The 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday November 6, concurrently with other statewide and local elections to elect the next governor of Georgia. Republican candidate and Secretary of State of Georgia Brian Kemp defeated Democratic candidate and former State Representative Stacey Abrams.
The primary elections were held on May 22, 2018, and a primary runoff was held on July 24, 2018, between Republican candidates Kemp and Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle; Kemp prevailed. Incumbent Republican governor Nathan Deal was term-limited and thus could not seek a third consecutive term. Abrams won the Democratic primary with over 75% of the vote, allowing her to avoid a runoff. Kemp was the sitting Secretary of State at the time of the election. Kemp's position led to accusations of a conflict of interest, as Kemp oversaw the administration of an election in which he was the candidate.
On November 7, Kemp declared victory over Abrams. The following morning, Kemp resigned as Secretary of State. On November 16, every county certified their votes with Kemp leading by roughly 55,000 votes. Shortly after the election certification, Abrams suspended her campaign; she accepted Kemp as the legal winner of the election while refusing to say that the election was legitimate. Abrams has since made numerous claims of election activity that allegedly unfairly affected the results. Following the election, Abrams and her organization Fair Fight filed a number of lawsuits challenging the constitutionality and Voting Rights Act compliance of Georgia's voting laws.
Kemp prevailed by 54,723 votes, defeating Abrams 50.2–48.8%. Georgia's 2018 gubernatorial election was its closest governor's race since 1966. Kemp was re-elected governor in 2022 in a rematch with Abrams.
Republican primary Candidates Nominated Brian Kemp, Secretary of State of Georgia and candidate for Agriculture Commissioner in 2006
Eliminated in the runoff Casey Cagle, Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
Eliminated in the primary Hunter Hill, former state senator Clay Tippins, consulting firm executive and retired Navy SEAL Michael Williams, state senator
Withdrew Marc Alan Urbach, journalist, former teacher and write-in candidate for president of the United States in 2016
Declined Nick Ayers, political strategist and chief of staff to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence Burt Jones, state senator Josh McKoon, state senator (running for Secretary of State) David Perdue, U.S. Senator Sonny Perdue, United States Secretary of Agriculture and former governor Tom Price, former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services and former U.S. Representative David Ralston, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives Lynn Westmoreland, former U.S. Representative
Endorsements
First round Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error CaseyCagle HunterHill BrianKemp ClayTippins MichaelWilliams Other UndecidedOpinion SavvyOpinion Savvy May 15–16, 2018 515 ± 4.3% 31% 14% 20% 12% 5% 4% 15%SurveyUSASurveyUSA May 10–15, 2018 558 ± 5.1% 35% 10% 17% 8% 3% – 27%University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia April 19–26, 2018 507 ± 4.4% 41% 9% 10% 4% 3% 1%Eddie Hayes 1%, Marc Alan Urbach 0% 33%Meeting Street Research (R-Citizens for Georgia's Future)Meeting Street Research (R-Citizens for Georgia's Future) March 1 and 3–4, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 38% 10% 10% 3% 2% 3%Marc Alan Urbach 1%, Other 2% 35%Clarion Research (R-Hill)Clarion Research (R-Hill) March 2–3, 2018 547 ± 4.5% 48% 21% 15% 8% 7% – –Mason-DixonMason-Dixon February 20–23, 2018 500 ± 4.5% 27% 11% 13% 12% 5% 1%Marc Alan Urbach 1% 31%Meeting Street Research (R-Citizens for Georgia's Future) February 6–7, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 31% 7% 12% 5% 2% 3% 40%The Wickers Group (R-Kemp)The Wickers Group (R-Kemp) October 21–24, 2017 400 ± 4.5% 34% 1% 13% 0% 1% – 48%Landmark/Rosetta StoneLandmark/Rosetta Stone October 16–17, 2017 800 ± 3.5% 35% 9% 7% 1% 4% – 44%McLaughlin & Associates (R-Cagle)McLaughlin & Associates (R-Cagle) September 28 – October 1, 2017 600 ± 4.0% 41% 4% 12% 2% 3% – 39%
Results
Runoff Casey Cagle and Brian Kemp advanced to a runoff on July 24, 2018, since neither candidate amassed over 50% of the vote in the May 22 primary. On July 18, 2018, President Trump tweeted his support for Kemp, and Vice President Pence traveled to Georgia to campaign with him on July 20, 2018. Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error CaseyCagle BrianKemp UndecidedTrafalgar Group (R)Trafalgar Group (R) July 21–22, 2018 1,177 ± 2.7% 41% 59% 0%SurveyUSASurveyUSA July 15–19, 2018 688 ± 4.7% 34% 40% 26%Opinion Savvy July 17–18, 2018 466 ± 4.5% 37% 55% 8%University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia July 5–12, 2018 769 ± 3.5% 41% 44% 15%Public Opinion Strategies (R-Kemp)Public Opinion Strategies (R-Kemp) June 26–28, 2018 500 ± 4.0% 45% 45% –CygnalCygnal June 26–27, 2018 812 ± 3.4% 44% 43% 14%Rosetta StoneRosetta Stone June 7, 2018 400 ± 4.9% 48% 41% 12%McLaughlin & Associates (R-Cagle)McLaughlin & Associates (R-Cagle) May 29–31, 2018 500 ± 4.5% 52% 42% 5%Public Opinion Strategies (R-Kemp)Public Opinion Strategies (R-Kemp) May 29–31, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 46% 45% 9%
Debates Dates Location Kemp Cagle LinkJuly 6, 2018Augusta, GeorgiaParticipantParticipant Full debate:
Results Brian Kemp easily won the runoff by nearly 40 points despite the latest polls having him up by no more than 18. Cagle won only two counties, Monroe and Stephens.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominated Stacey Abrams, former state representative and former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives
Eliminated in the primary Stacey Evans, attorney and former state representative
Declined John Barrow, former U.S. Representative (running for Secretary of State) Jason Carter, former state senator, nominee for governor in 2014 and grandson of former President Jimmy Carter Kasim Reed, former mayor of Atlanta Teresa Tomlinson, Mayor of Columbus Sally Yates, former U.S. Deputy Attorney General
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error StaceyAbrams StaceyEvans UndecidedOpinion Savvy May 15–16, 2018 522 ± 4.3% 58% 19% 23%SurveyUSA May 10–15, 2018 475 ± 6.2% 43% 24% 33%20/20 Insight (D-Evans)20/20 Insight (D-Evans) May 9–15, 2018 433 ± 5.4% 42% 34% 25%University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia April 12–18, 2018 473 ± 4.5% 33% 15% 52%Mason-Dixon February 20–23, 2018 500 ± 4.5% 29% 17% 54%
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Declared Ted Metz, chair of the Libertarian Party of Georgia
Withdrew Doug Craig, former chair of the Libertarian Party of Georgia
General election If no candidate had gained a simple majority of the votes in the general election, a runoff election between the top two candidates would have been held on December 4, 2018.
Debates Dates Location Kemp Abrams Metz LinkOctober 23, 2018Atlanta, GeorgiaParticipantParticipantParticipant Full debate - C-SPAN
A second debate was scheduled for November 4, 2018 (2 days before Election Day), but it was canceled when Kemp pulled out of the schedule in order to attend a rally for President Donald Trump. The Kemp campaign sent multiple other dates but the Abrams campaign declined due to a full schedule.
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 26, 2018The Washington Post November 5, 2018FiveThirtyEight November 5, 2018Rothenberg Political Report November 1, 2018Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2018RealClearPolitics November 4, 2018Daily Kos November 5, 2018Fox News November 5, 2018Politico November 5, 2018Governing November 5, 2018
Endorsements
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BrianKemp (R) StaceyAbrams (D) TedMetz (L) Other UndecidedThe Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R) October 30 – November 3, 2018 2,171 ± 2.1% 52% 40% – 4% 4%20/20 Insight (D-Southern Majority)20/20 Insight (D-Southern Majority) October 31 – November 2, 2018 614 ± 4.0% 46% 50% 1% – 3%Emerson CollegeEmerson College October 29–31, 2018 724 ± 3.7% 49% 47% 1% – 2%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R) October 27–30, 2018 504 ± 4.4% 49% 47% 4% – 0%University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia October 21–30, 2018 1,091 ± 3.0% 47% 47% 2% – 5%Opinion SavvyOpinion Savvy October 28–29, 2018 623 ± 3.9% 47% 48% 2% – 3%Opinion SavvyOpinion Savvy October 21–22, 2018 824 ± 3.4% 48% 48% 1% – 3%Marist CollegeMarist College October 14–18, 2018 554 LV ± 4.8% 46% 45% 4% <1% 4% 49% 47% – 1% 4% 864 RV ± 3.8% 44% 46% 4% <1% 6% 47% 47% – 1% 5%IpsosIpsos October 4–11, 2018 1,088 ± 3.4% 47% 46% 2% 1% 4%University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia September 30 – October 9, 2018 1,232 ± 2.8% 48% 46% 2% – 4%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 3–8, 2018 655 ± 4.9% 47% 45% – 2% 6%Public Policy Polling (D-Georgia Engaged)Public Policy Polling (D-Georgia Engaged) October 5–6, 2018 729 ± 3.0% 46% 46% – – 7%Landmark CommunicationsLandmark Communications October 1, 2018 964 ± 3.2% 48% 46% 2% – 3%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey September 9–24, 2018 1,955 ± 3.0% 43% 43% – – 14%Garin-Hart-Yang (D-Abrams)Garin-Hart-Yang (D-Abrams) September 17–20, 2018 603 ± 4.1% 42% 48% 3% – 7%University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia August 26 – September 4, 2018 1,020 ± 3.1% 45% 45% 2% – 8%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing July 27–29, 2018 650 ± 3.8% 44% 46% – – 10%SurveyUSASurveyUSA July 15–19, 2018 1,199 ± 4.3% 46% 44% – – 10%Garin-Hart-Yang (D-Abrams)Garin-Hart-Yang (D-Abrams) May 23–25, 2018 601 ± 4.0% 40% 49% – – –Mason-Dixon February 20–23, 2018 625 ± 4.0% 37% 40% – – 23%
with Casey Cagle Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error CaseyCagle (R) StaceyAbrams (D) UndecidedSurveyUSA July 15–19, 2018 1,199 ± 4.3% 45% 43% 12%Garin-Hart-Yang (D-Abrams) May 23–25, 2018 601 ± 4.0% 43% 48% –SurveyUSA May 10–15, 2018 2,339 ± 3.5% 46% 41% 14%Mason-Dixon February 20–23, 2018 625 ± 4.0% 45% 39% 16%
with Clay Tippins Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ClayTippins (R) StaceyAbrams (D) UndecidedMason-Dixon February 20–23, 2018 625 ± 4.0% 40% 41% 19%
with Hunter Hill Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error HunterHill (R) StaceyAbrams (D) UndecidedMason-Dixon February 20–23, 2018 625 ± 4.0% 37% 43% 20%
with Stacey Evans Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error CaseyCagle (R) StaceyEvans (D) UndecidedSurveyUSA May 10–15, 2018 2,339 ± 3.5% 45% 41% 13%Mason-Dixon February 20–23, 2018 625 ± 4.0% 47% 38% 15%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BrianKemp (R) StaceyEvans (D) UndecidedMason-Dixon February 20–23, 2018 625 ± 4.0% 42% 39% 19%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ClayTippins (R) StaceyEvans (D) UndecidedMason-Dixon February 20–23, 2018 625 ± 4.0% 41% 38% 21%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error HunterHill (R) StaceyEvans (D) UndecidedMason-Dixon February 20–23, 2018 625 ± 4.0% 35% 36% 29%
with Casey Cagle Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error CaseyCagle (R) JasonCarter (D) UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 27–30, 2016 724 ± 3.6% 40% 39% 21%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error CaseyCagle (R) KasimReed (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling May 27–30, 2016 724 ± 3.6% 46% 33% 21%
with Brian Kemp Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BrianKemp (R) JasonCarter (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling May 27–30, 2016 724 ± 3.6% 38% 40% 22%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BrianKemp (R) KasimReed (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling May 27–30, 2016 724 ± 3.6% 43% 33% 24%
Results
By county All results from the office of the Secretary of State of Georgia.