Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Georgia gubernatorial election, 2018 (July 24 Republican primary runoff)
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 9[1]
- Early voting: Oct. 15 - Nov. 2
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Voter ID: Photo ID required
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
2022 →
← 2014
|
Governor of Georgia |
---|
Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
Election details |
Filing deadline: March 9, 2018 |
Primary: May 22, 2018 Primary runoff: July 24, 2018 (if needed) General: November 6, 2018 General runoff: December 4, 2018 (if needed) Pre-election incumbent(s): Nathan Deal (Republican) |
How to vote |
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Georgia |
Race ratings |
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss-up Inside Elections: Tilt Republican |
Ballotpedia analysis |
Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2018 Impact of term limits in 2018 State government trifectas State government triplexes Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018 |
Georgia executive elections |
Governor Lieutenant governor |
Secretary of State Brian Kemp defeated Lieutenant Gov. Casey Cagle in the July 24 Republican runoff for Georgia's governorship. Kemp and Cagle were the top two finishers in the May 22 primary, where Cagle finished first with 39 percent and Kemp finished second with 25.5 percent. Kemp faced former state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams (D) in the general election to replace term-limited incumbent Nathan Deal (R).
President Donald Trump endorsed Kemp on July 18, and Vice President Mike Pence campaigned for him on July 21. The three Republican candidates who did not advance from the May 22 Republican primary—Hunter Hill, Clay Tippins, and Michael Williams—also endorsed Kemp.
Gov. Deal endorsed Cagle July 16, saying he was the best candidate to continue his legacy as governor.[2] Cagle argued he was the only candidate who could beat Abrams in the general election.[3]
The runoff’s tone was set the night of the May 22 primary when Kemp told his supporters, "[Cagle] is not a leader, he’s a puppet."[4] Cagle said Kemp offered "little other than gimmicks."[5] After that, the candidates levied a number of attacks at each other focused on policy disputes, personal ethics, and professional competence. Because of the runoff's tone, they held a unity rally on July 26 for Cagle to endorse Kemp.
Cagle aired campaign ads drawing attention to Kemp’s record and calling him incompetent. Cagle said Kemp was responsible for the accidental release of Georgia voter data to media outlets in 2015, did not repay loans he guaranteed for an agricultural company, accepted illegal campaign contributions from businesses he regulated, and was not a vocal supporter of Donald Trump in 2016.
Kemp criticized Cagle after Clay Tippins released a secretly-recorded conversation with Cagle. In the recording, Cagle said he pushed for passage of an education bill he opposed to prevent Hunter Hill from receiving financial support from a pro-school choice group. Kemp also said that Cagle was funded by special interest groups and lobbyists, improperly used a state airplane at taxpayer expense, and would try to legalize casino gambling if elected governor.
Before May 22, Kemp’s ads emphasized his positions on immigration and gun policy. Kemp said he wanted to put Georgia's focus on the needs of rural Georgia rather than metro Atlanta.[6]
Cagle emphasized his record as lieutenant governor and his plans to cut taxes and create jobs. He also blocked a tax break for Delta Airlines after it revoked a discount program for NRA members and announced he would send the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico Border at President Trump's request.[7]
Cagle consistently led in polling before May 22, leaving Kemp and Hunter Hill to battle for the second position in the runoff. Cagle reportedly decided he would rather face Kemp in the runoff, so he directed his campaign attacks against Hill in the final weeks of the campaign. Hill finished in third place with 18.3 percent of the vote.[4]
Candidates and election results
Brian Kemp defeated Casey Cagle in the Republican primary runoff for Governor of Georgia on July 24, 2018.
Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for Governor of Georgia
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Brian Kemp | 69.5 | 406,703 |
![]() | Casey Cagle | 30.5 | 178,893 |
Total votes: 585,596 | ||||
![]() | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Election updates
Noteworthy events
- July 9, 2018: Brian Kemp's campaign released another segment of the Cagle/Tippins recording. Read more below.
- June 7, 2018: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on a secret recording of a conversation between Casey Cagle and Clay Tippins. Read more below.
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
- July 20, 2018: An 11Alive/Survey USA poll showed Kemp leading Cagle 40-34 with 26 percent of voters undecided.
- July 19, 2018: A Fox5/Opinion Savvy poll showed Kemp leading Cagle 55-37 with 8 percent of voters undecided.
- July 13, 2018: A University of Georgia poll commissioned by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB found Brian Kemp leading Casey Cagle 44-41 with a 3.5 percentage point margin of error.
Endorsements
- July 21, 2018: Vice President Mike Pence (R) campaigned for Brian Kemp in Macon, Georgia.
- July 19, 2018: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) endorsed Kemp.
- July 18, 2018: President Trump (R) endorsed Kemp.
- July 18, 2018: Clay Tippins, the fourth-place finisher in the May 22 Republican primary, endorsed Kemp.
- July 16, 2018: Gov. Nathan Deal (R) endorsed Casey Cagle.
- July 15, 2018: Hunter Hill, the third-place finisher in the May 22 Republican primary, endorsed Kemp.
Candidate forums
- July 15, 2018: Cagle and Kemp met in a televised debate hosted by Channel 2 Action News. See a recap here.
- July 12, 2018: Cagle and Kemp met in a televised debate hosted by the Atlanta Press Club. See a recap here.
- July 5, 2018: Cagle and Kemp met in a televised debate in Columbus. See recaps here and here. Watch the full debate here.
Campaign finance
- July 9, 2018: Both candidates released campaign finance data from the June 30, 2018, filing deadline. Cagle's disclosures showed that he had raised $3.7 million and spent $6.9 million since April 1 and had $1.3 million in cash on hand. Kemp's disclosures showed that he had raised $1.6 million, spent $2.5 million, and had about $700,000 in cash on hand.
- June 27, 2018: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Casey Cagle's campaign reduced its television ad spending by $250,000 but had put $2 million total into ads.[8]
- June 20, 2018: Brian Kemp's campaign announced it had spent $1 million on television ads heading into the July 24 runoff.[9]
Satellite spending
- July 16, 2018: The Atlanta Journal-Constutution reported that A Better Georgia PAC had reserved $200,000 in air time to run anti-Cagle ads.
- June 29, 2018: Changing Georgia's Future, a pro-Cagle super PAC, disclosed $1.5 million in spending on television ads during the runoff period.
Candidates
Casey Cagle (R)
Lieutenant governor
The lieutenant governor of Georgia since 2007, Lowell S. "Casey" Cagle ran for the state's top executive position by emphasizing what he considered to be his accomplishments as lieutenant governor, particularly in technical school and apprenticeship programs, and on pledges to decrease taxes by $100 million and create 500,000 jobs in Georgia.[10]
Dr. Andra Gillespie of Emory University described Cagle as coming from the same wing of the Georgia Republican Party as outgoing Gov. Nathan Deal, who prioritized economic development and job creation.[11] Gov. Deal endorsed Cagle after the May 22 primary.
He boosted his profile in February 2018 when he announced he would block a $40 million tax break for Delta Airlines after the company ended a discount program for members of the National Rifle Association in the aftermath of a school shooting that killed 17 people. "Corporations cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back," Cagle said when announcing his position. Delta, one of the largest employers in Georgia, did not reverse its position and the tax breaks were removed.[12] The NRA endorsed Cagle on April 12.[13]
Cagle began to run for governor in 2010 but dropped out citing health issues and ran for lieutenant governor again. He was first elected lieutenant governor in 2006 after he defeated Christian Coalition Director Ralph Reed in the Republican primary. Before that he served as a state senator from Gainesville, Georgia, having first been elected in 1994. Prior to his entry into politics, Cagle was a businessman in Gainesville. He attended Georgia Southern University on a football scholarship.
Brian Kemp (R)
Secretary of state
Georgia's secretary of state since 2010, Brian Kemp ran for governor by emphasizing his plans to invest resources in rural Georgia, his background in business, and his support for President Donald Trump's agenda, most notably his immigration policies. “This is Georgia,” he said when announcing his campaign. “We will be putting Georgia first.” He also said he would “treat rural Georgia the same way we treat metro Atlanta.”[14][15]
After the May 22 primary, Kemp was endorsed by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence as well as former candidates Hunter Hill, Clay Tippins, and Michael Williams. Before May 22, Kemp was endorsed by Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens, state Rep. Susan Holmes, and former Libertarian presidential candidate Bobb Barr.
Before being elected as secretary of state in 2010, Kemp served in the Georgia State Senate from 2003 to 2007. He ran for state agriculture commissioner in 2006 and lost the Republican primary to Gary Black. His professional experience includes owning the Athens-based business Kemp Properties. Kemp graduated from the University of Georgia, where he earned a B.S. in agriculture.
Candidate list
- See also: Georgia gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 22 Republican primary)
- Note: Hayes and Urbach withdrew from the race, but still appeared on the primary ballot.
Republican primary candidates
Did not make the ballot:
Political analysis of the outcome
Political analysts focused on how President Trump's endorsement of Kemp affected the outcome.
- Greg Bluestein of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote the following on election night: "Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle was on the ropes before Donald Trump endorsed Secretary of State Brian Kemp, but the president delivered the knockout blow. Cagle conceded the race Tuesday night with early returns showing him trailing Kemp by a 2-1 margin, thanking his supporters for the “phenomenal campaign.” It was a swift and devastating defeat for a candidate who once seemed destined to win the party’s nod.
- Over the last year, Cagle built what seemed like an unstoppable campaign machine. He had prepared for the run for more than a decade, using his position as president of the state Senate to collect IOUs and build a grass-roots network. And by the time he announced his campaign for governor last summer, he had a November-friendly message that promised new jobs and modest tax cuts. The money soon followed: An astonishing $10.5 million – and he would have had more if not for a fundraising lull during the legislative session It was the type of imposing juggernaut meant to scare others out of the race. Except it didn’t. While a handful of high-profile contenders opted out, most Republicans who were already seriously considering the race wound up jumping in. Kemp, meanwhile, had already entered the contest months earlier...
- The primary vote revealed new weaknesses. Despite his huge fundraising advantage, Cagle captured just 39 percent of the vote, and pollsters found a soft spot of enthusiasm for the candidate. He also failed to win a majority of his native Hall County, which was the difference-maker in the 2010 GOP race. Then came the biggest bombshell of the race: The secretly recorded tape. It was made by Clay Tippins, a former GOP rival who used an iPhone in his coat pocket to tape a 90-minute conversation with Cagle, purportedly about offering an endorsement. Tippins said he was so disgusted with Cagle’s candid remarks that he wanted to go public, and the nine-minute segment of the tape he cut with his daughter’s help rocked the race. In the muffled audio, Cagle admits to supporting “bad public policy” to undercut Hill’s bid for office. Cagle’s campaign first hoped the tape would blow over, but another snippet was released with Cagle lamenting that the primary was a race “over who could be the craziest.” For Kemp, it was an epic gift: He had long tried to paint Cagle as a phony conservative; now he could use his own words against him.
- Cagle’s strong performance in the final televised debate last week energized his staffers, and the next day he nabbed Gov. Nathan Deal’s endorsement. That was seen as a turning point for his campaign – the governor is one of the most popular Republicans in the state – even though his announcement was rather understated: His support came during a question-and-answer session after an unrelated event. And then came the final jolt to the race: Trump’s tweet giving Kemp his “full and total” endorsement. It popped on a Wednesday afternoon, and there’s still question about who was behind it. But it might as well have been the nail in the campaign’s coffin. “We had the momentum in this race,” said Kemp shortly after his victory, “but those endorsements by the president and the vice president poured gasoline on the fire.” One insider showed a chart of Cagle’s tracking numbers nose-diving after Trump weighed in. His supporters were deflated, his campaign trail appearances more muted. Vice President Mike Pence’s visit Saturday only reinforced the point. By then, Kemp started acting like a front-runner, looking past Cagle toward the November election."
Unreal. Just got these two internal tracking polls from Cagle allies that showed how quickly @CaseyCagle numbers nose-dived when Trump endorsed @BrianKempGA #gapol pic.twitter.com/mEI6SDiyx7
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) July 25, 2018
- Erick Erickson, political commentator who endorsed Kemp: "The President's endorsement did not put Kemp into the lead. He was already there thanks to fall out from the Clay Tippins audio. But the President's endorsement ensured he would not fall out of the lead. Cagle lost all momentum and cratered."[16]
Timeline following May 22 primary
- July 21, 2018: Vice President Mike Pence (R) campaigned for Brian Kemp in Macon, Georgia.
- July 20, 2018: An 11Alive/Survey USA poll showed Kemp leading Cagle 40-34 with 26 percent of voters undecided.
- July 19, 2018: A Fox5/Opinion Savvy poll showed Kemp leading Cagle 55-37 with 8 percent of voters undecided.
- July 19, 2018: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) endorsed Kemp.
- July 18, 2018: President Trump endorsed Kemp.
- July 18, 2018: Clay Tippins, the fourth-place finisher in the May 22 Republican primary, endorsed Kemp.
- July 16, 2018: Gov. Nathan Deal (R) endorsed Casey Cagle.
- July 16, 2018: The Atlanta Journal-Constutution reported that A Better Georgia PAC had reserved $200,000 in air time to run anti-Cagle ads.
- July 15, 2018: Hunter Hill, the third-place finisher in the May 22 Republican primary, announced he would endorse Kemp.
- July 15, 2018: Cagle and Kemp met in a televised debate hosted by Channel 2 Action News. See a recap here.
- July 14, 2018: NRA President Oliver North held three rallies for Casey Cagle.[17]
- July 13, 2018: A University of Georgia poll commissioned by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB found Brian Kemp leading Casey Cagle 44-41 with a 3.5 percentage point margin of error.
- July 12, 2018: Cagle and Kemp met in a televised debate hosted by the Atlanta Press Club. See a recap here.
- July 9, 2018: Both candidates released campaign finance data from the June 30, 2018, filing deadline. Cagle's disclosures showed that he had raised $3.7 million and spent $6.9 million since April 1 and had $1.3 million in cash on hand. Kemp's disclosures showed that he had raised $1.6 million, spent $2.5 million, and had about $700,000 in cash on hand.
- July 9, 2018: Brian Kemp's campaign released another segment of the Cagle/Tippins recording. Read more below.
- July 5, 2018: Cagle and Kemp met in a televised debate in Columbus. See recaps here and here. Watch the full debate here.
- June 29, 2018: Changing Georgia's Future, a pro-Cagle super PAC, disclosed $1.5 million in spending on television ads during the runoff period.
- June 29, 2018: An internal poll from the Kemp campaign showed the race tied with each candidate at 45 percent. The poll's margin of error was 4.0 percentage points.
- June 29, 2018: The Republican firm Cygnal released a poll showing Cagle with 44 percent, Kemp with 43 percent, and nine percent of voters undecided. The poll's margin of error was 3.5 percentage points.
- June 27, 2018: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Casey Cagle's campaign reduced its television ad spending by $250,000 but had put $2 million total into ads.[8]
- June 25, 2018: Michael Williams, a gubernatorial candidate who did not advance from the May 22 primary, endorsed Brian Kemp.
- June 20, 2018: Brian Kemp's campaign announced it had spent $1 million on television ads heading into the July 24 runoff.[9]
- June 12, 2018: Public Service Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" McDonald endorsed Brian Kemp.
- June 8, 2018: Steves Forbes endorsed Casey Cagle.
- June 7, 2018: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on a secret recording of a conversation between Casey Cagle and Clay Tippins. Read more below.
- June 7, 2018: Rosetta Stone Communications released the results of a survey that showed Casey Cagle with 48 percent of the vote, Brian Kemp with 41 percent, and 11 percent of voters undecided.
- June 4, 2018: U.S. Rep. Jody Hice (R) endorsed Brian Kemp.
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Georgia Governor, Republican Primary Runoff 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Poll sponsor | Casey Cagle | Brian Kemp | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | |||||||||||||
Survey USA (July 15-19, 2018) | 11Alive News | 34% | 40% | 26% | +/-4.7 | 688 | |||||||||||||
Opinion Savvy (July 17-18, 2018) | Fox5 News | 37% | 55% | 8% | +/-5.5 | 466 | |||||||||||||
University of Georgia (July 5-12, 2018) | Atlanta Journal Constitution/WSB | 41% | 44% | 15% | +/-3.5 | 769 | |||||||||||||
Public Opinion Strategies (June 26-28, 2018) | Kemp Campaign | 45% | 45% | 10% | +/-4.0 | 500 | |||||||||||||
Cygnal (June 26-27, 2018) | None | 44% | 43% | 9% | +/-3.5 | 812 | |||||||||||||
Rosetta Stone Communications (June 7, 2018) | None | 48% | 41% | 11% | +/-4.9 | 400 | |||||||||||||
McLaughlin & Associates (May 29 - 31, 2018) | Cagle Campaign | 52% | 42% | 5% | +/-4.5 | 500 | |||||||||||||
Public Opinion Strategies (May 29 - 31, 2018) | Kemp Campaign | 46% | 45% | 9% | +/-4.0 | 600 | |||||||||||||
AVERAGES | 43.38% | 44.38% | 11.63% | +/-4.33 | 591.88 | ||||||||||||||
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. |
Click here to see polls from before May 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Endorsements
These endorsements came after the May 22 primary.
Casey Cagle
- Gov. Nathan Deal[18]
- State Rep. Allen Peake[19]
- Lydia Hallmark, former grassroots chairwoman for Hunter Hill's gubernatorial campaign[20]
- Brandon Phillips, state director of Donald J. Trump for President Inc.[21]
- Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association[22]
- Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood[23]
- Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon[24]
- Marietta Mayor Steve “Thunder” Tumlin[24]
- Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine[25]
Brian Kemp
- President Donald Trump[26]
- Vice President Mike Pence[27]
- Clay Tippins, 2018 gubernatorial candidate who did not advance from May 22 primary[28]
- Hunter Hill, 2018 gubernatorial candidate who did not advance from May 22 primary[29]
- Michael Williams, 2018 gubernatorial candidate who did not advance from May 22 primary[30]
- Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.)[31]
- U.S. Rep. Jody Hice (R)[32]
- Public Service Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" McDonald[33]
- State Sen. Bruce Thompson[34]
- State House Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones[35]
- State Rep. John Bonner[36]
- State Rep. John Carson[37]
- State Rep. Wes Cantrell[38]
- State Rep. Sam Teasley[39]
- State Rep. Ed Setzler[40]
- Talk radio host Erick Erickson[41]
Click here to see endorsements from before May 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Campaign finance
Campaign finance reports[59] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Candidate | Filing deadline | Contributions | Expenditures | Cash on Hand |
Casey Cagle | ||||
June 30, 2017 | $2,659,061.92 | $143,866.36 | $2,515,195.56 | |
January 31, 2018 | $4,111,046.90 | $893,864.10 | $5,732,378.36 | |
March 31, 2018 | $20,206.50 | $1,217,073.86 | $4,535,511.00 | |
June 30, 2018 | $3,723,255.82 | $6,909,985.74 | $1,348,781.08 | |
July 18, 2018 | $1,008,543.07 | $1,442,065.41 | $915,258.74 | |
Total | - | $11,522,114.21 | $10,606,855.47 | $915,258.74 |
Brian Kemp (R) | ||||
June 30, 2017 | $1,710,592.00 | $186,691.20 | $1,523,900.80 | |
January 31, 2018 | $1,174,546.48 | $574,857.74 | $2,123,589.54 | |
March 31, 2018 | $34,970.26 | $527,038.52 | $1,631,521.28 | |
June 30, 2018 | $1,597,258.44 | $2,517,391.55 | $711,388.17 | |
July 18, 2018 | $598,347.73 | $867,727.78 | $442,008.12 | |
Total | - | $5,115,714.91 | $4,673,706.79 | $442,008.12 |
Campaign finance prior to May 22 primary
Click here to see campaign finance data from before May 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Satellite spending
- Changing Georgia's Future was a pro-Cagle super PAC. It received $700,000 from Citizens for Georgia’s Future, which was headed by contract lobbyist Jay Morgan and nursing home lobbyist Russel Carlson.[63] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution report
- According to a campaign finance filing on July 13, the group had spent about $1.1 million and had about $130,000 in cash on hand. On June 29, it had disclosed $1.5 million in spending on television ads during the runoff period.[64]
Click here to see satellite spending from before May 22 | |||
---|---|---|---|
|
Campaign strategies and tactics
Click here to see full coverage of the candidates' strategies prior to the May 22 primary.
Donald Trump endorsement of Brian Kemp
On July 18, President Donald Trump tweeted the following endorsement of Brian Kemp:
Brian Kemp is running for Governor of the great state of Georgia. The Primary is on Tuesday. Brian is tough on crime, strong on the border and illegal immigration. He loves our Military and our Vets and protects our Second Amendment. I give him my full and total endorsement.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2018
Prior to the endorsement, both candidates had tied themselves to Trump in their campaign ads.
Click here to see the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's coverage of the Kemp campaign's reaction to Trump's endorsement.
Cagle tweeted the following in response to Trump's endorsement: "No hard feelings, @realDonaldTrump. I look forward to receiving your endorsement against the Democrats in November as I did for you (wish @BrianKempGA could say he did the same)."[66]
On July 19, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), a Trump ally, also endorsed Kemp. He said, "I endorse Brian Kemp for Governor of Georgia.Brian is proven conservative leader with plans to track and deport criminal illegals, dismantle gangs, and reform Georgia's education system so students come first.He is ready to put his private sector experience to work for Georgians."[31]
Vice President Mike Pence campaigned for Kemp in Macon, Georgia, on July 21.[27]
Former U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) said he did not think Trump knew who Kemp was and that he endorsed him at the behest of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who served as Georgia's governor from 2003 to 2010. From 2007 to 2010, Perdue was governor when Cagle was lieutenant governor. Perdue did not publicly endorse any candidate in 2018.
Westmoreland said, “Sonny, he was the king of the Georgia Republican Party there for a while. And if he can play in this governor’s race, then he’ll stay that way.”[67]
U.S. Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), Sonny's cousin, said in response, “Sonny and I love the people of Georgia, and we respect them. We respect their judgment. The last thing we would do is to try to manipulate that.” He added that Trump “makes up his own mind. He looks at races around. He’s a political junkie.”[68]
Prior to Kemp's campaign event with Pence on July 21, Trump tweeted, "Brian Kemp, who is running for Governor of Georgia and has my full endorsement, is campaigning tonight with VP @mike_pence. Brian is very strong on Crime and Borders, LOVES our Military, Vets and the 2nd Amendment. He will be a GREAT Governor!"[69]
In an op-ed released July 23, Cagle wrote the following: “The President decided to [endorse Kemp] because some Washington insiders who have weaseled their way into his ear convinced him to make a power play. Why? So they’ll have a Governor who answers to them instead of to Georgians.”[70] Read the full op-ed here.
On election day, Trump tweeted, "Today is the day to vote for Brian Kemp. Will be great for Georgia, full Endorsement!"[71]
Recording of Casey Cagle by Clay Tippins
On June 7, 2018, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that it had obtained an audio recording from Clay Tippins, a Republican gubernatorial candidate who did not advance to the July 24 runoff, of a meeting he had with Casey Cagle on May 24. The recording (which Tippins secretly made using his iPhone) detailed a conversation about House Bill 217, which increased the tax credits available to donors funding private school scholarships from $58 million to $100 million. Tippins' uncle, state Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R), resigned his chairmanship of the Senate Education Committee after Cagle and most other members of the Republican caucus came out in support of it and helped it become law during the 2018 legislative session.
When asked by Clay Tippins about why he supported the bill, Cagle said, "It ain’t about public policy. It’s about (expletive) politics." He went on to explain that he opposed the bill from a public policy standpoint, but he thought the Walton Family Foundation, a school-choice advocacy organization, would have given $3 million to Hunter Hill, another Republican gubernatorial candidate who did not advance to the July 24 runoff, if the bill had not passed. School choice policies were at the center of Hill's campaign.[72]
The candidates and former candidates made the following comments about the recorded conversation:
- Casey Cagle: "When a school choice bill failed in 2017, I promised advocates I’d work to get a bill passed in 2018. That’s exactly what I did. I kept my word. The bill wasn’t perfect — and I said that to Clay — but we reached a broad agreement while no side got everything it wanted.”[72]
- Hunter Hill: "I worked hard in the state Senate to advance conservative reforms like school choice with the intention of benefiting our citizens. It’s sad to see those same policies being sold to benefit a career politician’s political ambitions."[72]
- Brian Kemp said the conversation revealed, “everything that’s wrong with politics.” He added,“[e]ven worse, it raises serious ethical and legal questions that must be answered immediately."[73]
- Clay Tippins: “We all complain about these things happening, and no one thinks that anything can be done about it. I just hit a point where I decided I’d do whatever it takes to bring transparency. I hope voters are furious. I was. That’s why I did this.”[72]
- Spokesman for the Walton Education Coalition: ""Any speculation about Walton investments in the Georgia governor's race is unfounded."[74]
- Gainesville Times editorial board (Cagle's hometown newspaper): "Cagle is one of our own, but it is hard not to wonder if he hasn’t spent so much time wheeling and dealing under the dome of the state Capitol that he’s sacrificed personal convictions to the altar of political expediency. There are those who will feel that, as his hometown newspaper, we should not admonish the lieutenant governor for his words and deeds. To them we paraphrase in saying, 'this is not about Casey, it’s just about politics.' We expected better. We deserved better."[75]
On June 12, Lindsey Tippins gave an interview to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where he said that prior to the HB 217's passage, Cagle told him that the Walton Family Foundation would put $2 million into his campaign instead of Hunter Hill's if it became law. Cagle said he had just been reporting rumors he had heard that the Walton group would become involved. Read full coverage of the interview here.
On June 14, state Sen. Bill Heath and state Rep. Susan Holmes, both supporters of Kemp, asked local and federal prosecutors to investigate “compelling evidence of a direct quid pro quo offered by Cagle to trade legislative action for campaign funding.”
“Where’s the quid pro quo? Casey didn’t get any money from these groups mentioned,” Cagle campaign manager Scott Binkley said in response. “Kemp should apologize to these people for embarrassing them in public.”[76]
On July 9, Kemp's campaign released a 50-second audio clip from the Cagle/Tippins recording. Cagle said the following in the recording:
“ | “The issues you talk about are the issues I care about as well. The problem is in a primary - and you and I are just talking off the record frank - they don’t give a (expletive) about those things. OK. In the general election, they care about it. OK. But they don’t care about it in a primary. This primary felt like it was who had the biggest gun, who had the biggest truck, and who could be the craziest.”[77] | ” |
—Casey Cagle |
Kemp said the recording “exposes Cagle’s real opinion of Republican voters in Georgia.”
Cagle's campaign said, “Casey talked policy. Kemp talked crazy. And yes, Casey Cagle called Brian Kemp out on it. Share the transcript. PLEASE. We have nothing to hide. We want people to see the truth about what Casey said. We don’t need any more evidence that Brian Kemp lies about everything, but he keeps providing more proof, even when it’s provable that he’s not telling the truth.”[78]
After a debate on July 12, Cagle said he believed that Tippins and Kemp worked together to capture his statements on tape. He said, “Who does this? Who is a person that is that evil in their heart, to come in and mislead someone in a way that leads them down a path, to get them to say certain things, that they can then shape a narrative around?”[79]
On July 16, allies of Hunter Hill released another part of the tape where Cagle told Tippins that he wanted to decrease poverty in the state and bring economic growth to impoverished areas. At the end of the tape, Cagle said, "My focus is down there. It's not those up there. That's what pisses me off about Republicans and people like Hunter."[80]
In response, Cagle tweeted, "25% of Georgia’s kids live in poverty. 40 counties have 40% child poverty rates. I will NOT apologize for prioritizing my plans to expand our economy so it lifts everyone, put work over welfare, and create 500K jobs! I grew up in poverty, so yes this is personal to me."[81]
Where did Hill and Tippins voters go?
A major question in the primary runoff was where voters who supported Hunter Hill and Clay Tippins in the primary placed their support in the runoff. Hill received 18.3 percent of the vote (110,604 total votes) on May 22 and Tippins received 12.3 percent (74,358 total votes).
Hill endorsed Kemp on July 16, while Tippins endorsed Kemp on July 18.[82][28]
Kemp released an internal poll in late May that showed 52 percent of Hill voters and 60 percent of Tippins voters supporting him. In response, Cagle's campaign manager said, “We don’t need to poll to know what Georgia voters will decide after realizing the astonishing scope of Brian’s incompetence.”[83]
In June, Cagle announced endorsements from three mayors in Cobb County, which was where Hill served as a state senator.[24] On July 12, Lydia Hallmark, the former grassroots chairwoman for Hill's gubernatorial campaign endorsed him.[20]
State Rep. Sam Teasley, who was a Hill supporter, endorsed Kemp, saying he had a “simple but consistent plan to put people - not politics - first.”[84]
The maps below show the distribution of the 110,604 voters who supported Hill and the 74,358 voters who supported Tippins across Georgia's counties. Nearly one-fourth of each candidate's voters were concentrated in three metro Atlanta counties: Cobb, Fulton, and Gwinnett. By contrast, 17.5 percent of May 22 Cagle voters and 15.1 percent of May 22 Kemp voters were located in these three counties.[85]
Cagle vs. Kemp
The candidates began to attack each other as soon as the May 22 primary was over.
On the May 22 election night, Kemp told his supporters that "[Cagle] is not a leader, he’s a puppet."[4] The next day, Cagle said he would give voters a "serious conservative agenda" while Kemp had offered "little other than gimmicks." He also blamed Kemp's office for "bungling" a federal court case that created nine weeks between the May 22 primary and the July 24 runoff.[5]
In response to Cagle's claim that the nine-week runoff was his fault, Kemp said, "It's no surprise that career politician Casey Cagle is attacking the run-off calendar championed by Gov. Deal. He spent $8 million and dropped dramatically in the polls. The more people see of Cagle, the less they like. His quarter century in politics ends in nine weeks."[86]
Because of the runoff's tone, the candidates held a unity rally on July 26 for the defeated candidate to endorse the winner.[87]
Here are more of the attacks the candidates levied against each other:
Kemp attacks on Cagle
- In an email to supporters on June 21, Kemp said that Cagle had either broken the law or ethical codes through his campaign fundraising. He specifically noted an Atlanta Journal-Constitution story about Cagle meeting with casino executives from Las Vegas and said that Cagle would attempt to bring casino gambling to the state if elected despite saying he opposed casinos.[88]
- In an email to supporters on June 27, Kemp said that an article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution review of Cagle's campaign contributions showed that Cagle was "bought and paid for by the special interests" and was involved with "selling votes and access for campaign contributions".
- In response to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, Cagle said, "“Anybody is welcome to donate to my campaign. We don’t filter. But I have a very long record of standing up for what I believe in and for what is right for the citizens of our state. I hope that people contribute to me for the sole purpose that they buy into our vision and the fact that we have a proven, consistent conservative record. If they’re thinking anything different, then they’re going to be disappointed.”[89]
- After the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Cagle had used a state airplane for transport from Gainesville, Georgia, to Atlanta, Georgia, (a distance of 55 miles) almost 60 times since 2010, Kemp's campaign released a statement saying, “Career politician Casey Cagle flies around the state in private planes and helicopters, then sticks hardworking Georgians with the bill. Even worse, he’s used state aircraft multiple times to raise money for his gubernatorial campaign. Cagle needs to be held accountable for his extravagant living and shameful behavior.”
- In response to the report, Cagle's campaign manager said, “The fact that the state’s air contractor flies out of Atlanta doesn’t mean state officials should only fly out of Atlanta. Usually when he flies out of Gainesville it’s because he’s leaving very early in the morning and returning home late at night.”[90]
Cagle attacks on Kemp
- Cagle's campaign claimed that Brian Kemp guaranteed a $500,000 loan for the company Kentucky company Hart AgStrong and then failed to repay the loan after the company came into financial trouble. It also said that the company missed $2 million in payments to farmers.
- Kemp said he was not heavily involved in the management of the company. He added, “[t]he company is working hard to try to resolve their debts and hopefully they’ll be able to pay those back, and also pay myself back with money I’m owed.”[91]
- In an email to supporters on June 21, Cagle said that Kemp had only reluctantly supported Donald Trump during the 2016 election, while he "worked around the clock to see Donald Trump elected to lead our nation and carry out the bold vision he campaigned on."[92]
- In an email to supporters on June 26, Cagle said that an article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution showed that Kemp had accepted illegal donations from businesses he regulated as secretary of state.
- In response to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution story, Kemp's spokesman said, “Given that Kemp is a man of integrity, he decided to not take contributions from regulated businesses. Our legal and compliance team spend a lot of man hours to screen these checks. We’ve refunded hundreds of thousands of dollars because of Kemp’s character.”[93]
- After the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the owner of Massage Envy franchises, which received four complaints of therapists inappropriately touching women, was a donor to Kemp's campaign, Cagle ally and state Sen. Renee Unterman (R) wrote a letter to a U.S. attorney saying there “appear[ed] to be a direct connection between campaign support from Massage Envy franchisees in exchange for non-action and suppression” by Kemp's office.
- Kemp's campaign manager said he did nothing wrong by accepting the campaign contributions and that “[i]t is our hope that, for her own sake, [Unterman] will retract these baseless, politically motivated statements before facing serious legal action. We also hope that Sen. Unterman will seek immediate medical attention before she hurts herself or someone else.”[94]
- In response to the remarks about Unterman, Cagle tweeted, "[t]hat’s it. I’ve had it with @BrianKempGA’s sexist attacks on the strong Republican women supporting my campaign. These comments are offensive, inappropriate and way over the line. Brian Kemp should apologize to all women."[95]
- Kemp's campaign manager said he did nothing wrong by accepting the campaign contributions and that “[i]t is our hope that, for her own sake, [Unterman] will retract these baseless, politically motivated statements before facing serious legal action. We also hope that Sen. Unterman will seek immediate medical attention before she hurts herself or someone else.”[94]
- On July 6, Cagle's campaign released details of a healthcare plan that it said Kemp had advocated for as a state senator. According to Cagle's campaign, "[w]hen Kemp campaigned for Senate as a liberal Republican, he promised to deliver a vast expansion of government-funded health care, calling for 'Universal Access' to Medicaid up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level 'regardless of whether they were recently on welfare.'"[96]
Campaign ads following May 22 primary
Casey Cagle
Support
|
|
|
Oppose
|
Brian Kemp
Support
|
|
|
Oppose
|
|
|
|
|
|
Democratic ads
The Georgia Democratic Party began running the following ads opposing Cagle and Kemp during the Republican primary runoff.
|
|
How did the candidates differ?
Medicaid expansion
- Casey Cagle said he would pursue a waiver from the federal government to obtain more funding for Medicaid as long as work requirements were included.[97]
- Brian Kemp said he opposed the expansion of Medicaid.[97]
Campaign themes and policy stances
Casey Cagle
Cagle's campaign website stated the following:
“ |
Tax and regulatory reform We will cut taxes by $100 million in the first 100 days of my administration. We will achieve this by increasing the personal exemption so, for a family of four, the first $12,000 of income will be tax exempt. In addition, we will increase the standard deduction. We will also tie both the personal exemption and the standard deduction to inflation to protect every Georgian against surprise increases that rob families at tax season. Jobs Infrastructure We will be committed to utilizing our assets in a more efficient way, which means more reversible lane projects in the state of Georgia. And we must be willing to build “over” and to dig “under” if that is what is required. We will create a rural broadband initiative that will expand access to high-speed internet. And I will be a governor committed to ensuring that our rural hospitals are sustainable and will create a network across the state that allows patients access to the care they need. Education As governor, I will continue to focus on primary education, specifically targeting third grade reading. Children of that age must learn to read so that they learn as they progress through school. To accomplish that, we will implement greater technology at the primary school level to quickly diagnose and help kids with reading. I will also continue to expand three-year high school apprenticeship programs throughout the state, where education is being aligned with industry needs. Along with this, we will continue my “Move on When Ready” program and our dual enrollment programs in which students at the high school level are able to affordably earn college credits. Spending As our economy continues to improve, there will be those who want to create new programs without careful thought. The better choice is to be wise, prudent, and careful with taxpayer funds, ensuring our state rebuilds its rainy-day fund and continues to reduce the tax burden on our citizens. Gun policy Abortion |
” |
—Casey Cagle’s campaign website (2018)[98] |
Brian Kemp
Kemp's campaign website stated the following:
“ |
Kemp's 4 Point Plan to Put Georgia First MAKE GEORGIA #1 FOR SMALL BUSINESS
REFORM STATE GOVERNMENT
STRENGTHEN ALL OF GEORGIA
PUT GEORGIA FIRST
|
” |
—Brian Kemp’s campaign website (2018)[99] |
2010 and 2014 Republican primary runoffs
Two similar statewide Republican runoff elections were held in Georgia in 2010 and 2014. In 2010, there was an open primary to replace Gov. Sonny Perdue (R). Nathan Deal and Karen Handel were the top two finishers in the Republican primary and Deal won the runoff. In 2014, there was an open primary to replace U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R). David Perdue and Jack Kingston were the top two finishers in the Republican primary and Perdue won the runoff. Handel was the top vote-getter in the 2010 primary but lost the runoff, while Perdue received the most votes in the 2014 primary and won the runoff.
The chart below shows how turnout changed in each primary between the primary and the runoff. Runoff turnout compared to the 2010 primary decreased by 100,984 votes, a 14.8 percent decline. Runoff turnout compared to the 2014 primary decreased by 121,936 votes, a 20.1 percent decline.
All four candidates added additional votes to their primary totals in the runoffs. As the charts below show, Nathan Deal added more than 135,000 votes and gained an additional 27.3 percent of the vote share to boost his primary performance of 22.9 percent to a 50.2 percent win in the runoff. Jack Kingston added the second highest number of votes (more than 81,000) and percentage of the vote share (23.3 percentage points). It was not enough to win his runoff against Perdue, who added more than 60,000 votes and 20.3 percent of the vote share to take him from 30.6 percent of the vote to 50.9 percent. Handel added more than 56,000 votes and 15.7 percent of the vote share, the lowest of all four candidates.
Votes cast in Georgia statewide Republican primaries and runoffs, 2014 (U.S. Senate) and 2010 (gubernatorial) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Overall (primary) | Overall (runoff) | Winner (primary) | Winner (runoff) | Second-place (primary) | Second-place (runoff) | |||||||
2014 (U.S. Senate)[100] | 605,335 | 483,399 | 185,466 | 245,951 | 156,157 | 237,448 | |||||||
2014 (%)[101] | -- | -- | 30.6% | 50.9% | 25.8% | 49.1% | |||||||
2010 (gubernatorial)[102] | 680,499 | 579,551 | 155,946 | 291,035 | 231,990 | 288,516 | |||||||
2010 (%)[103] | -- | -- | 22.9% | 50.2% | 34.1% | 49.8% | |||||||
Source: Georgia Secretary of State |
Comparison with Kemp vs. Cagle
In terms of vote share and total votes in the primary, Casey Cagle finished higher than any of the candidates in the 2010 and 2014 primaries and runoffs. The closest comparison to his 236,987 votes and 39.0 percent of the vote share was Karen Handel in 2010. She won 231,990 votes and 34.1 percent in the primary but lost the runoff to Nathan Deal.
Brian Kemp finished behind all four candidates with his 155,189 votes and 25.5 percent in the primary. The closest comparison is to Nathan Deal, who won 155,946 votes and 22.9 percent in the primary and defeated Karen Handel in the runoff.
Overall, the 607,441 primary turnout in 2018 was closer to the 2014 turnout of 605,335 than the 680,499 turnout in 2010.
Votes cast in May 22, 2018, Georgia Republican gubernatorial primary | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Overall (primary) | Cagle (primary) | Kemp (primary) | ||||||
2018 | 607,441 | 236,987 | 155,189 | ||||||
2018 (%) | -- | 39.0% | 25.5% |
Past elections
2014
- See also: Georgia gubernatorial election, 2014
Nathan Deal ran for re-election as governor of Georgia in the 2014 elections. Deal defeated David Pennington and John Barge in the 2014 Republican primary by a 55.4 percent margin.[104]
Governor of Georgia, Republican Primary, 2014 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
![]() |
72.1% | 430,170 | ||
David Pennington | 16.7% | 99,548 | ||
John Barge | 11.2% | 66,500 | ||
Total Votes | 596,218 | |||
Election results via Georgia Secretary of State Election Results. |
2010
In the July 20 primary Deal came in second to Karen Handel, receiving 22.9 percent of the vote to her 34.1 percent. The two met in a runoff election held August 10, with Deal winning 50.2 percent to 49.8 percent.
Deal defeated Democrat Roy E. Barnes and Libertarian John H. Monds in the general election on November 2, 2010.[105]
- General election[106]
Race background
Heading into the election, the sitting governor was Nathan Deal (R), who was first elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. Deal was prevented by term limits from seeking re-election in 2018.
Heading into the election, Georgia was a Republican trifecta. It has held this status since 2005, when Republicans gained a majority in the Georgia House of Representatives. Georgia was also a Republican triplex.
Georgia was one of 36 states that held an election for governor in 2018. Democrats gained seven previously Republican-held seats, and Republicans gained one previously independent-held seat. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 16 Democratic governors, 33 Republican governors, and one independent governor. In 2018, 26 of the 33 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while nine out of the 16 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Seventeen of the 36 seats up for election were open seats (four Democratic, 12 Republican, and one independent), meaning that the sitting governor was not seeking re-election. Click here for more information on other 2018 gubernatorial elections.
Race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Race ratings: Georgia gubernatorial election, 2018 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
November 5, 2018 | October 30, 2018 | October 23, 2018 | October 16, 2018 | ||||||
The Cook Political Report | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | |||||
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Tilt Republican | Tilt Republican | Tilt Republican | Tilt Republican | |||||
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | |||||
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season. |
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Georgia utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[107][108]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Georgia, polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Eastern Time. In cities with a population greater than 300,000 people, polls remain open until 8 p.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[109]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Georgia, one must be a citizen of the United States and a legal resident of their county. The voter must be at least 17.5 years of age at the time of registration and 18 at the time of the election, and not serving a sentence for a felony conviction.[110][111]
The deadline to register to vote is 29 days prior to the election. Registration can be completed online, in person, or by mail.[110]
Automatic registration
In Georgia, eligible voters are automatically registered to vote when they conduct transactions at the Department of Driver Services. This automatic registration program began in 2016.[112][113]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Georgia has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
Georgia does not allow same-day voter registration.
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Georgia, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.
Verification of citizenship
A Georgia state law, passed in 2009, required voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. However, as of June 2025, the law had not been implemented.[114][115][116]
In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states cannot require proof of citizenship with federal registration forms. That meant states would need to create a separate registration system for state elections in order to require proof of citizenship.
In Georgia, an individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who provides false information on a voter registration application is guilty of a felony.[117] [116]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[118] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The site My Voter Page, run by the Georgia Secretary of State's office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Georgia requires voters to present photo identification while voting in person or by mail/absentee.[119]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of August 2024. Click here for the Georgia Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
“ |
|
” |
Voters can obtain a free voter ID card from any county registrar's office or Department of Driver Services Office. Click here for more information on obtaining a free voter ID card in Georgia.
Early voting
Georgia permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee/by-mail in Georgia. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee. The ballot application deadline is 11 days before Election Day. A completed ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.[121]
State overview
Partisan control
This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Georgia heading into the 2018 elections.
Congressional delegation
- Following the 2016 elections, Republicans held both U.S. Senate seats in Georgia.
- Republicans held 10 of 14 U.S. House seats in Georgia.
State executives
- As of September 2018, Republicans held 12 of 15 state executive positions, while three positions were held by nonpartisan officials.
- The governor of Georgia was Republican Nathan Deal. The state held an election for governor on November 6, 2018.
State legislature
- Republicans controlled both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly. They had a 114-64 majority in the state House and a 37-19 majority in the state Senate.
Trifecta status
- Georgia was a Republican trifecta, meaning that the Republican Party controlled the state government. Nathan Deal (R) served as governor and Republicans controlled the state legislature.
2018 elections
- See also: Georgia elections, 2018
Georgia held elections for the following positions in 2018:
- 14 U.S. House seats
- Governor
- Nine lower state executive positions
- 56 state Senate seats
- 180 state House seats
- Municipal elections in DeKalb and Fulton Counties
Demographics
Demographic data for Georgia | ||
---|---|---|
Georgia | U.S. | |
Total population: | 10,199,398 | 316,515,021 |
Land area (sq mi): | 57,513 | 3,531,905 |
Race and ethnicity** | ||
White: | 60.2% | 73.6% |
Black/African American: | 30.9% | 12.6% |
Asian: | 3.6% | 5.1% |
Native American: | 0.3% | 0.8% |
Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
Two or more: | 2.1% | 3% |
Hispanic/Latino: | 9.1% | 17.1% |
Education | ||
High school graduation rate: | 85.4% | 86.7% |
College graduation rate: | 28.8% | 29.8% |
Income | ||
Median household income: | $49,620 | $53,889 |
Persons below poverty level: | 21.1% | 11.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Georgia. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. |
As of July 2017, Georgia's three largest cities were Atlanta (pop. est. 470,000), Columbus (pop. est. 200,000), and Augusta (pop. est. 200,000).[122][123]
State election history
This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Georgia from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Georgia Secretary of State.
Historical elections
Presidential elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Georgia every year from 2000 to 2016.
Election results (President of the United States), Georgia 2000-2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2016 | ![]() |
51.1% | ![]() |
45.9% | 5.2% |
2012 | ![]() |
53.3% | ![]() |
45.5% | 7.8% |
2008 | ![]() |
52.2% | ![]() |
47.0% | 5.2% |
2004 | ![]() |
58.0% | ![]() |
41.4% | 16.6% |
2000 | ![]() |
55.0% | ![]() |
43.2% | 11.8% |
U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Georgia from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.
Election results (U.S. Senator), Georgia 2000-2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2016 | ![]() |
54.8% | ![]() |
41.0% | 13.8% |
2014 | ![]() |
52.9% | ![]() |
45.2% | 7.7% |
2010 | ![]() |
58.3% | ![]() |
39.0% | 19.3% |
2008 | ![]() |
49.8% | ![]() |
46.8% | 3.0% |
2004 | ![]() |
57.9% | ![]() |
40.0% | 17.9% |
2002 | ![]() |
52.8% | ![]() |
45.9% | 6.9% |
Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Georgia.
Election results (Governor), Georgia 2000-2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2014 | ![]() |
52.8% | ![]() |
44.9% | 7.9% |
2010 | ![]() |
53.0% | ![]() |
43.0% | 10.0% |
2006 | ![]() |
57.9% | ![]() |
38.2% | 19.7% |
2002 | ![]() |
51.4% | ![]() |
46.3% | 5.1% |
Congressional delegation, 2000-2016
This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Georgia in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.
Trifectas, 1992-2017
A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.
Georgia Party Control: 1992-2025
Eleven years of Democratic trifectas • Twenty-one years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Governor | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
Five of 159 Georgia counties—3.14 percent—are pivot counties. These are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 pivot counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
Baker County, Georgia | 8.68% | 0.57% | 1.07% | ||||
Dooly County, Georgia | 2.05% | 6.98% | 3.53% | ||||
Peach County, Georgia | 2.91% | 7.48% | 6.75% | ||||
Quitman County, Georgia | 10.92% | 9.04% | 7.90% | ||||
Twiggs County, Georgia | 1.58% | 8.64% | 6.97% |
In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Georgia with 50.8 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 45.6 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Georgia voted Democratic 63.33 percent of the time and Republican 36.67 percent of the time. Georgia voted Republican in every presidential election from 2000 to 2016.
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Georgia. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[124][125]
In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 64 out of 180 state House districts in Georgia with an average margin of victory of 45.5 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 74 out of 180 state House districts in Georgia with an average margin of victory of 42.3 points. Clinton won 14 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections. |
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 116 out of 180 state House districts in Georgia with an average margin of victory of 36.6 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 106 out of 180 state House districts in Georgia with an average margin of victory of 36.8 points. Trump won four districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections. |
2016 presidential results by state House district | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
1 | 24.59% | 73.49% | R+48.9 | 18.33% | 78.10% | R+59.8 | R |
2 | 22.14% | 76.22% | R+54.1 | 15.51% | 81.50% | R+66 | R |
3 | 23.05% | 75.08% | R+52 | 18.64% | 77.94% | R+59.3 | R |
4 | 32.11% | 66.73% | R+34.6 | 33.09% | 63.58% | R+30.5 | R |
5 | 20.99% | 77.56% | R+56.6 | 17.38% | 79.95% | R+62.6 | R |
6 | 22.66% | 75.78% | R+53.1 | 19.28% | 78.15% | R+58.9 | R |
7 | 18.83% | 79.93% | R+61.1 | 16.26% | 81.63% | R+65.4 | R |
8 | 19.75% | 78.79% | R+59 | 17.01% | 80.65% | R+63.6 | R |
9 | 15.29% | 83.06% | R+67.8 | 14.76% | 81.57% | R+66.8 | R |
10 | 16.34% | 82.49% | R+66.1 | 14.77% | 82.43% | R+67.7 | R |
11 | 17.74% | 80.81% | R+63.1 | 14.12% | 83.40% | R+69.3 | R |
12 | 25.59% | 72.86% | R+47.3 | 20.35% | 77.06% | R+56.7 | R |
13 | 35.70% | 62.94% | R+27.2 | 33.39% | 63.13% | R+29.7 | R |
14 | 20.15% | 78.39% | R+58.2 | 17.29% | 79.95% | R+62.7 | R |
15 | 26.96% | 71.58% | R+44.6 | 24.54% | 72.30% | R+47.8 | R |
16 | 23.79% | 74.95% | R+51.2 | 18.10% | 79.74% | R+61.6 | R |
17 | 23.36% | 75.50% | R+52.1 | 23.02% | 73.98% | R+51 | R |
18 | 29.93% | 68.66% | R+38.7 | 26.14% | 70.83% | R+44.7 | R |
19 | 29.46% | 69.22% | R+39.8 | 31.16% | 65.71% | R+34.6 | R |
20 | 23.09% | 75.03% | R+51.9 | 26.37% | 68.76% | R+42.4 | R |
21 | 19.48% | 78.70% | R+59.2 | 22.00% | 73.27% | R+51.3 | R |
22 | 16.80% | 81.60% | R+64.8 | 21.44% | 74.42% | R+53 | R |
23 | 20.52% | 77.66% | R+57.1 | 22.07% | 73.64% | R+51.6 | R |
24 | 17.81% | 80.67% | R+62.9 | 21.56% | 73.96% | R+52.4 | R |
25 | 21.70% | 77.05% | R+55.3 | 32.10% | 63.74% | R+31.6 | R |
26 | 14.56% | 83.89% | R+69.3 | 18.43% | 77.66% | R+59.2 | R |
27 | 15.62% | 83.00% | R+67.4 | 16.26% | 80.92% | R+64.7 | R |
28 | 17.56% | 81.23% | R+63.7 | 15.37% | 82.27% | R+66.9 | R |
29 | 31.73% | 66.98% | R+35.3 | 32.94% | 63.21% | R+30.3 | R |
30 | 21.69% | 76.74% | R+55 | 24.56% | 71.98% | R+47.4 | R |
31 | 16.84% | 81.82% | R+65 | 15.76% | 81.14% | R+65.4 | R |
32 | 24.07% | 74.41% | R+50.3 | 19.58% | 78.30% | R+58.7 | R |
33 | 31.40% | 67.45% | R+36.1 | 26.87% | 70.96% | R+44.1 | R |
34 | 33.92% | 64.28% | R+30.4 | 39.66% | 55.82% | R+16.2 | R |
35 | 38.10% | 60.28% | R+22.2 | 42.81% | 52.42% | R+9.6 | R |
36 | 24.38% | 74.30% | R+49.9 | 29.80% | 66.20% | R+36.4 | R |
37 | 43.83% | 54.52% | R+10.7 | 48.89% | 46.46% | D+2.4 | R |
38 | 60.41% | 38.62% | D+21.8 | 64.07% | 33.08% | D+31 | D |
39 | 75.10% | 23.95% | D+51.1 | 78.09% | 19.54% | D+58.5 | D |
40 | 45.00% | 53.24% | R+8.2 | 54.52% | 40.56% | D+14 | R |
41 | 62.15% | 36.51% | D+25.6 | 64.86% | 31.62% | D+33.2 | D |
42 | 68.42% | 29.97% | D+38.4 | 68.61% | 26.72% | D+41.9 | D |
43 | 38.77% | 59.40% | R+20.6 | 46.47% | 48.56% | R+2.1 | R |
44 | 33.75% | 63.93% | R+30.2 | 39.79% | 54.74% | R+14.9 | R |
45 | 30.98% | 67.21% | R+36.2 | 41.50% | 53.61% | R+12.1 | R |
46 | 27.84% | 70.25% | R+42.4 | 34.24% | 60.65% | R+26.4 | R |
47 | 28.08% | 70.51% | R+42.4 | 38.02% | 57.47% | R+19.4 | R |
48 | 37.71% | 60.31% | R+22.6 | 45.85% | 48.81% | R+3 | R |
49 | 34.61% | 63.82% | R+29.2 | 44.57% | 50.58% | R+6 | R |
50 | 35.98% | 62.65% | R+26.7 | 47.45% | 48.69% | R+1.2 | R |
51 | 41.99% | 56.48% | R+14.5 | 50.15% | 44.99% | D+5.2 | R |
52 | 36.77% | 61.94% | R+25.2 | 49.71% | 45.43% | D+4.3 | R |
53 | 73.52% | 25.53% | D+48 | 77.16% | 18.98% | D+58.2 | D |
54 | 40.58% | 58.07% | R+17.5 | 54.55% | 40.79% | D+13.8 | R |
55 | 83.91% | 15.09% | D+68.8 | 84.84% | 11.77% | D+73.1 | D |
56 | 87.70% | 11.09% | D+76.6 | 87.74% | 8.94% | D+78.8 | D |
57 | 82.83% | 15.94% | D+66.9 | 85.62% | 11.02% | D+74.6 | D |
58 | 87.26% | 11.21% | D+76.1 | 88.49% | 7.87% | D+80.6 | D |
59 | 87.41% | 10.84% | D+76.6 | 87.27% | 9.08% | D+78.2 | D |
60 | 88.96% | 10.53% | D+78.4 | 90.79% | 7.32% | D+83.5 | D |
61 | 82.95% | 16.50% | D+66.5 | 82.57% | 15.51% | D+67.1 | D |
62 | 81.40% | 18.05% | D+63.4 | 82.69% | 15.44% | D+67.3 | D |
63 | 71.58% | 27.78% | D+43.8 | 73.97% | 24.02% | D+49.9 | D |
64 | 69.30% | 30.15% | D+39.1 | 70.36% | 27.44% | D+42.9 | D |
65 | 80.57% | 18.97% | D+61.6 | 81.08% | 17.15% | D+63.9 | D |
66 | 53.46% | 45.64% | D+7.8 | 56.72% | 40.59% | D+16.1 | D |
67 | 31.46% | 67.23% | R+35.8 | 31.50% | 65.51% | R+34 | R |
68 | 27.70% | 71.08% | R+43.4 | 26.14% | 70.90% | R+44.8 | R |
69 | 25.45% | 73.10% | R+47.7 | 23.33% | 73.96% | R+50.6 | R |
70 | 31.26% | 67.48% | R+36.2 | 31.56% | 64.90% | R+33.3 | R |
71 | 21.50% | 77.16% | R+55.7 | 22.29% | 73.84% | R+51.5 | R |
72 | 22.11% | 76.41% | R+54.3 | 25.46% | 70.56% | R+45.1 | R |
73 | 34.83% | 64.14% | R+29.3 | 37.99% | 59.21% | R+21.2 | R |
74 | 86.99% | 12.68% | D+74.3 | 86.51% | 11.95% | D+74.6 | D |
75 | 83.95% | 15.53% | D+68.4 | 83.71% | 14.28% | D+69.4 | D |
76 | 80.47% | 19.06% | D+61.4 | 80.34% | 17.67% | D+62.7 | D |
77 | 90.59% | 9.03% | D+81.6 | 89.32% | 9.13% | D+80.2 | D |
78 | 75.77% | 23.63% | D+52.1 | 77.40% | 20.70% | D+56.7 | D |
79 | 41.91% | 56.52% | R+14.6 | 52.42% | 42.92% | D+9.5 | R |
80 | 42.54% | 55.68% | R+13.1 | 54.21% | 40.41% | D+13.8 | R |
81 | 51.71% | 46.40% | D+5.3 | 59.53% | 35.29% | D+24.2 | D |
82 | 61.00% | 37.01% | D+24 | 71.24% | 24.55% | D+46.7 | D |
83 | 86.80% | 12.13% | D+74.7 | 88.45% | 8.62% | D+79.8 | D |
84 | 86.06% | 12.96% | D+73.1 | 88.43% | 8.98% | D+79.5 | D |
85 | 85.47% | 13.30% | D+72.2 | 86.00% | 10.70% | D+75.3 | D |
86 | 77.13% | 21.82% | D+55.3 | 79.72% | 17.14% | D+62.6 | D |
87 | 83.03% | 16.15% | D+66.9 | 83.50% | 14.06% | D+69.4 | D |
88 | 77.84% | 21.44% | D+56.4 | 79.10% | 18.35% | D+60.8 | D |
89 | 89.42% | 9.07% | D+80.3 | 90.41% | 6.40% | D+84 | D |
90 | 76.41% | 23.09% | D+53.3 | 76.26% | 22.14% | D+54.1 | D |
91 | 71.58% | 27.81% | D+43.8 | 73.80% | 24.25% | D+49.5 | D |
92 | 81.39% | 18.08% | D+63.3 | 81.15% | 16.93% | D+64.2 | D |
93 | 76.70% | 22.66% | D+54 | 78.87% | 19.09% | D+59.8 | D |
94 | 79.72% | 19.56% | D+60.2 | 80.73% | 17.01% | D+63.7 | D |
95 | 42.53% | 55.99% | R+13.5 | 49.81% | 45.53% | D+4.3 | R |
96 | 56.53% | 41.64% | D+14.9 | 61.84% | 34.14% | D+27.7 | D |
97 | 32.15% | 66.25% | R+34.1 | 41.38% | 54.28% | R+12.9 | R |
98 | 30.33% | 68.23% | R+37.9 | 34.80% | 61.14% | R+26.3 | R |
99 | 71.34% | 27.36% | D+44 | 74.04% | 22.41% | D+51.6 | D |
100 | 75.08% | 23.78% | D+51.3 | 76.18% | 20.68% | D+55.5 | D |
101 | 47.33% | 51.24% | R+3.9 | 54.22% | 41.58% | D+12.6 | D |
102 | 38.64% | 59.59% | R+20.9 | 45.67% | 49.43% | R+3.8 | R |
103 | 22.68% | 75.95% | R+53.3 | 26.93% | 69.29% | R+42.4 | R |
104 | 30.82% | 67.93% | R+37.1 | 40.21% | 56.12% | R+15.9 | R |
105 | 50.77% | 48.36% | D+2.4 | 52.14% | 44.88% | D+7.3 | R |
106 | 42.29% | 56.44% | R+14.1 | 49.74% | 47.07% | D+2.7 | R |
107 | 45.20% | 53.22% | R+8 | 53.78% | 42.22% | D+11.6 | R |
108 | 38.64% | 59.72% | R+21.1 | 48.10% | 47.65% | D+0.5 | R |
109 | 38.25% | 60.84% | R+22.6 | 43.64% | 53.70% | R+10.1 | R |
110 | 38.67% | 60.44% | R+21.8 | 38.94% | 58.73% | R+19.8 | R |
111 | 49.19% | 49.81% | R+0.6 | 50.02% | 47.45% | D+2.6 | R |
112 | 30.34% | 68.53% | R+38.2 | 28.46% | 69.09% | R+40.6 | R |
113 | 70.01% | 29.34% | D+40.7 | 70.93% | 27.16% | D+43.8 | D |
114 | 24.42% | 74.28% | R+49.9 | 27.08% | 69.78% | R+42.7 | R |
115 | 25.05% | 73.96% | R+48.9 | 21.86% | 75.71% | R+53.8 | R |
116 | 22.38% | 75.96% | R+53.6 | 21.50% | 74.72% | R+53.2 | R |
117 | 43.85% | 54.33% | R+10.5 | 46.06% | 49.44% | R+3.4 | D |
118 | 70.03% | 27.73% | D+42.3 | 72.30% | 23.85% | D+48.4 | D |
119 | 39.17% | 58.60% | R+19.4 | 43.90% | 51.13% | R+7.2 | D |
120 | 37.24% | 61.81% | R+24.6 | 35.23% | 62.85% | R+27.6 | R |
121 | 34.55% | 64.38% | R+29.8 | 33.78% | 63.33% | R+29.6 | R |
122 | 25.27% | 73.58% | R+48.3 | 27.39% | 68.99% | R+41.6 | R |
123 | 30.23% | 68.67% | R+38.4 | 32.20% | 64.30% | R+32.1 | R |
124 | 68.87% | 30.10% | D+38.8 | 67.16% | 29.95% | D+37.2 | D |
125 | 64.05% | 35.27% | D+28.8 | 61.49% | 36.47% | D+25 | D |
126 | 71.14% | 28.33% | D+42.8 | 67.70% | 30.69% | D+37 | D |
127 | 71.70% | 27.73% | D+44 | 69.62% | 28.60% | D+41 | D |
128 | 58.68% | 40.74% | D+17.9 | 53.91% | 45.01% | D+8.9 | D |
129 | 34.82% | 64.33% | R+29.5 | 30.56% | 67.28% | R+36.7 | R |
130 | 41.36% | 57.52% | R+16.2 | 38.50% | 59.23% | R+20.7 | R |
131 | 30.10% | 69.02% | R+38.9 | 26.45% | 71.84% | R+45.4 | R |
132 | 52.31% | 46.76% | D+5.5 | 47.39% | 50.36% | R+3 | D |
133 | 26.96% | 72.09% | R+45.1 | 26.40% | 71.27% | R+44.9 | R |
134 | 32.39% | 66.58% | R+34.2 | 33.09% | 63.59% | R+30.5 | R |
135 | 75.20% | 24.15% | D+51.1 | 71.83% | 25.62% | D+46.2 | D |
136 | 76.64% | 22.90% | D+53.7 | 74.36% | 23.45% | D+50.9 | D |
137 | 61.33% | 38.05% | D+23.3 | 57.56% | 40.47% | D+17.1 | D |
138 | 49.61% | 49.57% | D+0 | 44.79% | 53.44% | R+8.7 | D |
139 | 62.73% | 36.73% | D+26 | 56.98% | 41.79% | D+15.2 | D |
140 | 42.66% | 56.37% | R+13.7 | 36.47% | 61.24% | R+24.8 | R |
141 | 33.52% | 65.50% | R+32 | 35.91% | 61.38% | R+25.5 | R |
142 | 72.69% | 26.82% | D+45.9 | 69.80% | 28.67% | D+41.1 | D |
143 | 72.80% | 26.38% | D+46.4 | 72.74% | 24.59% | D+48.2 | D |
144 | 37.33% | 61.88% | R+24.5 | 33.67% | 64.40% | R+30.7 | R |
145 | 49.55% | 49.52% | D+0 | 45.42% | 52.08% | R+6.7 | R |
146 | 33.17% | 65.78% | R+32.6 | 33.28% | 63.67% | R+30.4 | R |
147 | 42.82% | 55.88% | R+13.1 | 45.91% | 50.87% | R+5 | R |
148 | 36.88% | 62.49% | R+25.6 | 32.66% | 65.69% | R+33 | R |
149 | 34.99% | 64.01% | R+29 | 28.75% | 69.67% | R+40.9 | R |
150 | 38.10% | 61.18% | R+23.1 | 34.09% | 64.38% | R+30.3 | R |
151 | 56.09% | 43.44% | D+12.7 | 52.05% | 46.87% | D+5.2 | R |
152 | 27.10% | 72.15% | R+45 | 24.18% | 74.01% | R+49.8 | R |
153 | 65.09% | 34.35% | D+30.7 | 64.29% | 34.03% | D+30.3 | D |
154 | 64.12% | 35.37% | D+28.7 | 61.05% | 37.84% | D+23.2 | D |
155 | 32.85% | 66.34% | R+33.5 | 27.89% | 70.48% | R+42.6 | R |
156 | 27.90% | 71.11% | R+43.2 | 23.40% | 75.08% | R+51.7 | R |
157 | 31.00% | 68.11% | R+37.1 | 25.57% | 72.59% | R+47 | R |
158 | 40.23% | 59.08% | R+18.8 | 34.85% | 63.53% | R+28.7 | R |
159 | 36.50% | 62.45% | R+25.9 | 31.08% | 66.39% | R+35.3 | R |
160 | 34.41% | 64.13% | R+29.7 | 30.97% | 65.40% | R+34.4 | R |
161 | 30.32% | 68.49% | R+38.2 | 31.61% | 65.21% | R+33.6 | R |
162 | 71.15% | 27.88% | D+43.3 | 69.50% | 27.89% | D+41.6 | D |
163 | 72.75% | 26.10% | D+46.7 | 73.06% | 23.61% | D+49.4 | D |
164 | 41.85% | 57.06% | R+15.2 | 41.94% | 54.18% | R+12.2 | R |
165 | 66.44% | 32.76% | D+33.7 | 68.06% | 29.12% | D+38.9 | D |
166 | 29.14% | 69.78% | R+40.6 | 31.24% | 65.39% | R+34.2 | R |
167 | 32.87% | 66.15% | R+33.3 | 30.01% | 67.57% | R+37.6 | R |
168 | 64.64% | 34.46% | D+30.2 | 59.49% | 37.96% | D+21.5 | D |
169 | 31.08% | 67.86% | R+36.8 | 25.60% | 72.82% | R+47.2 | R |
170 | 30.62% | 68.45% | R+37.8 | 26.38% | 71.80% | R+45.4 | R |
171 | 41.06% | 58.25% | R+17.2 | 36.53% | 62.23% | R+25.7 | R |
172 | 35.73% | 63.65% | R+27.9 | 31.21% | 67.02% | R+35.8 | R |
173 | 43.69% | 55.72% | R+12 | 40.54% | 57.80% | R+17.3 | R |
174 | 30.98% | 68.00% | R+37 | 26.14% | 71.93% | R+45.8 | R |
175 | 32.86% | 66.33% | R+33.5 | 36.55% | 61.37% | R+24.8 | R |
176 | 33.55% | 65.50% | R+32 | 29.41% | 68.46% | R+39.1 | R |
177 | 66.82% | 32.35% | D+34.5 | 51.94% | 45.63% | D+6.3 | D |
178 | 16.00% | 82.80% | R+66.8 | 12.05% | 86.54% | R+74.5 | R |
179 | 42.01% | 57.11% | R+15.1 | 39.66% | 57.92% | R+18.3 | R |
180 | 33.80% | 64.90% | R+31.1 | 30.05% | 66.93% | R+36.9 | R |
Total | 45.51% | 53.33% | R+7.8 | 45.89% | 51.05% | R+5.2 | - |
Source: Daily Kos |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Georgia governor Republican primary 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
Georgia government: |
Elections: |
Ballotpedia exclusives: |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The registration deadline was extended to October 16, 2018, in Clay, Grady, Randolph, and Turner counties by executive order of Gov. Nathan Deal in response to Hurricane Michael.
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Deal endorses Cagle in Georgia gov race," July 16, 2018
- ↑ Twitter, "Casey Cagle on July 19, 2018"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Kemp might owe ‘Jake’ – and Cagle - thanks for spot in Georgia GOP runoff," May 23, 2018
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Twitter, "Greg Bluestein on May 23, 2018"
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Brian Kemp launches ‘Georgia First’ campaign for governor," April 1, 2017
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Georgia 2018: Cagle pledges to send Guard to Mexico border," May 14, 2018
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "The Jolt: When a candidate is hit with the words ‘federal grand jury,’" June 27, 2018
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Georgia 2018: Kemp spends $1M for new round of ads," June 20, 2018
- ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, "A Better Georgia," accessed March 14, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Business Chronicle, "Republican runoff key unanswered question in gubernatorial race," May 4, 2018
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 New York Times, "Georgia Passes Bill That Stings Delta Over N.R.A. Position," March 1, 2018
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; no text was provided for refs namedNRA1
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Brian Kemp launches ‘Georgia First’ campaign for governor," April 1, 2017
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Kemp pushes anti-gang initiative in Georgia gov race," April 10, 2018
- ↑ Twitter, "Erick Erickson on July 24, 2018"
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "NRA brings in its biggest gun to back Cagle’s campaign for gov," July 9, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Deal endorses Cagle in Georgia gov race," July 16, 2018
- ↑ GeorgiaPol, "State Representative Allen Peake Weighs In On Governors Race," July 16, 2018
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Casey Cagle for Governor, "Hunter Hill grassroots chair Lydia Hallmark endorses Cagle," July 12, 2018
- ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, "Donald J. Trump for President Inc. State Director endorses and joins Cagle for Governor," July 3, 2018
- ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, "Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association endorses Cagle for Governor," June 27, 2018
- ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, "Acworth mayor endorses Cagle for Governor," June 19, 2018
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Atlanta Journal Constitution, "Georgia 2018: Cagle tries to shore up Cobb support," June 18, 2018 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "Cobb" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, "Business leader Steve Forbes endorses Cagle for governor," June 8, 2018
- ↑ 11 Alive, "Brian Kemp endorsed by President Trump in Georgia governor's race," July 18, 2018
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Pence to headline rally for Kemp on Saturday," July 19, 2018
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Brian Kemp for Governor, "FORMER GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE AND NAVY SEAL CLAY TIPPINS TO ENDORSE KEMP FOR GOVERNOR TODAY," July 18, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Hunter Hill to endorse Kemp in Georgia gov race," July 15, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "The Jolt: On eating while red, blue, black, gay or Trumpish," June 25, 2018
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 Twitter, "Newt Gingrich on July 19, 2018"
- ↑ Brian Kemp for Governor, "CONGRESSMAN JODY HICE ENDORSES KEMP FOR GOVERNOR," June 4, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Business Chronicle, "PSC's Bubba McDonald endorses Brian Kemp for governor," June 12, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "The Jolt: Behind Donald Trump’s endorsement of Brian Kemp," July 19, 2018
- ↑ Twitter, "Jan Jones on July 19"
- ↑ Brian Kemp for Governor, "CONSERVATIVE BUSINESSMAN AND IRAQ WAR VETERAN REP. JOSH BONNER BACKS KEMP FOR GOVERNOR," July 3, 2018
- ↑ Brian Kemp for Governor, "Rep. John Carson, Sponsor of Georgia's Recent School Choice Expansion, Endorses Brian Kemp for Governor," June 27, 2018
- ↑ Brian Kemp for Governor, "REP. WES CANTRELL: BRIAN KEMP IS THE TRUSTED CANDIDATE FOR SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCATES," June 26, 2018
- ↑ Brian Kemp for Governor, "REP. SAM TEASLEY: BRIAN KEMP IS A CONSERVATIVE CHAMPION," June 25, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Capitol Recap: New blood showed up at the polls for Georgia primary," June 15, 2018
- ↑ Twitter, "Erick Erickson on July 20, 2018"
- ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, "Cagle announces 500 endorsements," May 19, 2018
- ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, "Congressman Jack Kingston endorses Cagle for Governor," May 18, 2018
- ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, "Congressman Phil Gingrey endorses Cagle for Governor," May 17, 2018
- ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, "Congressman Lynn Westmoreland endorses Cagle for Governor," May 16, 2018
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 The Maven, "Ted Cruz Endorses Hunter Hill in Georgia Gubernatorial Primary," May 8, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Georgia 2018: Barbour raises cash for Tippins," March 8, 2018
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Georgia 2018: Hudgens, Dooley and Barr back Kemp in gov race," August 25, 2017
- ↑ Red and Black, "Georgia gubernatorial candidate Marc Urbach withdraws from race," May 2, 2018
- ↑ Marietta Daily Journal, "AROUND TOWN: Cobb DA backs Kemp, Educators First for Cagle," April 13, 2018
- ↑ Twitter, "Allen Peake on March 8, 2018
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 YouTube, "Kemp for Governor," accessed March 9, 2018
- ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 53.3 53.4 Casey Cagle for Governor, "Cagle announces wave of support in Southeast Georgia," August 1, 2017
- ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 Casey Cagle for Governor, "Mountainous group of Northwest Georgia elected officials back Cagle for governor," June 21, 2017
- ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, "Georgia Realtors Support Cagle," April 11, 2018
- ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, "Educators First endorses Cagle campaign," April 10, 2018
- ↑ 11 Alive, "Governor 2018: Williams endorsed by Trump advisor Roger Stone," August 11, 2017
- ↑ Forsyth News, "Dog the Bounty Hunter endorses Williams for governor bid," July 4, 2017
- ↑ Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, "Campaign reports," accessed March 9, 2018
- ↑ Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, "Campaign reports," accessed March 9, 2018
- ↑ A Better Georgia PAC, "Home," accessed July 16, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "The Jolt: The 3 topics avoided by Cagle and Kemp in Sunday’s debate," July 16, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Outside fund backing Cagle’s campaign reports raising $1 million," July 9, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "The Jolt: A wife’s suicide roils Alabama’s attorney general contest," June 29, 2018
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; no text was provided for refs namedcaglepoll
- ↑ Twitter, "Casey Cagle on July 18, 2018"
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Now the underdog, Cagle grapples with Trump fallout," July 19, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "The Jolt: A weekend appearance by Jeff Sessions is downgraded," July 20, 2018
- ↑ [https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1020808378594054144 Twitter, "Donald Trump on July 21, 2018"
- ↑ Twitter, "Greg Bluestein on July 23, 2018"
- ↑ Twitter, "Donald Trump on July 24, 2018"
- ↑ 72.0 72.1 72.2 72.3 Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Secret recording shows Cagle backed ‘bad’ bill to hurt gov race rival," June 7, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "The Jolt: Kemp says Secret recording raises ‘ethical and legal’ questions about Cagle’s role," June 8, 2018
- ↑ KTBS, "Walmart heirs' groups deny role in Georgia governor's race," June 15, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "The Jolt: ‘We deserved better,’ hometown paper says of Casey Cagle recording," June 11, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Cagle critics call for criminal probe into support for ‘bad’ policy," June 14, 2018
- ↑ 77.0 77.1 77.2 77.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "In new recording, Cagle says GOP race about who could be ‘craziest,’" July 9, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "The Jolt: After GOP governor debate came the real fireworks," July 13, 2018
- ↑ Soundcloud, "CASEY CAGLE IS "PISSED OFF" WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, HUNTER HILL," July 16, 2018
- ↑ Twitter, "Casey Cagle on July 16, 2018"
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; no text was provided for refs namedHunter
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Why Kemp is confident Hill, Tippins voters are moving toward him," June 2, 2018
- ↑ Atlant Journal Constitution, "The Jolt: Mayors like Nathan Deal, but not dismantling of Stockbridge," June 26, 2018
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "RESULTS BY COUNTY," accessed July 22, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Cagle, Kemp scrap over blame for nine-week runoff," May 30, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Cagle and Kemp plan a truce at GOP unity rally after bitter runoff ends," July 20, 2018
- ↑ Brian Kemp for Governor, "Casino Casey," June 21, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Campaign cash shows Cagle is favorite with Georgia Capitol lobbyists," June 27, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Cagle a frequent flyer at taxpayers’ expense," July 3, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Why a Kentucky town is in spotlight of Georgia governor’s race," June 15, 2018
- ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, "InKempetent Lies – Trump Edition," June 21, 2018
- ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, "Cagle campaign demands Kemp return illegal donations," June 26, 2018
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "The jolt: Kemp now faces calls for criminal investigation," July 9, 2018
- ↑ Twitter, "Casey Cagle on July 13, 2018"
- ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, "Kemp Promised Health Care giveaway far bigger than ObamaCare," July 6, 2018
- ↑ 97.0 97.1 Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Georgia 2018: Where the candidates for governor stand on the issues," May 22, 2018
- ↑ Casey Cagle for Governor, “A Better Georgia,” accessed March 14, 2018
- ↑ Brian Kemp for Governor, “Issues,” accessed March 14, 2018
- ↑ Votes and vote percentages for David Perdue are listed under the Winner column. Votes and vote percentages for Jack Kingston are listed under the Second-place column.
- ↑ Vote percentages for David Perdue are listed under the Winner column. Vote percentages for Jack Kingston are listed under the Second-place column.
- ↑ Votes for Nathan Deal are listed under the Winner column. Votes for Karen Handel are listed under the Second-place column.
- ↑ Vote percentages for Nathan Deal are listed under the Winner column. Vote percentages for Karen Handel are listed under the Second-place column.
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "2014 Primary Election Results," May 29, 2014
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; no text was provided for refs namedelection
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "2010 General Election Results:Governor," accessed January 18, 2013
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ Justia, "2023 Georgia Code § 21-2-224 - Registration deadlines; restrictions on voting in primaries; official list of electors; voting procedure when portion of county changed from one county to another," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ State of Georgia, "Vote in Person on Election Day," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ 110.0 110.1 Georgia Secretary of State, "How-to Guide: Registering to Vote," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ Georgia.gov, "Registering to Vote," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Georgia Automatic Voter Registration Surges After Web Fix," May 24, 2022
- ↑ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Automatic registration leads to surge of new Georgia voters," April 29, 2019
- ↑ Justia, "Georgia Code, Section 21-2-216," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ AP News, "Kansas hopes to resurrect proof-of-citizenship voting law," accessed October 6, 2019
- ↑ 116.0 116.1 Pew Trusts, "'Proof of Citizenship' Voting Laws May Surge Under Trump," November 16, 2017
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Georgia Voter Registration Application," accessed November 14, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ 119.0 119.1 Georgia Secretary of State, "Georgia Voter Identification Requirements," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ This includes colleges, universities, and technical colleges.
- ↑ Georgia.gov, "Vote by Absentee Ballot," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Quick Facts - Georgia," accessed January 3, 2018
- ↑ Georgia Demographics, "Georgia Cities by Population," accessed January 3, 2018
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
![]() |
State of Georgia Atlanta (capital) |
---|---|
Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
|