Governor of Georgia

From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 14 min

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Georgia Governor
General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$175000
2022 FY Budget:	$6,130,645
Term limits:	2 consecutive terms
Structure
Length of term:	4 years
Authority:	Article V, the Executive Department
Selection Method:	Elected
Current Officeholder
Governor of Georgia Brian Kemp Republican Party Assumed office: 2019-01-14
Elections
Next election:	November 8, 2022
Last election:	November 6, 2018
Other Georgia Executive Offices
Governor•Lieutenant Governor•Secretary of State•Attorney General•Treasurer•Auditor•Superintendent of Schools•Agriculture Commissioner•Insurance Commissioner•Natural Resources Commissioner•Labor Commissioner•Public Service Commission

The Governor of the State of Georgia is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest state office in Georgia. The governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two consecutive terms. No individual may again hold the office again until four years, a single gubernatorial term, have elapsed.^[1]

Georgia has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

Georgia has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

See also: Georgia State Legislature, Georgia House of Representatives, Georgia State Senate

Current officeholder[edit]

The 83rd and current governor of Georgia is Brian Kemp (R). He was first elected in November 2018.

Before becoming governor, Kemp served as the Georgia secretary of state from 2010 to 2019. He served in the Georgia State Senate from 2003 to 2007.^[2]

Authority[edit]

The state constitution addresses the office of the governor in Article V, the Executive Department.

Georgia Constitution, Article V, Section 1, Paragraph I

There shall be a Governor...[1]

Georgia Constitution, Article V, Section 2, Paragraph I

The chief executive powers shall be vested in the Governor[1]

Qualifications[edit]

State Executives
Current Governors
Gubernatorial Elections
2022 • 2021 • 2020 2019 • 2018 • 2017 2016 • 2015 • 2014
Current Lt. Governors
Lt. Governor Elections
2022 • 2021 • 2020 2019 • 2018 • 2017 2016 • 2015 • 2014

Per Article V, Section 1 of the state constitution, the governor must be at least 30 years old on the day he or she assumes office and, on the day he or she is elected, have been a resident of Georgia for at least six years and an American citizen for at least 15 years.

Georgia Constitution, Article V, Section 1, Paragraph IV

No person shall be eligible for election to the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor unless such person shall have been a citizen of the United States 15 years and a legal resident of the state six years immediately preceding the election and shall have attained the age of 30 years by the date of assuming office. [1]

Elections[edit]

See also: Gubernatorial election cycles by state

See also: Election of governors

Georgia elects governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not presidential election years. For Georgia, 2018, 2022, 2026, 2030, and 2034 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the same day that the Georgia General Assembly convenes. Future inaugurations will occur on the day fixed by legislature to convene itself.

2018[edit]

See also: Georgia gubernatorial election, 2018

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Eddie Hayes (R)
• Marc Alan Urbach (R)
• Larry Odom (Independent)

2014[edit]

See also: Georgia Gubernatorial election, 2014

Governor of Georgia, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Nathan Deal Incumbent	52.7%	1,345,237
	Democratic	Jason Carter	44.9%	1,144,794
	Libertarian	Andrew Hunt	2.4%	60,185
Total Votes				2,550,216
Election results via Georgia Secretary of State

2010[edit]

See also: Georgia gubernatorial election, 2010 and Gubernatorial elections, 2010

In the July 20 primary Deal came in second to Karen Handel, receiving 22.9 percent of the vote to her 34.1 percent. The two met in a runoff election held August 10, with Deal winning 50.2 percent to 49.8 percent.

Deal defeated Democrat Roy E. Barnes and Libertarian John H. Monds in the general election on November 2, 2010.^[3]

Governor of Georgia, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Roy E. Barnes	43%	1,107,011
	Republican	Nathan Deal	53%	1,365,832
	Libertarian	John H. Monds	4%	103,194
	NA	Write-in	0%	124
Total Votes				2,576,161

Term limits[edit]

See also: States with gubernatorial term limits

Georgia governors are restricted to two consecutive terms in office, after which they must wait four years before being eligible to run again.

Georgia Constitution, Article V, Section 1, Paragraph 1

Persons holding the office of Governor may succeed themselves for one four-year term of office. Persons who have held the office of Governor and have succeeded themselves as herein before provided shall not again be eligible to be elected to that office until after the expiration of four years from the conclusion of their term as Governor.[1]

Partisan composition[edit]

The chart below shows the partisan breakdown of Georgia governors from 1992 to 2013.

Vacancies[edit]

See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

Details of vacancy appointments are addressed under Section I, Paragraph V of the Georgia Constitution

At any point that the governor or governor-elect is temporarily or permanently unable to discharge the office, the lieutenant governor or the lieutenant governor-elect assumes the office with all its powers and responsibilities.

In cases where the governor is permanently unable to fulfill the duties of the office, the lieutenant governor, as acting governor, will in most cases hold the office until the next general election. If the former officeholder's term is set to expire less than 90 days after the next election (in other words, if it is the last year of the former governor's term) and when the governorship is left vacant less than 30 days before a general election, the lieutenant governor simply completes the elected term.

If both the governor and lieutenant governor vacate their seats, the Speaker of the House of Representatives schedules a special election and serves as acting governor until that date.

Removing a constitutional officer for disability is governed by Article V, Section IV. Any four constitutional officers may petition the Georgia Supreme Court regarding the fitness for office of a fifth officer. That officer shall have a hearing with the testimony of no less than three board-certified physicians, one of whom must be a psychiatrist, before being deemed unfit or removed. The Supreme Court may make a determination of either temporary or permanent disability; in the case of the former, they shall also determine when the governor may resume the office.

Duties[edit]

The governor has a number of powers in state government, set forth primarily in Article V, Section II, Paragraphs II - X of the constitution, including proposing new programs and laws for the state, proposing a state budget for the legislature to consider, vetoing legislation, and appointing members of many of the boards in state government.

The governor is both the "conservator of peace" and the "commander-in-chief of the military forces" within Georgia; he or she is also charged with upholding and executing all laws. There is a gubernatorial veto, which the legislature may override by a two-thirds majority in both chambers. At the start of each regular legislative session and at other times if he or she deems it prudent, the governor delivers a 'State of the State' to the General Assembly and makes recommendations for laws.^[1]

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

• Issuing writs for special elections whenever either the House or Senate has a vacancy.

• Convening extraordinary sessions of the Assembly, not to exceed 40 days, as well as emergency sessions.

• Filling vacancies in all offices where the manner is not otherwise prescribed, subject to Senate confirmation.

• Requiring information from other constitutional officers and members of the executive on any aspects of their jobs and duties.

A majority of executive departments are headed by policy-making boards, whose members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Georgia State Senate. Usually, the boards appoint a department director or commissioner in cooperation with the governor to administer agency affairs. A few department heads are appointed directly by the governor.

Divisions[edit]

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Governor of Georgia has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

State budget[edit]

Role in state budget[edit]

See also: Georgia state budget and finances

The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[4]

1. In July of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year, the governor sends budget instructions to state agencies.
2. In September agencies submit their budget requests to the governor.
3. Budget hearings are held with state agencies in November.
4. In January, the governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature.
5. The legislature adopts a budget in March or April, effective for the fiscal year beginning in July. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.

The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget to the legislature. In turn, the legislature must pass a balanced budget, and any budget signed into law by the governor must be balanced.^[4]

Georgia is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.^[4]

Governor's office budget[edit]

The budget for the Office of the Governor in Fiscal Year 2022 was $6,130,645.^[5]

Compensation[edit]

See also: Comparison of gubernatorial salaries and Compensation of state executive officers

The salaries of elected executive officials in Georgia are determined by state law as mandated in the Georgia Constitution. Article V of the state constitution indicates that the Georgia State Legislature determines salaries for governor, lieutenant governor and "other elected executives."^[6]

Article V, Section 3, Paragraph III

	Text of Paragraph III: Powers, Duties, Compensation, and Allowances of Other Executive Officers Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, the General Assembly shall prescribe the powers, duties, compensation, and allowances of the above executive officers and provide assistance and expenses necessary for the operation of the department of each.[6]

2020[edit]

In 2020, the governor received a salary of $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.^[7]

2019[edit]

In 2019, the governor received a salary of $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.^[8]

2018[edit]

In 2018, the governor received a salary of $139,339, according to the Council of State Governments.^[9]

2017[edit]

In 2017, the governor received a salary of $139,339, according to the Council of State Governments.^[10]

2016[edit]

In 2016, the governor received a salary of $139,339, according to the Council of State Governments.^[11]

2015[edit]

In 2015, the governor received a salary of $139,339, according to the Council of State Governments.^[12]

2014[edit]

In 2014, the governor received a salary of $139,339, according to the Council of State Governments.^[13]

2013[edit]

In 2013, the governor received a salary of $139,339, according to the Council of State Governments.^[14]

2010[edit]

In 2010, the governor received a salary of $139,339, according to the Council of State Governments.

History[edit]

Partisan balance 1992-2013[edit]

See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, Georgia

From 1992-2013, Georgia had Democratic governors in office for the first 11 years while there were Republican governors in office for the last 11 years, including the last 11. During the final nine years of the study, Georgia was under Republican trifectas.

Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82 percent) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27 percent) from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Georgia, the Georgia State Senate and the Georgia House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

SQLI and partisanship[edit]

Georgia was one of eight states to demonstrate a dramatic partisan shift in the 22 years studied. A dramatic shift was defined by a movement of 40 percent or more toward one party over the course of the study period.

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Georgia state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Georgia experienced two long periods of trifecta government, both Democratic and Republican, between the years 1992 and 2002 (Democratic) and again between the years 2002 and 2013 (Republican). The state’s lowest SQLI ranking occurred in 1992 (40th) under a Democratic trifecta, while its highest SQLI ranking occurred in 2007 (20th) under a Republican trifecta. Georgia experienced only two years of divided government, in 2003 and 2004, when the state house was under Democratic control. The state experienced its largest jump in the SQLI ranking between 2000 and 2001 (from 33rd to 27th) under a Democratic trifecta.

• SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 33.27
• SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 22.75
• SQLI average with divided government: 27.00

Historical officeholders[edit]

There have been 70 governors in Georgia since 1788.^{[15] [16]}

#	Name	Took office	Left office	Party
14	George Mathews	1788	1788	Jeffersonian Republican
15	George Handley	1788	1789	None
16	George Walton	1789	1789	Jeffersonian Republican
17	Edward Telfair	1789	1793	Jeffersonian Republican
18	George Mathews	1793	1796	Jeffersonian Republican
19	Jared Irwin	1796	1798	Democratic-Republican
20	James Jackson	1798	1801	Democratic-Republican
21	David Emanuel	1801	1801	Democratic-Republican
22	Josiah Tattnall			Democratic-Republican
23	John Milledge			Democratic-Republican
24	Jared Irwin	1806	1809	Democratic-Republican
25	David B. Mitchell			Democratic-Republican
26	William Rabun			Democratic-Republican
27	Matthew Talbot			Democratic-Republican
28	John Clark			Democratic-Republican
29	George M. Troup			Democratic-Republican
30	John Forsyth			Democratic-Republican
31	George R. Gilmer
32	Wilson Lumpkin
33	William Schley
34	George R. Gilmer
35	Charles J. McDonald
36	George W. Crawford	1843	1847	Whig
37	George W. Towns			Democratic
38	Howell Cobb
39	Herschel V. Johnson			Democratic
40	Joseph E. Brown			Democratic
41	James Johnson			Democratic
42	Charles J. Jenkins			Democratic
Military	Thomas H. Ruger	1868	1868
43	Rufus B. Bullock	1868	1871	Republican
44	Benjamin F. Conley	1871	1872	Republican
45	James M. Smith			Democratic
46	Alfred H. Colquitt			Democratic
47	Alexander H. Stephens
48	James Boynton			Democratic
49	Henry D. McDaniel			Democratic
50	John B. Gordon			Democratic
51	William J. Northen			Democratic
52	William Y. Atkinson			Democratic
53	Allen D. Candler			Democratic
54	Joseph M. Terrell			Democratic
55	Hoke Smith			Democratic
56	Joseph M. Brown			Democratic
57	Hoke Smith	1911	1911	Democratic
58	John M. Slaton			Democratic
59	Joseph M. Brown			Democratic
60	John M. Slaton			Democratic
61	Nathaniel E. Harris			Democratic
62	Hugh M. Dorsey			Democratic
63	Thomas W. Hardwick			Democratic
64	Clifford M. Walker			Democratic
65	Lamartine G. Hardman	1927	1931	Democratic
66	Richard B. Russell			Democratic
67	Eugene Talmadge			Democratic
68	Ellis G. Arnall			Democratic
69	Herman E. Talmadge	1947	1947	Democratic
70	Melvin E. Thompson	1947	1948	Democratic
71	Herman E. Talmadge	1948	1955	Democratic
72	S. Marvin Griffin	1955	1959	Democratic
73	Samuel E. Vandiver	1959	1963	Democratic
74	Carl E. Sanders	1963	1967	Democratic
75	Lester G. Maddox	1967	1971	Democratic
76	Jimmy Carter	1971	1975	Democratic
77	George D. Busbee	1975	1983	Democratic
78	Joe Frank Harris	1983	1991	Democratic
79	Zell Miller	1991	1999	Democratic
80	Roy E. Barnes	1999	2003	Democratic
81	Sonny Perdue	2003	2011	Republican
82	Nathan Deal	2011	2019	Republican
83	Brian Kemp	2019	Present	Republican

State profile[edit]

Demographic data for Georgia
	Georgia	U.S.
Total population:	10,199,398	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	57,513	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	60.2%	73.6%
Black/African American:	30.9%	12.6%
Asian:	3.6%	5.1%
Native American:	0.3%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0%	0.2%
Two or more:	2.1%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	9.1%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	85.4%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	28.8%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$49,620	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	21.1%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Georgia. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern[edit]

See also: Presidential voting trends in Georgia

Georgia voted Republican in all five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, five are located in Georgia, accounting for 2.43 percent of the total pivot counties.^[17]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Georgia had five Retained Pivot Counties, 2.76 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Georgia coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in Georgia
• United States congressional delegations from Georgia
• Public policy in Georgia
• Influencers in Georgia
• Georgia fact checks
• More...

Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Governor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Contact information[edit]

Mailing address:
206 Washington Street
Suite 203, State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334

Phone: 404-656-1776

See also[edit]

• Georgia state executive offices
• Georgia state executive officials

External links[edit]

• Office of the Governor website

Footnotes[edit]

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