A new release put out by Republican candidate Brian Kemp’s campaign yesterday claims Kemp as victor of the governor’s race. Kemp currently serves as Secretary of State. His Democratic opponent, Stacey Abrams, has refused to concede.

“After county elections officials counted and reported absentee ballots for the Nov. 6 election, businessman Brian Kemp leads Stacey Abrams by 1.6 percent - more than 64,000 votes,” according to the release.

“Brian Kemp earned nearly two million votes on Tuesday - by far the most of any gubernatorial candidate in our state's history,” said Cody Hall, Press Secretary. “Absentee ballots are counted and Kemp leads his opponent by 64,000 votes. Based on counts released by the Secretary of State's office, Brian Kemp's margin is so large that the number of provisional ballots and overseas ballots will not change his Election Day victory. Simply put, it is mathematically impossible for Stacey Abrams to win or force a run-off election.

“Peach State voters made a clear decision at the ballot box. Brian Kemp will now begin his transition as governor-elect of Georgia. He will work every day to keep our state moving in the right direction.”

The Courier received a media advisory from Gov. Nathan Deal’s office Thursday, announcing Gov.-elect Kemp and Deal will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. in the Governor’s Ceremonial Office to discuss the administration transition process.

A news release from the Abrams campaign team stated Abrams, “is currently at a deficit of 62,881 votes - that is the lead that Brian Kemp currently holds. Again, there were more than 3.7 million votes cast.

“An additional 23,783 Abrams votes pushes this race into recount threshold,” claims the release from the democratic candidate for governor. “An additional 25,632 Abrams votes pushes this race into runoff threshold.”

Abrams’ campaign team is calling for election data sharing, and that Kemp should, “finally resign his position and designate a nonpartisan bureaucrat to oversee the certification process of the election results.”

Abrams is also forming a litigation team, according to the release. The team will be led by: John Chandler, Elizabeth Tanis, Allegra Lawrence-Hardy, Dara Lindenbaum, and Kurt Kastorf.

“Members of the Abrams litigation team have been involved in some of the most important litigation strategies in U.S. elections over the past decade and beyond, including the presidential race in Florida in 2000, Hillary for America, as well as congressional, state and local races,” states the release.  

According to Abrams team, “Candidates that lose by one percent or less have the right to request a recount within two business days of the Secretary of State’s certification of the results. Absentee ballots are counted on Election Day. The counties must begin the canvass by noon on Nov.7. Provisional voters have until 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9 to cure issues with their ballots.

The county returns must be certified by the county superintendent by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov.12.  Since Nov. 12 is Veterans Day, some counties may postpone their certification until Tuesday, Nov.13. It is our understanding that the Secretary of State’s Office has not issued guidance to the counties on how to handle the holiday. The Secretary of State must certify the results by 5 p.m. on Nov. 20. If no candidate wins a majority of the votes cast to fill that office, there will be a run-off election. The run-off will be held on Dec. 4,  unless postponed by court order, and will only include non-federal candidates."

 In the race to replace Brian Kemp as Secretary of State, Democrat John Barrow and Republican Brad Raffensperger will campaign again for a run-off election on Dec. 4. Neither party received over 50 percent of the vote, which automatically calls for a run-off per Georgia law.