Perdue's loss might breathe new life into democracy, but Kemp's victory shouldn't be celebrated just yet.
Perdue, a strong Trump supporter, went as far as claiming that the 2020 election was "manipulated and stolen." He refused to acknowledge Joe Biden's win in Georgia like his Republican counterpart, Brad Raffensperger. Thankfully, voters in Georgia seem to have grown weary of Trump's election fraud allegations, rejecting candidates like Jody Hice, another "election fraud denier" backed by Trump.
However, relief was short-lived when Georgians also voted for Herschel Walker, a political creation of Trump who has yet to acknowledge Biden's victory. Despite being less vocal than Perdue, Walker still echoed election fraud accusations and called for a full purge of the system, like Trump himself. When confronted about these claims, he misremembered ever hearing such allegations from the former president.
Brian Kemp's victory, while a relief, should not be seen as a win for democracy. His opposition to Trump's pressure in December 2020 prevented a potential Stichwahl against Jody Hice, but his handling of the situation was far from heroic. He acted like a demagogue, reinforcing false election claims, and he even suggested a second review of signatures on mail-in ballots and voter registry forms.
The alleged tampering doesn't stop there. Kemp claimed his office was hacked back in December 2016, while serving as Georgia's secretary of state. He accused the Department of Homeland Security of hacking into his computer, which contained personal information of over 6.5 million Georgians, 800,000 businesses, and 500,000 licensed professionals. However, an independent investigation and testimonies by cyber experts soon debunked his claims.
It's important to note that Kemp instigated a voter purge in 2018, rejecting over 53,000 voter registration forms – around 70% of which were submitted by Black Georgians – as they didn't match information found on other databases. His actions were later deemed unconstitutional by federal judges.
Brian Kemp's victory in 2022 might seem like a small victory, but it's crucial to remember the roadblocks voters still have to overcome to exercise their rights. It's an embarrassing reminder that vulnerable communities are disproportionately burdened by these barriers, stripping them of their right to vote.
Kemp's history of voter suppression started well before the 2022 election. As Secretary of State, he oversaw a mass cancellation of voter registrations, which made headlines for being one of the largest in U.S. history. Many canceled registrations were taken without warning, mostly targeting minority voters. Kemp's actions raised questions about racial bias in voter suppression.
Despite setting records for early voting in the 2022 midterms, election experts remain cautious about the full impact of Georgia's voting laws on voter turnout. Georgia passed restrictive voting laws in 2021, which critics argue could suppress voter turnout. These changes include restrictions on mail-in voting and drop boxes, again disproportionately affecting minority voters.
As we approach 2024, concerns about Georgia's voter suppression efforts continue to grow. The state has ramped up voter purges, targeting 875,000 voters, earning it the #1 ranking for "election integrity" by the right-wing Heritage Foundation. As we move forward, it's essential to pay close attention to how Georgia handles democratic processes, ensuring that our voices are heard, especially those from marginalized communities.
