The next governor’s race is a long ways off,
but the campaign for the state’s top job is well underway. And so is the speculation about who will run.
Barrow County Republicans gathered Saturday evening at the Lion's Club for the party's annual BBQ - and also a (very) early straw poll on the 2018 race.
Jon Richards at GeorgiaPol.com passes on the results, which put Secretary of State Brian Kemp at the lead with 20 votes and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle behind him with 7 votes. (Barrow is something of home territory for Kemp, who hails from neighboring Athens-Clarke County.) Kemp's predecessor, Karen Handel, earned a write-in vote.
At least a half-dozen influential Republicans and three high-profile Democrats are mulling a run for the state’s top job in 2018. Some are already lining up staffers, calling donors and holding quiet meetings with their allies to gauge their chances of succeeding Gov. Nathan Deal, who cannot run for a third consecutive term.
Yes, it's awfully early. But, we note that attendees at the 2015 Barrow GOP BBQ a year ago correctly predicted the top two finishers in this year's presidential race.
More from the archives: Race for Georgia governor is already taking shape.
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