Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) started his second term Thursday with more political clout than ever, setting himself up for a possible 2026 Senate run or future White House bid.
The popular term-limited Republican governor rattled off a list of priorities for the next four years during an 18-minute inauguration address that included promises of pay raises for state employees and public school teachers as well as using the state’s surplus to fund a $1 billion income tax refund for residents.
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The Athens, Georgia-born conservative pulled off a stunning set of election victories in 2022 and emerged as a rising GOP superstar.
He survived a coordinated campaign led by former President Donald Trump to primary him as payback for refusing to meddle in the 2020 presidential election.
Kemp was able to turn Trump’s taunts in his favor, managing to win credibility with centrists and independent voters who had grown tired of the former president’s antics. Kemp also beat Democratic darling Stacey Abrams in a marquee general election matchup by 8 percentage points.
During the high-stakes Senate runoff race between GOP nominee Herschel Walker and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Kemp made a series of power moves that catapulted him on the radar of powerful politicos such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
When Kemp was called in to help Walker’s fledgling campaign, he forked over voter data that he had gathered to Walker’s team so that they could use it to reach more Republican voters. But Kemp, ever the politician, also managed to keep his distance from Walker, who was plagued by multiple controversies tied to his personal life and embellished professional achievements.
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Steven Law, who leads the political action committee aligned with McConnell, told the Associated Press that Kemp did a “remarkable” job helping his party in a time of need while also protecting his brand.
Democratic state Rep. Al Williams told reporters ahead of Thursday’s inauguration that Kemp is “at the height of his powers” heading into his second term. He also credited him with a number of conservative policy wins including permitless firearm carry legislation, as well as tougher restrictions on state election rules and abortion. Kemp also curried favor with voters by fanning out billions of dollars in COVID-19 federal relief funds across the state.
“He spent it very effectively and spread the net wide,” Williams said.
As Kemp gains popularity and name recognition, political analysts have pointed to steps he’s taken that indicate he is already mapping out his political future.
In November, Kemp filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to create Hardworking Americans, a political action committee that could set him up for a federal run. Having a federal PAC not only helps Kemp keep his name out there but also allows him to influence elections and donate money to candidates.
“The runoff for U.S. Senate gave Brian Kemp an excuse to open a federal PAC,” Democratic strategist David McLaughlin told the Washington Examiner. “Kemp could say he was using it to support the woefully underqualified Herschel Walker, but it likely is a means to get an early start on a 2026 bid against Jon Ossoff who will be up for reelection. People should keep in mind Kemp has never run for federal office and Ossoff will be a full-term incumbent and running as a ‘family man’ for the first time in his career.”
In a possible attempt to level the playing field, Kemp will head to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next week. He will be on the “America (Un)Bound” panel alongside Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ).
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Kemp’s attendance at the annual billionaire’s conference could also bring economic opportunities to the state that Kemp could tout in a Senate run.
About 600 CEOs and 52 world leaders are expected to attend the conference.
