ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will lead the Republican Governors Association for the next year, the group announced Wednesday, just weeks after the party secured governorships in eight of 11 state races up for grabs. elections earlier this month.
The Governors Association helps elect Republicans across the country, and Kemp is expected to use the post to spread his traditional brand of conservatism nationwide.
Kemp is currently vice chairman of the organization, so his move to the top was expected. He succeeds Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, while Montana Governor Greg Gianforte serves as vice chairman.
“Republican governors are turning common sense into conservative policy, putting families and children first and making our states the best place to run a business and raise a family,” Kemp said in a statement.
He and President-elect Donald Trump have apparently repaired a rocky relationship as Kemp refused to help Trump in his efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results based on false allegations of voter fraud. The newly elected president recently grilled Kemp during a 10-minute rally in August.
But weeks later, the tone changed from anger to praise after Kemp promised on Fox News to help elect Trump.
“I look forward to working with my fellow Republican governors and President Trump to continue getting the job done for the American people and adding even more Republican governors to our ranks,” Kemp added in his statement from Wednesday.
As Republicans across the country prepare to run for office in 2025 and 2026, Kemp is expected to work his way through states to help, while also boosting his own national profile as his final term as governor comes to a close runs.
Kemp could face Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia in 2026, but some speculate the governor could launch a presidential campaign instead. Leading the Republican Governors Association will help Kemp maintain the national contacts he needs to raise money and win support for either of these races.
The association assisted Kemp’s campaign against Democrat Stacey Abrams in 2018 and in a 2022 primary against Trump-backed David Perdue.
Kemp used his own well-funded political organization to take out Georgia Republicans in November, an effort that helped Trump and local Republican candidates collect large amounts of votes across the state.
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Kramon is a staff member of The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon
