Campaign Action
In the ongoing saga that is the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election, there are a few things that are certain. The first is that Brian Kemp, current secretary of state and Republican candidate for governor, has been involved in a well-documented, years-long process of disenfranchising black and brown voters across the state. Because of this, it is all but a forgone conclusion that he is doing his best to cheat and steal his way to a victory over his opponent, Democrat Stacey Abrams.
Kemp has absolutely no business overseeing an election that he is also running in. Which is why several advocacy groups and prominent officials, including Stacey Abrams herself, have called for Kemp to resign. Now, former President Jimmy Carter is also weighing in. As reported by the Associated Press, Carter wrote an official letter to Kemp on October 22, citing his concerns about voter confidence in the electoral process.
In order to foster voter confidence in the upcoming election, which will be especially important if the race ends up very close, I urge you to step aside and hand over to a neutral authority the responsibility of overseeing the governor’s election. This would not address every concern, but it would be a sign that you recognize the importance of this key democratic principle and want to ensure the confidence of our citizens in the outcome.
President Carter is a lifelong proud Georgian who knows his home state well. With a longstanding pattern of some of the most egregious civil rights violations and racial discrimination in our country’s history, it makes sense that Carter would ask Kemp to do the right thing and step aside so that all Georgians could have faith in the process and the election outcome—whatever it may be. And under normal circumstances, in another time and place, that might be what would happen. But this is America under Trump’s rule. We are living in a deeply divided and dangerous time and nothing is normal.
There is no reason for Brian Kemp to think that he will be held accountable for stealing this election, especially because he’s been setting up the infrastructure for several years prior to running. And nationwide, Republicans have been doing despicable and heinous things (especially under this president) have been getting away with it. So it’s no surprise that Kemp is behaving as if he can do whatever he wants, without oversight or consequence. Except, Brian Kemp forgets that he does actually have a boss. Ultimately, he works for the people of the state of Georgia. And, so it is the people who must vote to keep him out of the governor’s mansion.
Much has been made about the fact that this election is historic. If Stacey Abrams wins, she will be the first black woman governor in American history. She has already made history as the first black woman nominated for governor by a major political party. But this election is also about the kind of future that awaits Georgia—one, under Abrams, marked by progress, diversity, and equality for all or one, under Kemp, where some Georgians are denied their full and equal rights. In 2018, every Georgian (and American) should all be aiming for the former rather than the latter.
Now’s the time to volunteer to help Get Out the Vote for Democrats. Click here to enter your zip code, find a local event and RSVP to attend.
Want to double your impact? Chip in $3 to help elect Stacey Abrams at Georgia’s next governor and turn the state blue.