The 2022 Georgia gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Georgia. Incumbent 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 then-former President Donald Trump after Kemp 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 Brian Kemp, incumbent governor (2019–present) and former secretary of state of Georgia (2010–2018)

Eliminated in primary Catherine Davis, HR professional David Perdue, former U.S. senator from Georgia (2015–2021) 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Withdrawn Vernon Jones, former state representative (1993–2001, 2017–2021, Democratic until 2020) and CEO of DeKalb County (2001–2009) (endorsed Perdue) (ran for U.S. House in GA-10)

Declined Doug Collins, former U.S. representative for (2013–2021) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 Herschel Walker, former American football player (ran for U.S. Senate)

Debates 2022 Georgia gubernatorial Republican primary election debatesDateOrganizerLocation Participant Absent (invited) Invited Not invitedSourceCatherine DavisBrian KempDavid PerdueKandiss TaylorTom Williams1April 24, 2022WSB-TVAtlanta N P P N N2April 28, 2022WTOC-TVSavannah N P P N N3May 2, 2022Atlanta Press Club,Georgia Public BroadcastingAtlanta P P P P P

Endorsements

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of April 30, 2022CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handBrian Kemp (R)$22,427,829$11,687,287$10,740,541David Perdue (R)$3,475,864$2,577,546$898,318Source: Georgia Campaign Finance Commission

Polling

Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated BrianKemp DavidPerdue KandissTaylor OtherMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsMay 20–23, 2022May 24, 202254.7%35.3%5.3%4.7%Kemp +19.4 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BrianKemp VernonJones DavidPerdue KandissTaylor Other Undecideddo NOT add the full ballot numbers from the Fabrizio Lee poll for Perdue's campaign, which are ONLY AN INFORMED BALLOT TEST, unlike the head-to-head: https://twitter.com/JacobRubashkin/status/1471488187134533632 --> The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)May 21–23, 20221,074 (LV)± 2.9%52%–38%5%1%4%Landmark Communications (R)Landmark Communications (R)May 22, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%60%–30%5%1%4%InsiderAdvantage (R)InsiderAdvantage (R)May 20–21, 2022750 (LV)± 3.6%52%–38%6%1%4%Fox NewsFox NewsMay 12–16, 20221,004 (LV)± 3.0%60%–28%6%2%3%ARW Strategies (R)April 30 – May 1, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%59%–22%7%2%11%InsiderAdvantage (R)InsiderAdvantage (R)April 28 – May 1, 2022750 (LV)± 3.6%54%–38%4%2%2%SurveyUSASurveyUSAApril 22–27, 2022559 (LV)± 4.9%56%–31%3%2%8%University of GeorgiaUniversity of GeorgiaApril 10–22, 2022886 (LV)± 3.3%53%–27%4%1%15%Guidant Polling & Strategy (R)Guidant Polling & Strategy (R)April 18–21, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%57%–31%––12%Landmark Communications (R)Landmark Communications (R)April 9–10, 2022660 (LV)± 3.8%52%–28%10%1%10%Spry Strategies (R)Spry Strategies (R)April 6–10, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%47%–35%3%1%14%University of GeorgiaUniversity of GeorgiaMarch 20 – April 8, 2022~329 (LV)± 5.4%48%–37%2%1%12%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeApril 1–3, 2022509 (LV)± 4.3%43%–32%2%6%17%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)March 30–31, 2022825 (LV)± 3.4%49%–33%5%1%12%BK Strategies (R)BK Strategies (R)March 6–8, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%48%–33%–4%14%Fox NewsFox NewsMarch 2–6, 2022914 (LV)± 3.0%50%–39%–4%6%American Viewpoint (R)American Viewpoint (R)March 1–3, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%51%–35%–6%8%InsiderAdvantage (R)February 28 – March 1, 2022750 (LV)± 3.6%44%–35%3%3%15%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)February 11–13, 20221,072 (LV)± 3.0%49%–40%3%1%8% February 7, 2022 Jones withdraws from the raceQuinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac UniversityJanuary 19–24, 2022666 (LV)± 3.8%43%10%36%4%1%5%InsiderAdvantage (R)InsiderAdvantage (R)December 6, 2021500 (LV)± 4.4%41%11%22%4%–23%American Viewpoint (R)American Viewpoint (R)December 1–6, 20211,050 (LV)± 3.0%54%12%22%–3%7%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)September 2–4, 20211,076 (LV)± 3.0%48%25%–7%1%19%Fabrizio Lee (R)Fabrizio Lee (R)August 11–12, 2021500 (LV)± 4.4%41%19%16%3%<1%20%

Runoff polling Doug Collins vs. Brian Kemp Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DougCollins BrianKemp UndecidedUNLV Business SchoolUNLV Business SchoolDecember 30, 2020 – January 3, 2021209 (LV)± 7.0%29%48%23%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)December 25–27, 2020– (LV)–53%32%16% Marjorie Taylor Greene vs. Brian Kemp Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Greene BrianKemp UndecidedUNLV Business SchoolDecember 30, 2020 – January 3, 2021209 (LV)± 7.0%14%60%26% Brian Kemp vs. David Perdue Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BrianKemp DavidPerdue UndecidedEmerson CollegeApril 1–3, 2022509 (LV)± 4.3%44%39%16%Cygnal (R)March 30–31, 2022825 (LV)± 3.4%52%37%10%Fabrizio Lee (R)Fabrizio Lee (R)December 7–9, 2021800 (LV)± 3.5%44%47%9%Fabrizio Lee (R)August 11–12, 2021500 (LV)± 4.4%46%40%14% Brian Kemp vs. Herschel Walker Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BrianKemp HerschelWalker UndecidedUNLV Business SchoolDecember 30, 2020 – January 3, 2021209 (LV)± 7.0%50%25%25%

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Stacey Abrams, founder of Fair Fight Action, former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives (2011–2017) and nominee for governor in 2018

Declined Kasim Reed, former mayor of Atlanta (2010–2018) (ran for mayor)

Endorsements

Results

Independent and third-party candidates

Declared Al Bartell (independent), businessman, U.S. Air Force veteran, and perennial candidate Shane T. Hazel (Libertarian), radio host, Republican candidate for in 2018, and Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020

General election Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report July 22, 2022Inside Elections November 3, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 7, 2022PoliticoOctober 3, 2022 RCPSeptember 20, 2022Fox News September 20, 2022FiveThirtyEightOctober 27, 2022Elections DailyNovember 7, 2022

Debates + 2022 Georgia gubernatorial debates Date Host Moderator Link Republican Democratic LibertarianKey: Participant  Absent  Non-invitee  Invitee Withdrawn Brian Kemp Stacey Abrams Shane Hazel1 Oct. 17, 2022 11 Alive 2 Oct. 30, 2022 WSB-TV

Endorsements

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2022CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handBrian Kemp (R)$44,593,500$40,666,892$3,926,608Stacey Abrams (D)$54,021,428$53,951,027$70,400Source: Georgia Campaign Finance Commission

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated BrianKemp (R) StaceyAbrams (D) OtherMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsNovember 1–7, 2022November 8, 202252.8%44.5%2.7%Kemp +8.3FiveThirtyEightFiveThirtyEightFebruary 6 – November 8, 2022November 8, 202252.2%44.4%3.4%Kemp +7.8270ToWin270ToWinNovember 7, 2022November 8, 202252.2%45.0%4.5%Kemp +6.3Average52.4%44.6%3.0%Kemp +7.8