By Mary Renfroe
In this piece, I was assigned to cover an event related to my politics beat. As Brian Kemp is the governor of Georgia, I felt that him taking his time to talk to a University of Georgia student organization, College Republicans, was a very news worthy event. To report this event, I attended the meeting, listened to Gov. Kemp speak, and talked with College Republicans President Alex Huskey.
ATHENS, Ga.—Gov. Brian Kemp emphasized at the University of Georgia College Republicans meeting last Wednesday that it is imperative for Republicans to maintain the control of the Georgia General Assembly this year.
The 2020 census designates 2021 as a redistricting year, meaning the State House, State Senate, and Congressional maps will all have to be redrawn. These new maps will ultimately determine representation in the coming years, making this November election especially high stakes for Republicans, said Kemp.
In a Zoom call with about 50 students, Kemp expressed concerned that if Republicans lose control of the House of Representatives or the Senate, it will be difficult to get anything done.
“With the Democrats right now, it’s not the old Southern Democrat we knew 10 to 15 year ago that I served with in the General Assembly. It is really the radical wing of their party that is taking control and pushing like the New Green Deal [sic.], defunding the police, getting rid of school resource officers, having government-run healthcare and really just trying to ruin our economy because of a presidential election this year,” said Kemp at the meeting.
Kemp and Republicans statewide have been working hard to secure victory in November. This includes campaigning hard in the Asian, Latino, Indian American, and African American communities in an attempt to secure the minority vote, said Kemp.
“Georgia is expected to become a majority-minority states as soon as 2025. In 2018, over 90% of Black Georgians and over 60% of Latinos voted for Stacey Abrams, and efforts must be made to ensure that Republicans remain competitive in the state going forward,” said Alex Huskey, president of UGA College Republicans.
In addition to campaigning, Kemp has also worked to create a diverse workforce in the Governor’s office with his state board appointments, said Kemp. In 2019, Kemp historically appointed the first Hispanic constitutional officer in Georgia history when he appointed John King as Insurance commissioner, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
King will also be on the Ballot with Kemp in 2022, said Kemp.
Kemp encouraged Republican students to do their part in the upcoming election and be “the red wall and stop the blue wave.”
When asked about his priorities for the 2021 legislative session, Kemp responded that the budget is his biggest concern due to the recent economic downturn that has occurred across the state of Georgia. Other policy areas to prioritize included education and human trafficking, said Kemp.
Kemp said he worries that if the House falls to the Democrats, then there will be much less legislative progress and increasing gridlock.
The success of the upcoming legislative session is especially important to Kemp this year as he is facing reelection in 2022.
LIVE TWEET 1:
Gov. Brian Kemps says at UGA College Republicans meeting that a vote for Biden is a vote for “higher taxes and job cutting regulations that will ruin the great American comeback.” #UGACRs #Kemp
LIVE TWEET 2:
Kemp says that his minority appointments disproves past claims against him of him being “a racist and a vote suppressor.” This includes his appointment of John King, Georgia’s first Hispanic constitutional officer. #UGACRs #Kemp
LIVE TWEET 3:
Kemp says that this year’s elections are especially imperative for Georgia and encourages UGA College Republicans to be “the red wall and stop the blue wave.” #UGACRs #Kemp