Career Timeline of Brian Kemp: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Brian Kemp, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Brian Kemp is the current governor of Georgia, serving since 2019. A Republican, he previously served as Georgia's Secretary of State from 2010 to 2018 and as a state senator from 2003 to 2007. Kemp's election as governor marked a notable shift in Georgia politics, as he was the first Republican elected to the position since Reconstruction without a prior history as a Democrat.
2002: Elected to Georgia State Senate
In 2002, Brian Kemp was elected to the Georgia State Senate, marking his entry into politics.
2003: Elected as Georgia State Senator
Brian Kemp was elected as a Georgia State Senator in 2003, defeating the Democratic incumbent Doug Haines.
2006: Lost Runoff for Agriculture Commissioner
In 2006, Brian Kemp ran for Agriculture Commissioner of Georgia, finishing second in the primary and losing the runoff to Gary Black.
2006: Lost Republican Primary for Agriculture Commissioner
In 2006, Brian Kemp ran for Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Agriculture but lost the Republican primary.
2007: End of Term as State Senator
Brian Kemp's term as a Georgia State Senator ended in 2007.
2010: Appointed Secretary of State
In 2010, Brian Kemp was appointed as the Secretary of State for Georgia.
2010: Appointed and Won Election for Secretary of State
In early 2010, Brian Kemp was appointed Georgia Secretary of State by then-Governor Sonny Perdue, and subsequently won the election for a full term.
2014: Reelected as Secretary of State
In 2014, Brian Kemp was reelected as Secretary of State, securing another term in the position.
May 2018: Kemp Sued over Business Loans
In May 2018, Brian Kemp was sued for failure to repay $500,000 in business loans related to his guarantee of loans to Hart AgStrong, a Kentucky-based company, potentially creating legal and political challenges.
May 22, 2018: Republican Primary Election
On May 22, 2018, Brian Kemp participated in the Republican primary election. He later prevailed in a primary runoff held on July 24, 2018.
July 24, 2018: Primary Runoff Victory
On July 24, 2018, Brian Kemp won the Republican primary runoff against Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, securing his nomination for the gubernatorial election.
October 2018: Report on Kemp's Insider Loans
In October 2018, WAGA-TV reported that companies owned by Brian Kemp owed over $800,000 in loans to a community bank where he was a founding board member and stockholder, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
2018: Resigned as Secretary of State
After winning the 2018 gubernatorial election, Brian Kemp resigned as secretary of state in anticipation of becoming governor.
2018: Previous Election Against Abrams
Brian Kemp defeated Abrams in the 2018 election
2018: Ran for Governor and Won
In 2018, Brian Kemp ran for governor and narrowly won the general election against Stacey Abrams, amidst controversy regarding his role as Secretary of State during the campaign.
2018: Gubernatorial Election Victory
In 2018, Brian Kemp won the gubernatorial election, defeating Stacey Abrams by 54,723 votes. The 2018 gubernatorial election was the closest governor's race in Georgia since 1966.
January 14, 2019: Inauguration as Governor
Brian Kemp was inaugurated as governor of Georgia in a public ceremony in Atlanta on January 14, 2019.
April 2019: Signing Legislation Addressing Election Criticisms
In April 2019, Brian Kemp signed legislation into law addressing some criticisms that arose from the contested 2018 election. The new law included provisions to prevent polling place changes 60 days before an election and to protect voters from being removed from voter rolls due to mismatched information.
September 2019: Announcement of Rural "Strike Team"
In September 2019, Brian Kemp visited Swainsboro to announce the creation of a rural "strike team" focusing on economic development in rural areas of the state.
2019: Became Governor of Georgia
In 2019, Brian Kemp became the 83rd Governor of Georgia. He is a member of the Republican Party.
December 31, 2019: Isakson Resignation
After Johnny Isakson announced that he would resign from the U.S. Senate on December 31, 2019, Kemp appointed businesswoman Kelly Loeffler to complete Isakson's term on December 4.
January 6, 2020: Loeffler Sworn into Office
Kelly Loeffler was sworn into office on January 6, 2020, after being appointed by Brian Kemp to complete Johnny Isakson's term in the U.S. Senate.
January 2021: Trump Criticizes Kemp
In January 2021, Donald Trump criticized Brian Kemp for certifying Georgia's election results, leading to speculation about a potential primary challenge in 2022.
March 2021: Kemp Supports Trump
In March 2021, Brian Kemp publicly stated that he would support Donald Trump if he were to run for president again in 2024.
September 2021: Trump Implies Support for Abrams
In September 2021, at a rally in Perry, Georgia, Donald Trump suggested that Stacey Abrams would be a preferable replacement for Brian Kemp, increasing political tensions.
December 2021: Perdue Announces Candidacy
In December 2021, David Perdue announced his candidacy for governor of Georgia, with the endorsement of Donald Trump, setting the stage for a competitive primary.
2021: Signed Election Integrity Act of 2021
In 2021, Brian Kemp signed into law the Election Integrity Act of 2021, which altered election procedures in Georgia.
May 2022: Pence Endorses Kemp
In May 2022, Brian Kemp announced that he had received the endorsement of former Vice President Mike Pence, highlighting divisions within the Republican Party.
2022: Defeated David Perdue and Stacey Abrams
In 2022, Brian Kemp defeated David Perdue in the Republican primary and Stacey Abrams in the general election.
January 9, 2023: Second Term Inauguration
Brian Kemp was inaugurated for his second term as governor on January 9, 2023.
January 12, 2023: Second Term Swearing-In
Brian Kemp was sworn in for a second term as governor on January 12, 2023, after defeating Stacey Abrams in the general election.
March 2024: Kemp Endorses Trump's Presidential Campaign
In March 2024, Brian Kemp formally endorsed Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, signaling a shift in their relationship despite past disagreements.
