On Nov. 6, Georgians will decide who will be the new top leader in the state. In the race for governor are Democrat Stacey Abrams and Republican Brian Kemp.
Both have been familiar faces in the state’s political scene: Abrams was the state House minority leader before stepping down to focus on her gubernatorial bid and Kemp serves as secretary of state while he campaigns.
Our in-depth profiles of the two candidates also reveal their intriguing personal backgrounds. For example:
» Growing up, Abrams was so captivated by James Bond movies and “General Hospital” that she dreamed of becoming a bestselling spy novelist. She finished her first novel while at Yale Law School. Indeed, she found success: Under a pen name, she has authored eight romance suspense books and has sold more than 100,000 copies.
» Growing up, Kemp spent days working on a farm outside Athens. Getting trampled by a 750-pound bovine in the cattle chute seemingly didn’t faze young Kemp, and when a pregnant cow died one freezing Christmas Eve, he and a friend labored in the sleet for hours to pull the calf. It survived.
The AJC takes a closer look at the lives and careers of these two candidates who are at the center of a Georgia race that has garnered national attention.
