2022 Georgia gubernatorial election


The 2022 Georgia gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Georgia. Incumbent [Georgia Georgia Republican Party|Republican Party|Republican] Governor Brian Kemp won a second term, defeating Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams in a rematch. Abrams conceded on election night. The primary occurred on May 24, 2022. Kemp was sworn in for a second term on January 12, 2023.
Kemp was endorsed by former Vice President Mike Pence and former President George W. Bush. He faced a primary challenge from former U.S. Senator David Perdue, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump after Kemp [Attempts to overturn the 2020–21 United States Senate special election in Georgia|2020 United States presidential election|refused to overturn the results] of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Trump ultimately gave Kemp an endorsement in the general election.
Stacey Abrams, the former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives and founder of Fair Fight Action who was narrowly defeated by Kemp in the 2018 gubernatorial election, was once again the Democratic nominee for the governorship. This was Georgia's first gubernatorial rematch since 1950.

Republican primary

Incumbent governor Brian Kemp faced criticism from former president Donald Trump for his refusal to overturn the results of the 2020 United States presidential election. Kemp was booed at the Georgia Republican Convention in June 2021, and in December former senator David Perdue announced a primary challenge to Kemp and was promptly endorsed by Trump. Initial polling showed a competitive race, however, Kemp significantly outraised his opponent and signed conservative legislation such as permitless carry of firearms and a temporary suspension of the gas tax that shored up his position among voters, and on election day, he won by over 50 points, a margin far larger than predicted.

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

  • Catherine Davis, HR professional
  • David Perdue, former U.S. senator from Georgia
  • Kandiss Taylor, conservative commentator, host of the Jesus, Guns, and Babies show, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020
  • Tom Williams, civil service retiree

Withdrawn

Declined

Polling

Graphical summary

Aggregate polls

Source of poll
aggregation		Dates
administered		Dates
updated		Brian
Kemp		David
Perdue		Kandiss
Taylor		Other
Margin
Real Clear PoliticsMay 20–23, 2022May 24, 202254.7%35.3%5.3%4.7%Kemp +19.4

Runoff polling

Doug Collins vs. Brian Kemp

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Doug
Collins		Brian
Kemp		Undecided
UNLV Business SchoolDecember 30, 2020 – January 3, 2021209 ± 7.0%29%48%23%
The Trafalgar Group December 25–27, 2020– –53%32%16%

Marjorie Taylor Greene vs. Brian Kemp

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error
Greene		Brian
Kemp		Undecided
UNLV Business SchoolDecember 30, 2020 – January 3, 2021209 ± 7.0%14%60%26%

Brian Kemp vs. David Perdue

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Brian
Kemp		David
Perdue		Undecided
Emerson CollegeApril 1–3, 2022509 ± 4.3%44%39%16%
Cygnal March 30–31, 2022825 ± 3.4%52%37%10%
Fabrizio Lee December 7–9, 2021800 ± 3.5%44%47%9%
Fabrizio Lee August 11–12, 2021500 ± 4.4%46%40%14%

Brian Kemp vs. Herschel Walker

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Brian
Kemp		Herschel
Walker		Undecided
UNLV Business SchoolDecember 30, 2020 – January 3, 2021209 ± 7.0%50%25%25%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Declined

Independent and third-party candidates

Declared

General election

Polling

Aggregate polls

Graphical summary

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Brian
Kemp 		Stacey
Abrams 		OtherUndecided
Landmark CommunicationsNovember 4–7, 20221,214 ± 2.8%52%46%2%1%
InsiderAdvantage November 6, 2022550 ± 4.2%50%45%1%4%
Research Co.November 4–6, 2022450 ± 4.6%51%44%1%4%
The Trafalgar Group November 4–6, 20221,103 ± 2.9%53%44%2%1%
Data for Progress November 2–6, 20221,474 ± 3.0%54%45%2%–
Targoz Market ResearchNovember 2–6, 2022579 ± 4.0%56%42%3%–
East Carolina UniversityNovember 2–5, 20221,077 ± 3.5%53%46%1%1%
Amber Integrated November 1–2, 2022600 ± 4.0%52%43%1%3%
Remington Research Group November 1–2, 20221,150 ± 2.8%55%41%1%3%
Echleon InsightsOctober 31 – November 2, 2022550 ± 5.4%50%43%3%4%
Marist CollegeOctober 31 – November 2, 20221,168 ± 3.9%51%45%<1%4%
Marist CollegeOctober 31 – November 2, 20221,009 ± 4.2%53%45%–2%
SurveyUSAOctober 29 – November 2, 20221,171 ± 3.7%52%45%1%2%
Patinkin Research Strategies October 30 – November 1, 2022700 ± 3.7%49%47%2%2%
Emerson CollegeOctober 28–31, 20221,000 ± 3.0%52%46%2%1%
Emerson CollegeOctober 28–31, 20221,000 ± 3.0%52%46%2%–
Seven Letter InsightOctober 24–31, 2022762 ± 3.6%49%44%4%4%
Fox NewsOctober 26–30, 20221,002 ± 3.0%49%43%3%5%
InsiderAdvantage October 27, 2022550 ± 4.2%52%43%1%5%
Siena College/NYTOctober 24–27, 2022604 ± 4.8%50%45%1%4%
University of GeorgiaOctober 16–27, 20221,022 ± 3.1%51%44%2%3%
Rasmussen Reports October 23–24, 20221,053 ± 3.0%51%41%––
The Trafalgar Group October 21–23, 20221,076 ± 2.9%52%45%3%–
East Carolina UniversityOctober 13–18, 2022905 ± 3.8%51%44%2%3%
Landmark CommunicationsOctober 15–17, 2022500 ± 4.4%51%45%2%2%
Data for Progress October 13–17, 2022984 ± 3.0%53%43%1%4%
InsiderAdvantage October 16, 2022550 ± 4.2%50%43%2%5%
Wick InsightsOctober 8–14, 20221,018 ± 3.1%52%43%2%3%
CiviqsOctober 8–11, 2022717 ± 4.6%51%46%1%1%
The Trafalgar Group October 8–11, 20221,084 ± 2.9%53%44%2%2%
Quinnipiac UniversityOctober 7–10, 20221,157 ± 2.9%50%49%1%1%
Emerson CollegeOctober 6–7, 20221,000 ± 3.0%51%46%1%2%
InsiderAdvantage October 4, 2022550 ± 4.2%50%45%2%3%
SurveyUSASeptember 30 – October 4, 20221,076 ± 3.7%47%45%3%5%
University of GeorgiaSeptember 25 – October 4, 20221,030 ± 3.1%51%41%2%6%
Fox NewsSeptember 22–26, 20221,011 ± 3.0%50%43%4%4%
Data for Progress September 16–20, 20221,006 ± 3.0%51%44%3%2%
YouGov/CBS NewsSeptember 14–19, 20221,178 ± 4.0%52%46%2%0%
Patinkin Research Strategies September 14–18, 2022600 ± 4.0%50%47%2%2%
University of GeorgiaSeptember 5–16, 2022861 ± 3.3%50%42%2%6%
Marist CollegeSeptember 12–15, 20221,202 ± 3.6%50%44%2%4%
Marist CollegeSeptember 12–15, 2022992 ± 4.0%53%42%2%2%
Survey Monkey September 9–12, 2022949 ± 3.0%45%46%–9%
Survey Monkey September 9–12, 2022542 ± 3.0%49%47%–5%
Quinnipiac UniversitySeptember 8–12, 20221,278 ± 2.7%50%48%1%1%
InsiderAdvantage September 6–7, 2022550 ± 4.2%50%42%2%6%
Echelon InsightsAugust 31 – September 7, 2022751 ± 4.4%47%48%–5%
Emerson CollegeAugust 28–29, 2022600 ± 3.9%48%44%6%2%
TargetSmart August 22–29, 20222,327 ± 3.1%48%46%2%3%
The Trafalgar Group August 24–27, 20221,079 ± 2.9%51%44%2%4%
Phillips AcademyAugust 3–7, 2022971 ± 3.1%51%44%–5%
Research Affiliates July 26 – August 1, 2022420 ± 4.8%47%47%–6%
InsiderAdvantage July 26–27, 2022750 ± 3.6%49%44%5%2%
Fox NewsJuly 22–26, 2022901 ± 3.0%47%44%1%7%
SurveyUSAJuly 21–24, 2022604 ± 5.3%45%44%4%7%
University of GeorgiaJuly 14–22, 2022902 ± 3.3%48%43%2%7%
Beacon Research July 5–20, 20221,003 ± 3.1%45%44%1%7%
Beacon Research July 5–20, 2022602 ± 4.0%51%43%1%5%
Fabrizio Ward /Impact Research July 5–11, 20221,197 ± 4.4%52%45%–3%
Cygnal July 5–7, 20221,200 ± 2.7%50%45%–5%
Data for Progress July 1–6, 20221,131 ± 3.0%53%44%–3%
Change Research June 24–27, 2022704 ± 3.7%49%47%–4%
Quinnipiac UniversityJune 23–27, 20221,497 ± 2.5%48%48%1%3%
Moore Information Group June 11–16, 2022800 ± 3.0%51%44%–5%
East Carolina UniversityJune 6–9, 2022868 ± 3.9%51%45%2%2%
TargetSmart Late May 2022– –51%43%2%4%
SurveyUSAApril 22–27, 20221,278 ± 3.4%50%45%–5%
Cygnal April 6–9, 2022800 ± 3.4%50%44%–6%
Emerson CollegeApril 1–3, 20221,013 ± 3.0%51%44%–5%
WickFebruary 2–6, 20221,290 ± 2.7%49%44%–7%
Quinnipiac UniversityJanuary 19–24, 20221,702 ± 2.4%49%47%–3%
University of GeorgiaJanuary 13–24, 2022872 ± 3.3%48%41%1%8%
Redfield & Wilton StrategiesNovember 9, 2021753 ± 3.6%44%41%3%6%
Redfield & Wilton StrategiesNovember 9, 2021733 ± 3.6%47%44%3%4%
UNLV Business SchoolDecember 30, 2020 – January 3, 2021550 ± 4.0%44%40%–16%

Vernon Jones vs. Stacey Abrams

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Vernon
Jones 		Stacey
Abrams 		OtherUndecided
Redfield & Wilton StrategiesNovember 9, 2021753 ± 3.6%37%42%2%12%
Redfield & Wilton StrategiesNovember 9, 2021733 ± 3.6%40%45%2%9%

Doug Collins vs. Stacey Abrams

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Doug
Collins 		Stacey
Abrams 		Undecided
UNLV Business SchoolDecember 30, 2020 – January 3, 2021550 ± 4.0%44%42%14%

David Perdue vs. Stacey Abrams

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		David
Perdue 		Stacey
Abrams 		OtherUndecided
SurveyUSAApril 22–27, 20221,278 ± 3.4%49%46%–5%
Cygnal April 6–9, 2022800 ± 3.4%47%48%–5%
Emerson CollegeApril 1–3, 20221,013 ± 3.0%49%44%–7%
WickFebruary 2–6, 20221,290 ± 2.7%47%45%–8%
Quinnipiac UniversityJanuary 19–24, 20221,702 ± 2.4%48%48%1%3%
University of GeorgiaJanuary 13–24, 2022872 ± 3.3%47%43%2%6%

Marjorie Taylor Greene vs. Stacey Abrams

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Marjorie Taylor
Greene 		Stacey
Abrams 		Undecided
UNLV Business SchoolDecember 30, 2020 – January 3, 2021550 ± 4.0%41%42%16%

Herschel Walker vs. Stacey Abrams

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Herschel
Walker 		Stacey
Abrams 		Undecided
UNLV Business SchoolDecember 30, 2020 – January 3, 2021550 ± 4.0%43%41%16%

Results

By county

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Kemp won nine of 14 congressional districts.
DistrictKempAbramsRepresentative
60%39%Buddy Carter
48%52%Sanford Bishop
68%31%Drew Ferguson
23%77%Hank Johnson
19%80%Nikema Williams
63%36%Lucy McBath
63%36%Rich McCormick
41%58%Carolyn Bourdeaux
41%58%Lucy McBath
68%32%Austin Scott
74%25%Andrew Clyde
65%35%Jody Hice
65%35%Mike Collins
62%37%Barry Loudermilk
59%40%Rick Allen
19%80%David Scott
72%28%Marjorie Taylor Greene

Analysis

Libertarian Shane T. Hazel, the Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020, also declared he would run. This race was one of six Republican-held governorships up for election in 2022 in a state carried by Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Kemp won his first term by a narrow 55,000-vote margin in 2018, which was Georgia's closest gubernatorial election since 1966. In 2022, however, pre-election forecasting showed a solid lead for Kemp throughout and he ultimately won re-election by nearly 300,000 votes - the largest raw vote victory for a Georgia governor since 2006. The race was seen as a potential benefit to Herschel Walker, who ran in the concurrent Senate race, as it was speculated Kemp's strong performance could help Walker avoid a runoff. He underperformed compared to Kemp, however, and narrowly lost to incumbent Democratic senator Raphael Warnock in the December 6 runoff election. This was the first time since 1998 that Georgia voted for different parties for Senate and governor.

Voter demographics

Voter demographic data was collected by CNN. The voter survey is based on exit polls.