A new poll shows Governor’s race between Republican incumbent Brian Kemp and Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams as a dead heat.
The latest survey results from Quinnipiac University show 48% of respondents will vote for the Governor to be re-elected while 48% want the Democrat to win this midterm rematch.
That indicates the race could once again be one of the most watched midterm contests in the country.
“With both candidates getting positive numbers on honesty, empathy and leadership, Kemp and Abrams are in a Governor’s race too close to call,” said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
Neither candidate has reached 50% support in the poll, despite just 4% of respondents remaining in the undecided column. Pollsters report a 2.5% margin of error, after polling 1,497 registered Georgia voters between June 23 and June 27.
The same poll showed U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, with a double-digit lead over Republican challenger Herschel Walker.
Abrams in May won the Democratic nomination for Governor four years after a narrow defeat by Kemp where she refused to concede. Meanwhile, Kemp held off a primary challenge from former U.S. Sen. David Perdue, who had the support of former President Donald Trump. That means the same Party leaders who faced off for an open gubernatorial spot four years ago will represent their parties once again in this year’s contest.
Both candidates have shored up support from voters within their own party. About 96% of Republicans will vote for Kemp to get a second term, and 95% of Democrats want Abrams.
Meanwhile, the results show 55% of women in the state back Abrams, who would be Georgia’s first female Governor, compared to 42% who prefer Kemp. Additionally, 83% of Black voters plan to vote for Abrams, a Black woman, while 13% support Kemp.
The incumbent boasts the support of 68% of White voters, while 29% will vote for Abrams. Among men, Kemp leads 56% to 39%.
Among voters under the age of 50, Abrams holds a lead over Kemp, including a significant 61% to 36% lead among voters under the age of 35. Meanwhile, older voters prefer Kemp, and voters older than 65 want him re-elected by a 59% to 39% margin.
Yet voters across the board are somewhat split on whether they even like either candidate. About 43% of respondents have a favorable view of Kemp and 42% have an unfavorable view. Abrams fares slightly better but just 46% hold her in favorable regard and 42% have an unfavorable opinion on the Democrat.
About 47% of votes consider Kemp honest, compared to 49% who say that of Abrams. Meanwhile, 56% see Kemp as a strong leader while 52% say the same for the Democrat.
