Brian Kemp facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brian Kemp
Kemp in 2023
83rd Governor of Georgia
Incumbent
Assumed office January 14, 2019
Lieutenant	Geoff Duncan Burt Jones
Preceded by	Nathan Deal
Chair of the Republican Governors Association
In office November 20, 2024 – November 18, 2025
Preceded by	Bill Lee
Succeeded by	Greg Gianforte
27th Secretary of State of Georgia
In office January 8, 2010 – November 8, 2018
Governor	Sonny Perdue Nathan Deal
Preceded by	Karen Handel
Succeeded by	Robyn Crittenden
Member of the Georgia State Senate from the 46th district
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Doug Haines
Succeeded by	Bill Cowsert
Personal details
Born	Brian Porter Kemp (1963-11-02) November 2, 1963 (age 62) Athens, Georgia, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Marty Argo ​ (m. 1994)​
Children	3
Relatives	Bill Cowsert (brother-in-law) Bob Argo (father-in-law)
Education	University of Georgia (BS)
Signature

Brian Porter Kemp is an American leader and businessman serving as the 83rd governor of Georgia. He became governor in 2019. Kemp belongs to the Republican Party. Before becoming governor, he worked as the Georgia Secretary of State from 2010 to 2018. He also served as a state lawmaker in the Georgia State Senate from 2003 until 2007.

Kemp grew up in Georgia and graduated from college at the University of Georgia. Before joining government, he built houses and worked in business. As secretary of state, he managed state voting systems and elections. In 2018, he ran for governor and won a close race against Democrat Stacey Abrams. In 2022, he ran against her again and won a second term. As governor, Kemp focused on business growth, education, and managing state laws.

Early Life and Education of Brian Kemp

Brian Kemp was born on November 2, 1963, in Athens, Georgia. His family had lived in Georgia for many generations. Some of his ancestors also worked in public service. His grandfather, Julian H. Cox, was a member of the Georgia Legislature.

Kemp attended school in Athens. He went to Athens Academy until ninth grade. Later, he transferred to Clarke Central High School. He wanted to play football there for a well-known coach named Billy Henderson. Kemp graduated from high school in 1982.

After high school, Kemp attended college at the University of Georgia. He studied agriculture, which is the science of farming and raising livestock. He graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Starting a Business and Early Career

Before running for office, Kemp worked in business for many years. He worked as a home builder and land developer. He started a company named Kemp Properties to manage buildings and land investments.

Kemp also helped start a local financial company called First Madison Bank. In addition, he served on the board of a local hospital. These business experiences taught him how organizations manage budgets and work with workers.

Serving in the Georgia State Senate

In 2002, Kemp decided to run for the Georgia State Senate. He ran in District 46, which included parts of his home area. He defeated the incumbent senator, Doug Haines, from the Democratic Party.

Kemp served in the state legislature from 2003 until 2007. While serving as a state senator, he worked on laws related to business, farming, and local government.

In 2006, Kemp ran for leader of the Georgia Department of Agriculture. This role is called the commissioner of agriculture. He ran in the primary against fellow Republican Gary Black, but he did not win the nomination. Later, Kemp thought about running for the state senate seat held by Ralph Hudgens, but Hudgens chose to stay, so Kemp stepped aside.

Georgia Secretary of State Career

Brian Kemp with U.S. Senator David Perdue in 2017

In early 2010, the governor of Georgia, Sonny Perdue, appointed Kemp to be the new Georgia Secretary of State. The previous secretary, Karen Handel, had stepped down to run for governor. The secretary of state manages elections, keeps official records, and licenses businesses.

Kemp ran in the regular 2010 election to keep the job. He faced Democrat Georganna Sinkfield and won with over 56 percent of the vote. In 2014, he ran for reelection against Democrat Doreen Carter and won another term.

Managing State Elections and Security

As secretary of state, Kemp was responsible for making sure elections in Georgia ran smoothly. Around the time of the 2016 national elections, federal officials became concerned about computer security. The United States Intelligence Community reported that foreign hackers tried to disrupt election computers across the country.

The Obama administration suggested that federal agencies help states guard their voting computers. Jeh Johnson, the head of the Department of Homeland Security, offered technical help to all fifty states. Kemp decided to turn down this federal assistance. He argued that states should run their own elections independently under the idea of states' rights.

During this era, Georgia used an electronic voting machine system that did not print paper receipts. Some technology experts warned that paperless machines made it hard to verify votes. Federal investigators led by Robert Mueller later noted that overseas hackers had scanned computer systems in several Georgia counties.

Computer Data and Office Challenges

In 2015, Kemp's office faced public attention over computer privacy. The office accidentally shared the personal information of registered voters on computer discs sent to outside groups. The shared records included dates of birth and numbers like a Social Security number. The office quickly fixed the mistake, bought credit monitoring services to protect citizens, and hired investigators to review computer safety.

In 2017, computer researchers at Kennesaw State University found security issues on a public server that held election files. Officials resolved the technical issue after the report.

Voting Rules and Public Debate

While in office, Kemp supported strict rules for voter lists. His office used a policy called "exact match." This policy checked voter forms against driver records. If a letter or hyphen did not match, the application paused. Supporters said this rule stopped mistakes and kept records clean. Critics argued that typos caused unfair delays for new voters.

Federal judge Eleanor L. Ross heard legal arguments about these voting rules. Kemp explained that cleaning the voter rolls was required by federal and state laws. Other leaders, including national lawmaker Elijah Cummings, asked questions about how state election rules worked. When Kemp decided to run for governor in 2018, Robyn Crittenden took over the secretary of state office.

Becoming Governor of Georgia

Results map of Georgia counties during the 2018 election

In 2018, Kemp ran to become governor of Georgia. Incumbent governor Nathan Deal could not run again because of term limits. Kemp ran in a competitive Republican primary against Casey Cagle, who was the Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. Kemp won the primary runoff vote with support from national leaders, including President Donald Trump.

The 2018 Gubernatorial Election

In the general election, Kemp faced Democrat Stacey Abrams. The race received national attention and saw very high voter turnout across the state. Both candidates traveled everywhere to meet voters and share their ideas for schools and jobs.

Kemp won the election by about 55,000 votes, earning 50.2 percent of the total vote. Abrams stopped her campaign after the votes were counted, though she raised questions about election rules. It was the closest race for governor in Georgia since 1966.

Taking the Oath of Office

Kemp with his wife Marty taking the oath of office

Kemp officially took office in Atlanta on January 14, 2019. He promised to focus on growing businesses, helping rural towns, and keeping communities safe. One of his first actions was visiting Swainsboro, Georgia, where he set up a task force to help small-town economies grow.

The 2022 Reelection Victory

County map showing results for the 2022 governor race

In 2022, Kemp ran for a second term as governor. In the primary, he was challenged by former U.S. Senator David Perdue. Former Vice President Mike Pence supported Kemp in the primary contest. Kemp won the primary by a wide margin.

In November 2022, Kemp faced Abrams again in a rematch. Kemp won the election with 53.4 percent of the vote, expanding his margin of victory. He was sworn into office for his second term on January 9, 2023.

Policies and Leadership as Governor

Governor Kemp reviewing Georgia National Guard soldiers in 2019

As governor, Kemp led the state through several major events, including global economic changes and health challenges. He worked with state lawmakers to pass new laws each spring.

New Voting Rules and State Laws

In 2021, Kemp signed a major voting law called the Election Integrity Act of 2021. This law expanded the number of early voting days across Georgia. It also created new photo ID rules for people voting by mail and changed how local election boards are managed. Kemp argued the changes made elections secure and easy to understand.

Health Policies and the Pandemic

In early 2020, leaders around the world faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Kemp declared a State of emergency to help hospitals get supplies. In April 2020, he issued a temporary stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the virus.

Later that month, Kemp became one of the first governors to reopen businesses. He encouraged people to return to work while asking hospitals to stay prepared. While federal health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested strict guidelines, Kemp allowed local stores, gyms, and restaurants to open their doors early.

Courts and Major Appointments

Governors appoint judges when vacancies happen. Kemp selected Carla Wong McMillian to serve on the Supreme Court of Georgia. This made her the first Asian American woman to serve on that court.

When long-serving U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson stepped down due to health reasons, Kemp had the duty to choose a replacement. He selected businesswoman Kelly Loeffler to fill the seat in the United States Senate. Loeffler served until a special election was held, which was won by Democrat Raphael Warnock.

Relations with National Leaders

Kemp has had an interesting relationship with national political leaders. Following the 2020 presidential election, Democratic nominee Joe Biden won the state by a narrow margin. President Donald Trump asked state officials to review the outcome.

Kemp and Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan stated that the Georgia General Assembly had to follow the rules in the United States Electoral College. Kemp certified the election results as required by law. While this led to disagreements with Trump, Kemp later supported the national Republican ticket in following campaigns.

Personal Life and Community Work

Brian Kemp married Marty Argo on January 8, 1994. Her father was Bob Argo, who had served in the Georgia House of Representatives. The Kemps have three daughters: Jarrett, Lucy, and Amy Porter.

The Kemp family lives in Athens, Georgia, and attends Emmanuel Episcopal Church. They enjoy spending time outdoors, supporting college sports, and traveling around the state to meet Georgia families.

Electoral History of Brian Kemp

Images for kids

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  Kemp speaking during a trip to Jerusalem in 2023

See also

In Spanish: Brian Kemp para niños