years since her failure, Abrams has set the stage for another game. She founded a powerful voting rights advocacy group — Action Fair Fight — and built her personal fortune as Democrats devoured her books and paid to attend her speeches.
Her national profile is so high that she is considered a possible running mate for Biden, and even herself a presidential candidate. That helped Abrams leapfrog Kemp with the help of a state law that allows gubernatorial candidates to accept unlimited donations through relevant committees.
Abrams had raised $85 million by Sept. 30, but even Kemp’s $60 million would be a record for Georgia’s gubernatorial campaign so far as he tries to build a national fundraising base. Abrams’ economic advantage will never be enough to win the race — Kemp has been in the lead throughout the polls.
Abrams, 48, has launched a campaign she once described as “full of plans”, including massive pay raises for teachers, legalizing casinos and sports gambling to pay for more college bursaries, Expand Medicaid Medicare, help small and minority businesses, and make housing more affordable. Abrams, meanwhile, has pledged to tighten Georgia’s gun laws and lift abortion restrictions, arguing that Kemp is far from moderate.
“The most dangerous thing Georgia faces is another four years from Brian Kemp,” Abrams said during the Oct. 17 debate.
About seven in 10 voters also cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the constitutional right to abortion as an important factor in their vote. About a quarter of voters described it as the single most important factor; those voters were more likely to vote for Warnock and Abrams.
Kemp has frequently attacked Abrams, accusing her of not supporting the police. AP VoteCast found that a significant number of voters believe crime was a factor in their vote. More than eight in 10 voters described it as an important issue.About 8 in 10 Georgians say they are concerned about crime in their community
Jeff Amy, Associated Press
US election