History of Brian Kemp in Timeline
Brian Porter Kemp, the 83rd governor of Georgia since 2019, is a prominent Republican politician. Before his governorship, he held the position of Georgia's 27th secretary of state from 2010 to 2018 and served in the Georgia State Senate from 2003 to 2007.
1950: Previous Gubernatorial Rematch
The 2020 Georgia gubernatorial election marked the state's first rematch in this race since 1950, indicating a significant political event.
November 2, 1963: Birth of Brian Kemp
Brian Porter Kemp was born on November 2, 1963. This marks the beginning of the life of the future American politician who would go on to serve as the governor of Georgia. [November 2, 1963]
1966: Previous Close Gubernatorial Race
The 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election was the closest in the state since 1966, highlighting the competitive nature of the race.
1983: Kemp Graduates from Clarke Central High School
In 1983, Brian Kemp graduated from Clarke Central High School, where he transferred to play football. [1983]
January 8, 1994: Kemp Marries Marty Argo
On January 8, 1994, Brian Kemp married Marty Argo, the daughter of longtime Georgia House of Representatives member Bob Argo. The couple has three daughters and belongs to Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Athens.
2002: Kemp Elected to Georgia State Senate
In 2002, Brian Kemp was elected to the Georgia State Senate, marking his entry into state-level politics. [2002]
2003: Kemp Enters Georgia State Senate
Brian Kemp began his political career as a member of the Georgia State Senate in 2003. [2003]
2003: Kemp Enters Georgia State Senate
Brian Kemp began his political career as a member of the Georgia State Senate in 2003. [2003]
2006: Kemp Loses Republican Primary for Agriculture Commissioner
In 2006, Kemp ran for the position of commissioner of the Georgia Department of Agriculture but lost in the Republican primary. [2006]
2006: Kemp Loses Republican Primary for Agriculture Commissioner
In 2006, Kemp ran for the position of commissioner of the Georgia Department of Agriculture but lost in the Republican primary. [2006]
2007: Kemp's Tenure in Georgia State Senate Ends
In 2007, Kemp concluded his service as a member of the Georgia State Senate, where he served since 2003. [2007]
2007: Kemp's Tenure in Georgia State Senate Ends
In 2007, Kemp concluded his service as a member of the Georgia State Senate, where he served since 2003. [2007]
2010: Kemp Implements Controversial "Exact Match" Policy
In 2010, Kemp's introduction of the "exact match" policy sparked controversy as it led to eligible Georgians being removed from voter rolls due to minor discrepancies, like hyphens or typos, between their voter registration cards and state records. Kemp's office defended the policy, stating it aimed to prevent fraudulent registrations, but critics viewed it as voter suppression targeting minorities. Initially rejected by the Department of Justice, the policy was later implemented with safeguards, although it was alleged that Kemp didn't adhere to these safeguards.
2010: Kemp Wins Election as Secretary of State
In 2010, Brian Kemp won the election for a full term as secretary of state of Georgia with 56.4% of the vote. [2010]
2010: Kemp Becomes Secretary of State of Georgia
In 2010, Brian Kemp was appointed as the secretary of state of Georgia by Governor Sonny Perdue, marking a significant step in his political career. [2010]
2012: Georgia Aggressively Removes Voters for Inactivity, Canceling Over 1.4 Million Registrations Between 2012 and 2018
Between 2012 and 2018, Georgia, under Kemp's leadership as secretary of state, adopted an aggressive approach to voter roll maintenance, resulting in the cancellation of over 1.4 million voter registrations. This practice, which disproportionately impacted minority voters, has drawn criticism as a form of voter suppression, raising questions about its true intent and impact on electoral integrity.
2012: Changes to Voting Rights Act Grant States More Autonomy, Leading to Polling Location Closures
Following changes to the Voting Rights Act in 2012, which granted states with a history of voter suppression increased autonomy, Kemp's office oversaw the closure of 214 polling locations in Georgia, representing 8% of the total. Criticized for disproportionately impacting African-American communities, these closures raised concerns about voter suppression tactics being employed.
2014: Kemp Reelected as Secretary of State
In 2014, Brian Kemp was reelected as the secretary of state of Georgia, continuing his role from 2010. [2014]
July 2015: Disproportionate Impact of "Exact Match" on Minority Voters Highlighted
Between July 2015 and July 2017, data revealed that a significant 76.3% of registrations removed from voter rolls under the "exact match" policy belonged to African-American, Asian, and Latino voters. Critics argue that this disparity highlights the discriminatory nature of the policy, as minority names are more likely to contain hyphens or less common spellings that can lead to clerical errors, resulting in registration rejections.
October 2015: Data Breach Under Kemp's Leadership
In October 2015, Kemp faced criticism for a data breach that exposed personal information of over six million voters. [October 2015]
2015: Data Breach Under Kemp's Leadership
In 2015, Kemp faced criticism for a data breach that exposed personal information of over six million voters. [2015]
August 2016: Kemp Rejects Federal Help Against Russian Interference
In August 2016, amid Russian attempts to disrupt the elections, Kemp declined federal assistance to secure voting systems, accusing officials of exaggerating the threat. [August 2016]
December 2016: Kemp Accuses DHS of Hacking Attempt
In December 2016, Kemp accused the Department of Homeland Security of attempting to hack his office's computer network, though an investigation found it was a false alarm. [December 2016]
2016: Lawsuit Halts Kemp's "Exact Match" Policy
In 2016, Kemp's controversial "exact match" policy was halted due to a lawsuit. The policy, which removed voters from rolls for minor discrepancies between their registration and state records, was criticized as a form of voter suppression.
2016: Kemp Rejects DHS Assistance
During the 2016 election, Kemp was the only state official to reject help from the Department of Homeland Security to guard against Russian interference. [2016]
2016: Kemp Rejects DHS Assistance
During the 2016 election, Kemp was the only state official to reject help from the Department of Homeland Security to guard against Russian interference. [2016]
2016: Kemp Rejects DHS Assistance
During the 2016 election, Kemp was the only state official to reject help from the Department of Homeland Security to guard against Russian interference. [2016]
2016: Investigation Reveals Potential Illegal Voter Purges Under Kemp's Oversight
An investigation conducted between 2016 and 2017 uncovered that of the approximately 534,000 Georgians whose voter registrations were purged, over 334,000 still resided at their registered addresses. This revelation led to accusations that Kemp, as secretary of state, had illegally purged voters from the rolls, prompting a lawsuit by Greg Palast, who alleged that over 300,000 voters were wrongly removed. Kemp's office refuted these claims, stating that their actions were meant to prevent fraud and ensure only eligible voters participated.
July 2017: Disproportionate Impact of "Exact Match" on Minority Voters Highlighted
Between July 2015 and July 2017, data revealed that a significant 76.3% of registrations removed from voter rolls under the "exact match" policy belonged to African-American, Asian, and Latino voters. Critics argue that this disparity highlights the discriminatory nature of the policy, as minority names are more likely to contain hyphens or less common spellings that can lead to clerical errors, resulting in registration rejections.
July 2017: Georgia Cancels Half a Million Voter Registrations in One Night
In July 2017, Georgia, under Kemp's oversight as secretary of state, made the controversial move of canceling half a million voter registrations in a single night. This action, representing about 8% of all registered voters in the state, was criticized as a potential mass disenfranchisement, particularly given its timing eight months after Kemp declared his candidacy for governor.
2017: Kemp Denounces Federal Election Security Efforts
In 2017, Kemp denounced efforts by the Obama administration to strengthen election system security, calling it an assault on states' rights. [2017]
2017: Kemp Draws Criticism for Voting System Flaw
In 2017, Kemp was criticized for a flaw in the state voting system that exposed personal information and passwords, which was fixed six months later. [2017]
2017: Kemp Purges 668,000 Inactive Voters From Voter Rolls
In 2017, as part of his actions to update voter rolls, Kemp oversaw the removal of 668,000 inactive voters, a move that contributed to accusations of voter suppression during the 2018 gubernatorial election.
2017: Modified "Exact Match" Policy Reinstated in Georgia
In 2017, despite previous controversy and a lawsuit leading to its suspension, a modified version of Kemp's "exact match" policy was reinstated in Georgia. This policy, which mandates exact matches between voter registration information and state records, has been criticized as a form of voter suppression.
2017: Investigation Reveals Potential Illegal Voter Purges Under Kemp's Oversight
An investigation conducted between 2016 and 2017 uncovered that of the approximately 534,000 Georgians whose voter registrations were purged, over 334,000 still resided at their registered addresses. This revelation led to accusations that Kemp, as secretary of state, had illegally purged voters from the rolls, prompting a lawsuit by Greg Palast, who alleged that over 300,000 voters were wrongly removed. Kemp's office refuted these claims, stating that their actions were meant to prevent fraud and ensure only eligible voters participated.
May 2018: Kemp Sued Over Unpaid Business Loans
In May 2018, Brian Kemp was sued for failing to repay $500,000 in business loans. The lawsuit was related to Kemp's personal guarantee of $10 million in loans to Hart AgStrong, a canola crushing company under investigation for potentially unlawful financial practices. Kemp and the plaintiff reached a settlement shortly before he assumed office as governor.
May 22, 2018: Republican Primary Election
The Republican primary election for the Governor of Georgia took place on May 22, 2018.
July 24, 2018: Republican Primary Runoff Election
A runoff election between the top two Republican candidates, Brian Kemp and Casey Cagle, was held on July 24, 2018.
September 5, 2018: Attack Ad Alleges Quid Pro Quo in Kemp's Handling of Sexual Assault Accusations
On September 5, 2018, an attack ad was released that accused Kemp, then overseeing the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy, of ignoring sexual assault accusations against therapists employed by Massage Envy in exchange for campaign donations from franchisee owners. The ad claimed these offenders were able to renew their Board licenses despite the accusations.
October 2018: Report on Kemp's Insider Loans
In October 2018, an Atlanta television station 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. While such 'insider loans' are legally permissible, Kemp's campaign declined to disclose the terms of these loans.
October 2018: Kemp's Office Puts 53,000+ Voter Registration Applications on Hold, Mostly Belonging to Minorities
By early October 2018, Kemp's office had placed over 53,000 voter registration applications on hold, a significant portion of which belonged to minority voters. This action, which prevented these individuals from voting in the upcoming election, drew heavy criticism and accusations of voter suppression. While Kemp's office maintained it was part of their efforts to ensure only eligible voters participated, the timing and disproportionate impact on minorities raised serious concerns about disenfranchisement.
November 4, 2018: Zero Day Flaw Announcement and Hacking Accusations
On November 4, 2018, just before the gubernatorial election, Kemp's office disclosed a security flaw in the state's voter registration website, alleging hacking attempts by Democrats without providing evidence. This action drew criticism and was seen as a voter suppression tactic.
December 4, 2018: Congressional Inquiry into Election Conduct
On December 4, 2018, U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings announced his intention to summon Kemp before Congress. The purpose was to address concerns regarding the fairness and integrity of Kemp's actions during the 2018 elections.
December 2018: Unfounded Hacking Accusations
In December 2018, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution revealed that Kemp's hacking accusations lacked evidence. The report suggested that these claims might have been a political strategy to secure his election victory.
2018: Gubernatorial Election Victory
Kemp won the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election, defeating Stacey Abrams by a narrow margin. It was the closest governor's race in the state since 1966.
2018: Criticisms from 2018 Election
The 2018 election, particularly Kemp's handling of it as Secretary of State, drew significant criticism, leading to calls for reforms and changes to election laws.
2018: Allegations of Voter Suppression
Kemp faced serious allegations of voter suppression during the 2018 elections, leading to investigations and scrutiny of his actions.
2018: Voting Machine Sequestration Causes Delays and Fuels Voter Suppression Concerns
Following a court ruling in 2018, the sequestration of voting machines by local election officials led to significant delays at polling locations, disproportionately affecting counties favoring Kemp's opponent. Critics argued that this action was a deliberate attempt to suppress voter turnout. Long wait times, exacerbated by inclement weather and logistical issues like machines delivered without power cords, further fueled these concerns, highlighting the challenges faced by voters during the election.
2018: Georgia Aggressively Removes Voters for Inactivity, Canceling Over 1.4 Million Registrations Between 2012 and 2018
Between 2012 and 2018, Georgia, under Kemp's leadership as secretary of state, adopted an aggressive approach to voter roll maintenance, resulting in the cancellation of over 1.4 million voter registrations. This practice, which disproportionately impacted minority voters, has drawn criticism as a form of voter suppression, raising questions about its true intent and impact on electoral integrity.
2018: Kemp's Gubernatorial Victory Challenged, but Claims of Illegitimacy Deemed Unfounded
Despite controversies surrounding the 2018 Georgia midterms, various political scientists and news outlets, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, found no substantial evidence to support claims of systematic malfeasance or enough compromised votes to invalidate Kemp's gubernatorial victory. While some Democrats maintain these claims, experts like Charles S. Bullock III and Richard Hasen, while critical of Kemp's job performance, haven't found evidence to support election theft. A USA Today fact check further concluded that his office's actions during the election were justifiable under state and federal law.
2018: Kemp Accused of Voter Suppression During 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial Election
During the 2018 gubernatorial election, Kemp faced accusations of voter suppression, with his actions being labeled as some of the worst that year. These accusations stemmed from his actions as secretary of state, including putting 53,000 voter registration applications, predominantly from African Americans, on hold just weeks before the election. Additionally, during his tenure, he purged a significant number of inactive voters, including 668,000 in 2017.
2018: Kemp Resigns as Secretary of State
After narrowly winning the 2018 gubernatorial election, Brian Kemp resigned as secretary of state in anticipation of becoming governor. [2018]
2018: Opposition to Automatic Voter Registration
In 2018, Brian Kemp expressed concerns and opposition towards automatic voter registration, a policy change advocated for to facilitate voting and prevent suppression. Leaked recordings revealed his apprehension about increased voter participation, particularly among minority groups.
2018: Proposed Polling Location Closures in Randolph County Challenged
In 2018, a consultant's recommendation to close seven out of nine polling locations in Randolph County, a majority-minority county, ahead of the midterm election sparked controversy and a challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union. The proposed closures, attributed to non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, raised concerns about voter suppression, particularly as Kemp's office had previously advocated for polling location consolidation.
2018: Kemp Runs for Governor
In 2018, Brian Kemp ran for governor against Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams, narrowly winning the election amid controversy. [2018]
2018: Kemp's Election Systems Targeted by Russian Hackers
In 2018, an indictment revealed that Russian hackers targeted county websites in Georgia as part of their interference in the 2016 elections. [2018]
2018: End of Kemp's Tenure as Secretary of State
In 2018, Kemp ended his role as the 27th secretary of state of Georgia, a position he held since 2010. [2018]
2018: Judge Rules Kemp's "Exact Match" System Places "Severe Burden" on Voters
In 2018, District Judge Eleanor L. Ross ruled against Kemp's "exact match" system, stating that it places a "severe burden" on voters. The ruling further solidified criticisms that the system, designed to match voter registration information exactly with state records, disproportionately disenfranchises minority voters due to minor discrepancies.
January 14, 2019: First Inauguration as Governor
Brian Kemp was officially inaugurated as the Governor of Georgia on January 14, 2019, marking the beginning of his first term.
January 2019: Brian Kemp Becomes Governor of Georgia
In January 2019, Brian Kemp was inaugurated as the 83rd governor of Georgia, beginning his tenure in the state's highest office. [January 2019]
March 6, 2019: House Oversight Committee Investigation
On March 6, 2019, it was revealed that both Kemp and his successor as Secretary of State were under investigation by the House Oversight and Reform Committee for alleged voter suppression during the 2018 elections.
March 20, 2019: Document Request Deadline
Kemp was given a deadline of March 20, 2019, to comply with document requests related to the House investigation or face a subpoena.
April 2019: Election Reform Legislation
In April 2019, Kemp signed into law legislation aimed at addressing concerns stemming from the 2018 election, including restrictions on polling place changes and absentee ballot rejections.
April 2019: Kemp's Approval Rating at 46 Percent
In April 2019, a poll by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution indicated that Governor Brian Kemp had a job approval rating of 46 percent among Georgians.
May 2019: Signing of "Heartbeat" Abortion Bill
In May 2019, Kemp signed into law a controversial bill that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detectable, typically around six weeks of pregnancy.
September 2019: Rural Economic Development Initiative
Kemp announced the formation of a rural "strike team" in September 2019, focusing on economic development strategies for rural areas of Georgia.
October 2019: Preliminary Injunction on Abortion Law
A federal court issued a preliminary injunction in October 2019, preventing the "heartbeat" abortion law from going into effect.
December 31, 2019: Isakson's Senate Resignation
Senator Johnny Isakson announced his resignation from the U.S. Senate, effective December 31, 2019, creating a vacancy to be filled.
January 6, 2020: Loeffler's Swearing-In and Subsequent Loss
Kelly Loeffler, appointed by Kemp, was sworn into the U.S. Senate on January 6, 2020, but lost the seat to Raphael Warnock in a special election.
April 1, 2020: Statewide Stay-at-Home Order and Lifting
Kemp issued a statewide stay-at-home order on April 1, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but lifted it at the end of April despite opposition and expert advice.
May 2020: Kemp's Approval Rating Drops Amid COVID-19 Crisis
By May 2020, Governor Brian Kemp's job approval rating had declined to 39 percent, as per an Ipsos poll. This drop was largely attributed to his handling of the coronavirus crisis.
July 2020: Kemp Prohibits Local Mask Mandates
In July 2020, amidst a surge in COVID-19 cases, Governor Brian Kemp prohibited Georgia cities and counties from implementing face mask mandates stricter than state guidelines. This decision was met with lawsuits from localities aiming to enforce stricter public health measures. At that time, Georgia had reported over 127,000 COVID-19 cases and 3,000 deaths, while other states were enacting statewide mask mandates.
July 2020: Permanent Injunction on Abortion Law
The "heartbeat" abortion law was permanently struck down by a federal court in July 2020, ruling it unconstitutional.
November 2020: Kemp's Approval Rating Falls Further
In November 2020, a poll by IAG/Fox 5 showed that Governor Brian Kemp's approval rating had fallen to 37 percent. This decline in popularity was linked to ongoing controversies and challenges related to his administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
November 2020: Trump Expresses Regret Over Supporting Kemp
In a November 2020 interview with Fox News, President Donald Trump expressed regret over supporting Brian Kemp's 2018 gubernatorial campaign. Trump criticized Kemp for not challenging the 2020 election results in Georgia, where Biden won.
November 2020: Cancellation of Supreme Court Election
Kemp canceled a scheduled election for the Supreme Court of Georgia in November 2020 following the retirement announcement of Judge Keith R. Blackwell.
December 2020: Trump Calls for Kemp's Resignation
In December 2020, President Donald Trump called for Governor Brian Kemp's resignation. Separately, attorney Lin Wood called for the imprisonment of both Kemp and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
2020: Endorsements and Primary Challenge
In the 2020 Republican primary for Governor of Georgia, Kemp received endorsements from former Vice President Mike Pence and, eventually, former President Donald Trump. He faced a challenge from David Perdue, who was initially endorsed by Trump.
2020: Kemp Faces Criticism from Trump
After the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, Kemp faced criticism from President Donald Trump for certifying the election results, despite Trump's false claims of fraud. [2020]
January 2021: Kemp's Approval Rating Rebounds
In January 2021, an AJC poll showed that Governor Brian Kemp's approval rating had rebounded to 43 percent, reflecting some recovery in public opinion.
January 2021: Trump Criticizes Kemp for Certifying Election Results
In January 2021, outgoing President Donald Trump criticized Governor Brian Kemp for certifying the results of the presidential election, which saw Joe Biden win. This led to speculation that Kemp might face a Trump-backed primary challenger in the 2022 gubernatorial election.
March 2021: Signing of SB 202 Election Law
Kemp signed SB 202 into law in March 2021, introducing changes to Georgia's election processes, including expanded early voting, new absentee voting ID requirements, and provisions for legislative oversight of elections.
March 2021: Kemp Opposes COVID-19 Relief Bill
In March 2021, Governor Brian Kemp expressed his opposition to a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that was passed by Congress. Kemp's stance reflected his broader concerns about federal spending and government intervention.
March 2021: Kemp Pledges Support for Trump in 2024
In March 2021, Governor Brian Kemp announced that he would support former President Donald Trump if he decided to run for president again in 2024.
September 2021: Trump Suggests Stacey Abrams Replace Kemp
In September 2021, during a rally in Perry, Georgia, former President Donald Trump suggested that Kemp's 2018 Democratic opponent, Stacey Abrams, should replace him as governor.
December 2021: David Perdue Announces Gubernatorial Candidacy
In December 2021, David Perdue announced his candidacy for governor of Georgia, receiving an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
2021: Kemp Signs Election Integrity Act
In 2021, Kemp signed the Election Integrity Act, which expanded early in-person voting and increased state control over local election officials. [2021]
April 2022: Kemp's Approval Rating Reaches 50 Percent
By April 2022, Governor Brian Kemp's approval rating had increased to 50 percent, according to a Morning Consult poll, indicating a continued improvement in public perception.
May 2022: Kemp Gains Mike Pence's Support
In May 2022, Governor Brian Kemp announced that he had received support from former Vice President Mike Pence.
October 2022: Kemp's Approval Rating Before Gubernatorial Election
In October 2022, one month before the 2022 gubernatorial election, Governor Brian Kemp's approval rating stood at 54 percent among Georgians.
2022: Kemp Wins Reelection
In his 2022 reelection campaign, Kemp defeated former U.S. Senator David Perdue in the Republican primary and won against Stacey Abrams in the general election by a wider margin than in 2018. [2022]
2022: Overturning of Injunction and Dobbs v. Jackson
The permanent injunction against the "heartbeat" abortion law was overturned following the 2022 Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
January 9, 2023: Second Inauguration as Governor
Kemp's second inauguration as Governor took place on January 9, 2023, signifying the start of his second term in office.
January 12, 2023: Second Term as Governor
Kemp was sworn in for his second term as Governor of Georgia on January 12, 2023, after defeating Stacey Abrams in the general election.
2023: Kemp's Approval Rating Surges at Start of Second Term
At the beginning of his second term in 2023, Governor Brian Kemp's approval rating surged to 62 percent, according to an AJC poll, marking a significant increase in public support.
May 2024: Signing of Three Election Bills
In May 2024, Kemp signed three bills related to elections into law, further shaping the state's electoral processes.
June 26, 2024: Kemp Will Support Trump in November
On June 26, 2024, Governor Brian Kemp stated that he had not supported former President Donald Trump in the state primary but would support him in the November election to help secure a Republican victory.