As the final day for early voting came to a close, Republican candidate Brian Kemp is making the rounds in the area rallying support for his run for governor of Georgia. Election Day on Nov. 6 will officially decide whether Kemp or Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams secures the seat, or if the election will result in a run-off.
Kemp’s campaign guests included other Republican candidates: Buddy Carter, who is running for U.S. Representative for District 1, Brad Raffensperger for Secretary of State, Jim Beck for Insurance Commissioner, and current Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.
“Seven-hundred and fifty-thousand people are currently working in Georgia,” Butler said. “We’ve had the lowest number of people filing for un-employment since 1974. We’ve broken records every month this year.”
Kemp took to the stage to address taxes, jobs and what he proclaims as Abram’s extreme agenda.
“We appreciate the hospitality industry, and the small businesses,” Kemp said. “We believe in the free market and we like small business owners. We want to lower your taxes, not raise them like my opponent.”
It’s honorable to go into those industries, Kemp said. No one should have to, but instead, want too, he continued. It’s how they make their living.
“This race is a battle for the soul of our state. This race is a fight for our future,” he said.
When asked, Kemp said that he stands behind President Trump on the issue of immigration, and specifically in Georgia, plans to focus efforts on going after criminal and illegal drug cartels, and stop and dismantle gangs.
“I certainly support the president in securing the border, I’ve been on board with that since day one,” Kemp said.
Other issues plaguing the campaign revolve around the alleged 53,000 voters purged from the rolls. Abrams has said that Kemp and his office have purged nearly 53,000 voters from the records, the majority of them being African Americans.
“Alleged suppression is right,” Kemp said. “Nobody has been suppressed. We’re having a record turnout right now in the state of Georgia. Our county elections officials are doing a great job and they’ll be the ones counting the votes and certifying the election, just like they’ve done under my tenure, nothing will change, we’ll have a great election—so I’m not concerned about that at all.”
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Nov. 6 for those who have not yet voted during the early voting period.